• Lydgate ponds tragedy • Dear Gov. Abercromie • Use turn signals Lydgate ponds tragedy I have lived in the Wailua homesteads for the past 21 years and have frequently used the river, beach and Lydgate park/ponds. We have recently
• Lydgate ponds tragedy •
Dear Gov. Abercromie • Use turn
signals
Lydgate ponds tragedy
I have lived in the Wailua homesteads for the past 21 years and have frequently used the river, beach and Lydgate park/ponds. We have recently lost one of the crown jewels of the Eastside through the botched “renovation” of the ponds.
Gone is the lovely pond where children once played and learned to swim, and where non-swimmers could stand and snorkel, seeing beautiful fish. Gone is the stuff visitors’ memories are made of.
Now upon seeing the putrid water and warning signs, few tourists stay and local families seldom let their children into the water. How did we get into this mess?
For the last several years, the ponds are repeatedly inundated by dirty water and debris during the winter. Somehow, the county concluded that the inundation problem could be solved by returning the pond to the original 8-9 foot depth.
This was done without serious consideration of children and novice swimmers requiring shallower water and no drop offs. In carrying out the “restoration” the contractor discovered that the underlying structure of the Ponds was silt, not sand.
Now we are seemingly left to pray to Mother Nature to resolve this mistake. Waiting until November for further action overlaps the commencement of winter rains.
The inundations will occur again, but the ponds will not be able to cleanse themselves I believe that the problems besieging the ponds has less to do with the height of the wall or the depth of the pond and more to do with the water and soil conservation practices upstream in the Wailua river following the conversion from sugarcane to livestock agriculture.
To claim that raising the wall will keep the driftwood on adjacent beaches from coming into the pond is nearsighted, because debris is being caused by something else.
During my 21 years in the Wailua, I had never seen so much driftwood in Lydgate beach park until several years after Lihu‘e Plantation closed.
Something in addition to praying to Mother Nature needs to be done before November.
David H. Stewart, Wailua
Dear Gov. Abercromie
Because of your encouraging promises to value, respect and support teachers, education and union solidarity, the effort of teachers and unions to push for your election was unprecedented, even on this small neighbor island.
At a meeting, I spoke to you personally in all candor that in Mufi Hannemann’s campaign talks at the Kaua‘i HGEA Office, he purported that “Ben Cayetano is whispering in his [your] ear.”
I remember Mr. Cayetano’s promises — education first. When he was elected, he kept his promise, but not in the way we expected — his first cut was education.
Your response to Mr. Hannemann’s allegation was that “I am whispering in Cayetano’s ear.”
Now that the DOE has arbitrarily hurled this “best, last and final offer” without due process and union representation, I am wondering if I should have asked what exactly are you whispering in Cayetano’s ear.
The teachers and their union expect you to support them as promised. We ask that you help HSTA negotiate for a fair contract for our hard working teachers. An arbitrary amputation of the negotiating process is unfair, disrespectful and totalitarian.
The teachers deserve better treatment than this. You spoke of your mother during your campaign. She was a teacher. I don’t think you would want this for her.
You spoke of “no furloughs” and maintaining the health cost ratio. Please fulfill your promise to our teachers — the lack of support for education here in Hawaii and across the country is a national embarrassment. Our children’s future depends upon your support.
Donna Alalem, Kapa‘a
Use turn signals
I would like to make a suggestion that should help with the traffic problem, especially in Kapa‘a. If everyone who drives, will get into the habit of letting anyone in oncoming traffic to make a left turn when there is a request (turn signals), most of the “traffic” would vanish.
I have had the good fortune of getting a job with the Kaua‘i Bus for the last few months, and was assigned the “Kapahi Shuttle” roust. Observing the traffic situation from within, I noticed that when there were courteous drivers on the road; that the cars flowed easily. When you had driver that would nudge up close to the car in front, so as to prevent on coming cars to make a desired left turn, it would eventually result in gridlock.
Come on Kaua‘i, drive with aloha! You’ll get to your destination faster, I promise.
Let’s all try it, don’t wait for someone else to start, it may even help you, when you need to make a left turn to do so without a long wait.
Also, tell you friends and family about this idea. It will work if we all participate.
Also, drivers, please use your turn signals when making a turn or changing lanes. It’s not only to prevent accidents, but it’s the law.
Roger Sasaki, Lihu‘e
