•Don’t blame the traffic •No longer an excuse •Afghanistan: Get out Don’t blame the traffic Regarding the economic hardships being suffered by the Hanalei merchants because of road closures and repairs, never mind the flooding — We can sympathize! (“Traffic
•Don’t blame the traffic
•No longer an excuse
•Afghanistan: Get out
Don’t blame the traffic
Regarding the economic hardships being suffered by the Hanalei merchants because of road closures and repairs, never mind the flooding — We can sympathize! (“Traffic delays impact business,” The Garden Island, Dec. 6)
A few years ago, we owned an inn on the Oregon coast and were blindsided by a mountain falling on the one and only highway in and out of our area. This resulted in three months of a closed road and four more months of one-lane traffic open only for one hour in every four. We were lucky because there was a 250-mile, five-hour detour around the closure.
Needless to say, this caused a number of businesses to simply disappear as well as a lot of hardship regarding medical care, grocery shopping, attending school. Those businesses that did survive did so by offering deep discounts or things like two-for-one coupons, by paring back staff and services where they could, by advertising that “We’re still open!”, but above all, by continuing to operate and serve the public as best they could. Some businesses even increased traffic with clever marketing strategies.
We’ve been visiting Kaua‘i annually for many years and are just finishing up five weeks on your lovely island. What we have noticed about the businesses in Hanalei is: No price reductions, no coupons, erratic hours (why advertise lunch and then not open until 2 p.m.?) and, in some cases, not too much aloha spirit!
In fact, it seems like prices in some shops are higher than ever. Yes, it’s a little difficult getting to Hanalei these days, but once you do get there, there is little incentive to shop — many of the items for sale in Hanalei can be found for less in Lihu‘e or Kapa‘a.
Maybe the present highway problems are difficult to deal with, but people are still in town. Look a little closer to home as to why they aren’t buying!
Bob and Joyce Freeman, Florence, Ore.
No longer an excuse
We hear a lot of comments such as: “Why didn’t the public object years ago when a project was introduced?” (“Land Board poised to approve state park entry, parking fees, The Garden Island, Dec. 10)
If I’m not mistaken, this issue has involved intense, round-the-clock community input — even with an advisory council approved by the state — for several years.
What happened? The state has completely disregarded the community’s concerns and recommendations. As if it never happened.
And now the Wailua portion of the “bike path.” The same set of circumstances in which prior objections/concerns were ignored.
Alleged lack of early community input is no longer a valid response or excuse to proceed.
The state’s own bad-faith action regarding Koke‘e has just confirmed that the general public and taxpayers are not welcome in decision making. The Constitution says otherwise. The federal, state and county government (officials) abuse and violate the public hearing process.
So to the opposition of the Wailua portion of the “path,” continue to fight full force. To note, a boardwalk is not a bike path and presents itself as even more ludicrous and possibly a misuse of the federal funds.
And the mayor, “path” supporters and planners keep in mind that anything that disturbs burials will supersede any arguments for a project. You shouldn’t have to be reminded of this!
Mahalo to Jeff Chandler for his righteous outrage at Mauna Kea Trask’s cavalier and disrespectful remark regarding the burials at the meeting on Monday.
Anyone, Hawaiian especially, that goes to extremes to bypass the protection/preservation of Hawaiian graves might need to introspect what they have been sold into and how to turn it around. The pressures are great but doing what is right is greater and takes far more courage.
Elaine Dunbar, Lihu’e
Afghanistan: Get out
The happiest people in the world live in secular socialistic democracies. We live in a democracy, sort of. Voices of the religious right and some Republicans would wish us to be a theocracy, that is a “Christian” nation.
There are some 2,000 religions in the world, and many gods, plus, of course, those who assume the right to have no religion and believe in no god, therefore, I would think any American with an ounce of sense in his head would support separation of church and state.
As for socialism: So may voices on the religious right and in the Republicans party, seem to think it’s fine to use our tax money to kill people but most wicked to use it to school, feed or house people. To continue to kill innocent people, men and women and children anywhere in the world, is most un-American, un-Christian and a betrayal of the human condition. It doesn’t even make sense economically.
We could feed, clothe and house a lot of people, let alone provide them with proper medical care, with the money we spend in these senseless wars. Get out of Afghanistan and the Mid East now.
I hope U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and President Obama read this letter.
Bettejo Dux, Kalaheo
