Chair takes issue with comments at Kauai County Council meeting

During Wednesday’s Kaua‘i County Council meeting, Friends of Kamalani & Lydagte Park committee member Thomas Noyes read a quote from a doctor, igniting a fuse in Chair Kaipo Asing, who saw the statement as racist.

“I want to let you know, Tom, as a native Hawaiian I take offense and don’t appreciate these racial implications directed at native Hawaiians. You and members of the Ke Ala Hele Makalae trail have made these comments before,” Asing said.

Here is an excerpt of the quote from Dr. Neil Clendeninn that Asing read back to Noyes:

“Hawai‘i as a state has some of the worst health statistics in the nation. Many of its residents, especially native Hawaiians, have some of the highest incidences of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. These are chronic health issues that can be treated, and one of the best ways to treat these afflictions is exercise.”

Noyes said the quote came from a respected research oncologist, a member of the health community who is well informed.

“Our population on the whole will benefit from the recommended amounts of daily exercise, regardless of any ethnic group,” Noyes said. “However, this was a concern that Dr. Clendeninn brought to my attention and it seemed appropriate for the occasion.”

Noyes apologized if there was any offense. “None was intended.”

Later, Noyes, treasurer of Councilman Tim Bynum’s campaign, said Asing’s comments may have been an indirect attack on Bynum’s bid for re-election.

Studies show that native Hawaiians have roughly 200 percent higher rates for diabetes, over 40 percent higher than average for heart disease. Those diseases, according to doctors, could be partially treated with exercise.