• The Unethics Board • Put the path behind Coco Palms The Unethics Board Growing up, I was taught that going against the rules got you into trouble. Later on, I realized that could mean going to jail. Eventually, common
• The Unethics Board • Put the path behind Coco Palms
The Unethics Board
Growing up, I was taught that going against the rules got you into trouble. Later on, I realized that could mean going to jail. Eventually, common sense helped me understand that if I had self respect, it was easier to respect others and not break laws.
Laws (with consequences) are written as a deterrent to those that can’t seem to decide on their own what is OK and what is not OK. Considering the possible consequences of any actions before committing such acts, is the cornerstone of our society.
The article I just read on the swearing in of new Ethics Board members and how they dismissed the complaints filed by Rolf Bieber, demonstrates why the laws are in place (but in this case ignored). Because the Charter wording can be all jumbled up into legalese by lawyers, the true meaning becomes blurred.
To me it seems perfectly obvious that the Charter rule in question was intended to prevent those in office from giving themselves, family and friends any advantages. There is no question about it, so why all the apparent confusion?
I guess government officials want to keep things as is and either ignore, cover up, or lose the meaning of the Charter in order to continue doing what they want to do. It also seems obvious that they want to do it without fear of the law.
Whatever happened to the idea of good morals and ethics in government? Perhaps a better name would be the “Unethics” Board.
Jack Custer, Lihu‘e
Put the path behind Coco Palms
Regarding the mayor’s “response to the outrage by the Native Hawaiian community over the placement of the county’s multi-use path over the ‘sacred sands of Wailua Beach,’” nothing’s significantly changed with his recommendation of a new route alongside the highway.
The mayor suggests the path now be built on the shoulder of the road. Yet, according to the Department of Transportation, the highway-widening project that’s underway has already maxed out the available width. Only two more feet can possibly be eked out on the Coco Palms side — nothing close to the probable 15 feet needed for the 12-foot path plus a safety barrier between it and traffic.
The proposed new route, therefore, couldn’t be constructed on the paved shoulder of the highway; instead it would be installed, in solid concrete, next to the highway — on the beach. So, with all due respect, the county appears to be saying, we’ve listened to the community, they’re right, the beach is sacred, therefore the path will be moved — to a different part of the sacred beach.
When the Native Hawaiians and others speak of preserving, protecting and respecting the beach, they don’t mean part of the beach. When they say, “the sands of sacred Wailua,” they don’t mean “some of the sands.” Kuhio Highway itself is already built on the beach; its shoulders are sandy. The idea of more pavement makai of the highway is disastrous; it is literally paving the beach. That this plan evolved from a decision to honor Native Hawaiians and sacred Wailua is not logical.
We who support the perpetuation of both the Native Hawaiian culture and the natural ecosystems of all beaches solidly maintain — as was restated at the mayor’s meeting — that the mauka option, behind Coco Palms, where an existing paved pathway borders the canal, is the only viable location for a multi-use path through Wailua. No drilling is required, it’s previously been used as a transit corridor, it is safe and beautiful, it is government land, it links up directly to the other planned mauka segment of the path (coming from behind Foodland), it still only involves one highway crossing (at Kuamo‘o Road where there’s already a light and crosswalk, instead of at a new light at Kintaro’s as currently planned), and it would save money. We urge all decision-makers involved with this project to examine the merits of this option more thoroughly, and for those who haven’t visited the site, that would be essential.
The mayor may literally be caught between a rock and a hard place because the State Historic Preservation Department asserts that a mauka path would somehow compromise the Birthing Stone on Kuamo’o Road. This is curious, since the mauka route runs north of Kuamo‘o Road and the Birthing Stone is south of the road. At the same time, other officials have indicated support for the Hawaiians, recommending a non-beach route.
If we put the path mauka, behind Coco Palms, we can all move forward! On bikes. The community voice and Hawaiian culture will be respected, we’ll save money and time, we’ll have an effective pathway for recreation and transportation, we’ll all get healthier, and the spirit of Wailua Beach will be elevated and honored for the amazing role it has played throughout the history of Kaua’i.
Wendy Raebeck, Wailua
