• Children’s health • Coco Palms • JoAnn of Arch • Lion’s heart Children’s health As children’s health remains a national health concern, passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act couldn’t have come at a better time. The bill will
• Children’s health • Coco Palms • JoAnn of Arch • Lion’s
heart
Children’s health
As children’s health remains a national health concern, passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act couldn’t have come at a better time.
The bill will make for healthier schools by improving school meals, removing junk foods and sugary beverages from snack shops and vending machines, and strengthening wellness policies.
I’d like to personally thank Hawai‘i Reps. Mazie Hirono and Charles Djou for voting for this strong child nutrition legislation to help curb unhealthy eating habits among children and premature health conditions such as high blood pressure and type two diabetes.
The President must now make it official and sign the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law. The sooner our kids have access to healthier food in schools, the sooner we can reduce obesity rates.
Jone Flanders, M.D., President, American Heart Association O‘ahu Metro Board of Directors, Honolulu
Coco Palms
Volunteers interested in seeing the immediate areas surrounding Coco Palms become a culturally sensitive center can contact those that are so far ahead of thoughts.
The Kaua‘i Public Land Trust has been funded, and with funding there has got to be a plan.
I think a lot was put on the back burner due to the illness that resulted in Dr. Gary’s passing.
In his memory, I am offering my skill set to the KPLT in hopes that they would soon share their vision, if they haven’t already, about the Coco Palms land restorations.
Recreating or uncovering existing lo‘i behind the coconut trees would be exciting, not to mention highlighting known but hidden and/or potential new archeological finds.
Debra Kekaualua, Kapa‘a
JoAnn of Arch
Do not count upon the ever continuing resurrection of “JoAnn of Arch” back into our council to cease behind doors. No more secret shenanigans. At least not until the full story of the billions of dollars zoning upgrades “trade” to the Kauai Lagoons for a 138 acre sliver of oceanfront land of extremely dubious value, actually attached to the Lihu‘e Airport runway which was finalized April 21, 2010 has been revealed.
There are many doubts and questions that need be answered before deciding whether this transaction was in the best interest of the community.
That investigation is on going. Questions need to be addressed that are related to:
What can this parcel of rugged oceanfront coastline be used for?
How will access to this property be achieved when an FAA agent told this writer that the “FAA would not support access across airport property.
Access to that area at night will be denied by gate and locks for security reasons.
Yukimura’s dream of a coastal path-between Ahukini and Nawiliwili as being a misleading reason for a trade since the County already possessed a 16 foot wide access through the entire length of the property since 1990.
With a coastal path access already in County’s possession, why trade for 135 acres of useless land requiring maintenance by an already overtaxed taxpayer?
The portion of land that is restricted being used only for agricultural uses that do not attract birds. Only one of many FAA restrictions on the site.
Uses in restricted area: “No dwellings, no residential, no industrial, resort or commercial uses; no subdivision of the property”
Outside of the restricted area a maximum of 11 dwelling units were allowed to be built on the site. However: FAA will not support access across airport property; the County transferred a 28-unit building rights allowed on that land to the existing development area thus losing building rights.
There are numerous questions requiring answers. Limited printing space forbids further issue discussions. Suffice it to say this writer’s sentiment is that the best interest of the community has been forfeited/abandoned, once again, with this transaction! Will it ever end?
John Hoff, Lawa‘i
Lion’s heart
Thank you, TGI, for the fine front page story published on Wednesday, Nov. 10, titled community calls for drug treatment center.
I would attend this well thought out community meeting addressing “Taking Care of Our ‘Ohana is our Kuleana.” The testimony of a young man, a young man with a “Lion’s Heart,” would leave an indelible impression on me, and I believe the audience, as he courageously spoke to us.
TGI quotes the young man to say, “I’m sad to see not that many people here … I use to be a user and a dealer. It was KPD that turned me onto the right road, to show me where a road on drugs would lead. But we need community support, and it’s sad to see so few people.”
This young man would express his gratitude to Kaua‘i Drug Court, too, for helping him to a better life. I commend this young man for speaking honestly.
Holding Carter wrote: “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other wings.”
We are responsible for our young generation. We are the only witness they have. I believe this young man’s testimony is an undeniable reminder that those generations, who we precede, look to us as ‘ohana who will guide them wisely and well. Are we succeeding?
Deborah Morel, Kapa‘a
