• We are all God’s children, naked or clothed • Tax increases stretch my definition of fair • Alleviate traffic, use da Bus We are all God’s children, naked or clothed I have read Bruce Laymon’s argument in wishing to
• We are all God’s children, naked or clothed •
Tax increases stretch my definition of fair •
Alleviate traffic, use da Bus
We are all God’s children, naked or clothed
I have read Bruce Laymon’s argument in wishing to fence off the land he rents for cattle grazing, at Larsen’s Beach (“Paradise Ranch owner speaks up,” The Garden Island, Feb. 14). I have been a regular at the beach, and would like to comment in hopefully clarifying the underlying issue.
Fencing Larsen’s main access is not about cattle grazing. Currently, Mr. Laymon uses 600-plus acres above Larsen’s with largely expansive area for his head of cattle. If it was cattle containment, a fence could easily be built not blocking the long-standing trail access running parallel to the beach, and everyone, including the cattle would be satisfied, and all this heated wrangling would have never happened.
The true issue is a moral agenda against nudity being cloaked as a cattle fencing issue. If you make access hard enough, you will discourage use and they will go elsewhere. The article states, “Mr. Laymon said a group of nude bathers have approached his son, surrounded him and asked him if he felt uncomfortable. One of the beach-goers was holding a video camera. …”
As the target to one such confrontation, firstly it was Mr. Laymon’s son (I believe, as he did not offer ID), a stocky muscular man in his mid-20s who ran over 300-plus yards out of his way from the end of the beach, yelling and threatening me, minding my own business, to put clothes on or he would call the police. My behavior was not illegal at all, especially male to male. His aggressive anger, posturing, and harassment was what felt uncomfortable to a group on the beach, not the other way around. Mr. Laymon paints his adult son as a victim, which was anything but the case I was in.
Here’s yet another key point: The State of Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled in 1999 (Kalama v. State of Hawai‘i) that nude sunbathing in and of itself is not illegal in the state of Hawai‘i. Intent to cause emotional harm to the viewer (coming up and flashing someone) is. This is why beach-goers at Little Beach, Maui, with 200-plus nudists at a time, have not been taken off to jail in droves. It is not illegal there, nor is it here.
The article mentions: “Over the years, Larsen’s, along with Secrets Beach, also on the North Shore, and Donkey’s Beach, on the Eastside, developed a reputation of clothes-optional beaches.” What the article didn’t say or the reporter didn’t know is that Mr. Laymon has reportedly been a significant player at each of these places. There is a theme running, and at Larsen’s now, it has little to do with protecting cattle use.
As a beach-goer at Larsen’s, I applaud Mr. Laymon for cleaning out the debris of past illegal campers, and can tell you since that took place several years ago, illegal camping is nil there. It is not an issue.
If this truly was a cattle containment issue, gates and devices well known to ranchers can be used which still allow human passage, and again all would be happy. But if it is imposing a personal moral belief of a land renter against legal nude sunbathing on one of the most remote yet accessible beaches on Kaua‘i, I ask Mr. Laymon to please live and let be the diverse Kaua‘i people. We are all God’s children, naked or clothed.
John Tyler Cragg, Kapa‘a
Tax increases stretch my definition of fair
Fred Terrill’s letter to the editor was right on target (“Tourism dollars could dwindle,” Letters, Feb. 11).
I too have been coming here for many years and enjoy the island of Kaua‘i. I am willing to pay a fair amount in fees and taxes to keep coming here.
The increases start to stretch my definition of fair and the “transient accommodation fee” is totally unjust and probably illegal. Why do I as a fee simple, real estate tax paying owner of property have to pay an additional fee to stay in property that I own?
Time for Hawaiians to check their aloha spirit and airline flight schedules.
Paul Rehkamp, Alexandria, Minn.
Alleviate traffic, use da Bus
Monday February 14Th, Kaua’i Bus commenced late night bus service around the cosmic Garden island adding 3 more hourly scheduled rides. The last bus leaving Kukui Grove for Hanalei is 9:25 P.M. prior to this the last bus out was 6:25 p.m..
Sunday service has also been added and will run on a Saturday schedule.
Basically the bus runs every hour at every stop, just add 3 more buses to every schedule. Please use the Bus and help alleviate the traffic problem, you’ll save wear and tear on your vehicle and quite a bit of money not having to pay almost $4.00 for a gallon of gas.
I like to tell everyone I have a $200,000 bus with my own chauffeur! Mahalos to da Bus!
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
