• Paddle together through this economic storm • Thank you, Kekaha • Waiting for the meat • Don’t ruin Kaua‘i’s real achievements • Enough already Paddle together through this economic storm OK, everybody, take a deep breath. Stop pointing fingers
• Paddle together through this economic storm
• Thank you, Kekaha
• Waiting for the meat
• Don’t ruin Kaua‘i’s real achievements
• Enough already
Paddle together through this economic storm
OK, everybody, take a deep breath.
Stop pointing fingers at one another to blame the other guy for stifling the ways in which we’re gonna get over the hump of budget deficits in Hawai‘i.
Like it or lump it, we’re in this together. One way or another, we all need to sacrifice. What will it take?
Along with possible furloughs of state workers, will department heads and elected officials take a reduction in salary or in “perks” as well? Are there ways in which operational costs may be lowered by turning off air conditioners and/or being frugal in the way we conduct business as usual?
Might there be a need to readjust the use of state vehicles to make a significant difference in fuel and operational expenses? Let’s think and act along these lines.
When Hurricanes Iwa and Iniki hit Kaua‘i in ’82 and ’92, respectively, we had no choice but to go through coping mechanisms for sheer survival. At the same time, we recognized the importance of sharing what we had with one another. It made a great difference in knowing that by being concerned and helpful in ways we could pitch in and/or kokua a neighbor, it was easier to survive that way.
In looking for ways in which we’re paddling the canoe we’re in together, heading in the same direction, and by combining our efforts, I am confident that we’ll make it through this storm of economic hardship.
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
Thank you, Kekaha
On July 4, the Kekaha community hosted the second annual fireworks show. It was a nice show and there were entertainers (Dicky Hamada and the Starlighters, Papa‘a Bay Boys), contests (pie eating, running) and games. Kudos to all who worked hard in planning this event.
Rhoda Libre did a great job emceeing. It was nice to be recognized by Mayor Carvalho with his presence there with his wife. The mayor addressed the people of Kekaha for the fine job of hosting the event and bringing the Westside people and tourists together in celebrating our freedom. The mayor stayed throughout the whole show and gracefully wore a coconut leaf woven hat and sat and met with the people there.
Thank you, Kekaha community for a wonderful night on the Westside with free entertainment and the spectacular aerial show. What a way to enjoy our freedom with familiar people, friends and tourists, all as one big ‘ohana with lots of aloha.
Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
Waiting for the meat
Regarding the excellent letter, “Public deserves real accessibility,” from July 7 in follow-up to Ed Coll’s letter commenting on the initial minutes up on the Kaua‘i County Council Web site being image files only, not searchable and not to be cut and pasted.
The next day I was in a council member’s office and we noticed that that had been changed on July 8 so that the council minutes on the public Web site are now searchable and can be cut and pasted. I noticed later, though, that the minutes online to the public are only through June 3, not anything from the two meetings nor committee meetings since then even though the minutes have been created at a minimum from the mid-June council meeting already.
Additionally, the public still expects action on all three goals listed at www.kauaiinfo.org including effectively allowing all council members to place items on the council agenda and circulating Council Services documents equitably to all council members in a timely manner, something that can be seen is not being done just by the date stamps on the few minutes posted at www.kauaiinfo.org.
The people of Kaua‘i are still waiting for the meat of local government transparency, not just the crumbs.
Brad Parsons, Hanalei
Don’t ruin Kaua‘i’s real achievements
Had a chance to walk a portion of the new bike path last month and continue to marvel at what I think is a great project. Just two thoughts however:
1. Sure hope someone is contacting the Obama administration to get some stimulus funding for the completion of the bike path. It seems like a perfect “shovel ready” project and Kaua‘i sure could use the jobs. The bike path is also eco-friendly, fits into healthier lifestyles, etc.
2. Whoever stole the toilet seat and the shower handles from the new bathroom rest stop by Kealia Beach along the side of the bike path should bring them back. Seems kind of dumb to ruin Kaua‘i’s real achievements by stealing community property.
Joe Zuiker, Honolulu
Enough already
How many more fatalities is the Wailua Golf Course death alley corridor going to endure before the state permanently opens the old haul cane truck roads that circumvent this island?
As with other issues, this one is now the most pressing as we lost a loved one on this particular crash (“2 men killed in 3-vehicle crash, The Garden Island, June 21)” and this should not happen to another person ever. We need to address the vehicle overpopulation of our meager road.
Debra Kekaualua, Kapa‘a
