• Get involved • Fabulous idea …if there’s funding • Going backwards • Continue constructive criticism Get involved For those of us on our island who have been watching businesses close, food prices escalate and unemployment rising, we wonder, what
• Get involved • Fabulous idea …if
there’s funding • Going backwards •
Continue constructive criticism
Get involved
For those of us on our island who have been watching businesses close, food prices escalate and unemployment rising, we wonder, what can we do?
In the news daily there are stories about the wars, Wall Street bailouts, corporate welfare, and tax loopholes for corporations and the rich. There may be a way to correct the dysfunctional system.
It can be viewed on a website at “october2011.org.” It is an organization that will be occupying Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. starting on Oct. 6, and remaining until our government makes changes to focus on “Human needs, not Corporate greed.”
Hopefully this will result in people who can’t get to Washington, D.C., in October that will participate in cities all over the country expressing their concerns.
Judie and I will be in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 6 to do what we can to assist in the non-violent resistance to change the system that many economists say will lead us to financial collapse.
This is going to affect everybody, which is why everybody should become aware of what is happening.
Rich Hoeppner, Wailua
Fabulous idea …if there’s funding
Having been one of the strongest opponents of the makai Eastside bike path from its inception seven years ago, it was extremely interesting to see Howard Tolbe’s fine suggestion of putting the path along the Powerline Trail (“Powerline path,” Letters, Aug. 29).
I am not opposed to bike paths per se if they can be afforded; if they do not supersede any higher priority project; and if they can be built into an area that doesn’t need a lot of costly retrofitting.
The proposed 23-mile path from Nawiliwili to Anahola doesn’t meet these requirements but the location for the path that Mr. Tolbe suggests would at least meet the location standard.
The present route of the path is being fought by Native Hawaiians due to their sacred burial grounds; experts from the U of H who have stated that the shoreline should never be hardened; and the path in this area could one day be underwater.
Also, there are reoccurring rumors that the taxpayers on Kaua‘i who live on the south, west, and north shores may want a path of their own that doesn’t just cater to Eastside residents — a very valid point.
But, if it could be funded (which is highly unlikely in these dire times) the suggested route by Mr. Tolbe with its mountain and ocean views and pristine beauty would be spectacular. And, it would be far more centrally located for walkers and bikers from all Island locations rather than any coastal path on the Eastside.
Like so many good ideas that are suggested in the Forum, this one is really outstanding!
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Going backwards
Mr. Chang and other council members, my ‘ohana and I watched the meeting regarding our county parks’ condition. We don’t know what locals you are talking to that say they are not hard to please regarding the parks’ condition because most of our ‘ohana and friends are not pleased at all.
It’s the worst condition it’s been in the 65+ years we’ve lived here. We are seven generations on Kaua‘i. Yes, the lawn has been cut short and raked, but the bathrooms are filthy. The Kapa‘a restroom, next to the police substation is a good example. The Po‘ipu, Salt Pond and Nawiliwili restrooms too.
Some of my ‘ohana said the volunteers are now taking charge of cleaning and painting the pavilions and restrooms. Why? Please don’t generalize and say locals are not hard to please; that’s not true. We want to know where our tax dollars are being spent. Or are we going backwards and eventually the county will be using “out houses” the way we grew up.
Camellia Ditch-Crosby, Lawa‘i
Continue constructive criticism
The old question “What’s in a name?” comes to mind when I see or hear the term “nitpickers.”
I agree with the letter writer who listed the usual dictionary definition of the term as a negative, teeny lint-picker type of person, whereas many of us agree that these so-called and accepting of the term nitpickers/folks are actually “constructive criticizers” of the status quo and modus operandi of the Kaua’i government.
May Glenn Mickens, Ken Taylor, Carl Imparato, Joe Rosa, et al, continue their conscientious reading of matters at issue and give their considered opinions. Mahalo nui loa!
Alice Parker, Lihu’e
