Letters for Tuesday, October 13, 2009

•Plastic bag argument makes zero sense

•Aloha alive and well

•Thanks for saving my life

•Keep your chickens on a leash

Plastic bag argument makes zero sense

 Pearl Han’s argument against the plastic bag plan (mahalo Lani and Tim!) makes zero sense, namely that the only alternative is the environmentally unfriendly paper bag (“Plastic bag ban makes zero sense,” Letters, Oct. 8). 

First of all, the assertion that plastic continues to dominate in retail stores worldwide may be accurate, but the trend is in the opposite direction as entire countries and many Mainland cities have put mechanisms into place to discourage or eliminate the use of plastic bags.

For example, Ireland charges for plastic, which has reduced use by 90 percent. The rest of the U.K. is about to follow suit.

I recently visited my former hometown of Palo Alto, Calif., which had just joined many other U.S. cities in implementing a ban on plastic bags, an event that passed literally without notice. The problem is not insignificant when one considers that the number of plastic bags used worldwide is estimated at close to 1 trillion per year! 

But more to the point, the alternative to plastic bags is not paper but reusable fabric bags. I have a collection of these in my car and have used them for years. It seems these items are being handed out at just about every event I attend. Note also that one of our largest retailers, Costco, uses neither bag. Most of us just keep containers in the trunk and fill them from the cart.

So Pearl, maybe the Grassroot Institute should study other policies, such as a ban on Styrofoam food containers and packing materials, or the issue of plastic water bottles. The latter has to be the biggest scam ever instigated — selling an essentially free commodity (usually just filtered industrial water) in plasticizer leaking bottles, most of which end up in the landfill or by the side of the road.

Unlike your fresh Hawaiian tap water, bottled water does not require testing by certified laboratories to establish water quality, a situation that is currently under investigation by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

Robin Clark, Kalaheo

Aloha alive and well

We recently returned from a vacation on Kaua‘i. While there, we read a number of letters to your editor lamenting the lack of aloha spirt on the island.

Take it from us, it is still alive in the hearts of many of the open, caring, giving folks we were privileged to meet and “talk story” with during our visit.

A great example is “Honey Girl,” a resident of the North Shore who is in her late 60s. Mention her name to almost any North Shore resident and you’ll get an instant smile in return.

We met her shortly before leaving Kaua‘i last year, so we hadn’t really gotten a chance to know her. This year we were lucky enough to spend more time with her.

She embodies everything about the true meaning of aloha. She introduced us to her step-dad and cousin, shared wonderful family pictures and stories, made us georgeous plumeria lei from flowers in her yard and made us feel like old friends. What a wonderful beautiful lady!

Some visit Kaua‘i to experience nature’s beauty in Hanalei, or Na Pali Coast or the ocean in all its splendor. We come for all of those things, but especially for the aloha we feel from the many beautiful people like Honey Girl, who continue to make Kaua‘i a true island paradise.

John and Kathy Wahl, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Thanks for saving my life

I want to thank the Hanalei firemen, paramedics, Dr. Behling and Wilcox Memorial Hospital emergency room nurses and staff for saving my life.

I experienced a very severe medical condition recently and almost lost my life. Due to the large amount of blood loss, transfusions and emergency surgery were required.

Thanks to everyone for your concern and prayers. And thanks to all of you who donate blood.

Esther Kaden, Hanalei

Keep your chickens on a leash

People who choose to raise chickens in their yard living in a subdivision should keep the chickens in their coops.

These chickens go into the neighbor’s yard and scratch for food. Their scratching causes damages to people’s properties. It causes holes in the lawns, damages to the plants, they leave chicken droppings (a health hazard), and they make noise to early in the morning.

If you choose to raise chickens keep them  in your yard by tying one of the chicken’s legs to a long cord and peg it to the ground.

My yard isn’t the nicest yard in the neighborhood, but it doesn’t deserve the disrespect and abuse of chicken owner and their chickens.

 Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele