Mayor, tear down Coco Palms! Mayor, tear down the Coco Palms disgrace. Send in county crews to tear it down, charge the costs to the owners, then place a lien on the property if they don’t pay. It does not
Mayor, tear down
Coco Palms!
Mayor, tear down the Coco Palms disgrace. Send in county crews to tear it down, charge the costs to the owners, then place a lien on the property if they don’t pay. It does not matter what the plans are for the property — park, commercial development, cultural center. The first step of any plan has to be the demolition, so let’s get to it. Give the owners as many extensions on their development plans as you want, but insist on the immediate demolition. You can’t convince the public that after 19 years, your office and the council cannot figure a legal way to resolve this mess.
In 1998, there was a similar problem on Kaua‘i — derelict autos being abandoned on the roadside. No matter where you drove on the island, there was one or two rusted hulks per mile. At one time, I think there was a count of 300 junked autos along the roads. Visitors thought they had entered a war zone. Finally, the mayor and council took action and cleaned up the mess. The roads on Kaua‘i are beautiful, until you arrive at the Coco Palms. They took care of 300 problems, you only have one hotel.
To the mayor and the council members running for election next year, I have one request: If you want to stand by the roadside to wave at us and ask for our support, stand in front of the Coco Palms. This is an appropriate backdrop for anyone in government who wants our vote.
To the media, please look into the background of this sad story. It is not just that we are tired of complaining, we are not even getting excuses. Unless I have missed it, I have not seen a public statement from the mayor or any council member telling us why it has not been solved or what they are doing. I have only heard of three-year extensions to the owners needing more time. What is going on?
If money for demolition is an issue, ask for volunteers from the community. I’ll bet that there a few on the island that would be willing to participate.
Robert Waid, Princeville
Support for the idea of a Kaua‘i Vendors League
For whatever it’s worth, I think it’s an excellent idea to have a Kaua‘i Vendors League formed among those who wish to become a part of a concerted effort to “duplicate” what Sunshine Markets are doing throughout the island.
Let them step up to the plate to organize themselves accordingly. If it is their desire to move from town to town or to set up “business” to become an equivalent to a community bazaar, a side-walk sale, a town-park bargain-hunter’s delight, which can be coordinated with the approval from the “powers that be,” requesting that legal and safety requirements are being met, such entrepreneurial activities could be established.
There is something to be said about piggybacking on someone else’s original concept. How would someone having a garage sale at home react to having strangers come and place a lemonade stand nearby to take advantage of the situation? If it were a neighborhood effort, that’s another story.
In the Hanapepe Art Night situation, the vendors should be kept in the park. Food and drink items should be disposed of on the premises and not taken into the stores and shops. That’s plain courtesy and common sense.
Having store-front entertainment is another story. That’s “marketing,” and if the store owners can afford it, that’s their call.
That’s my take on this controversy.
Jose Bulatao, Jr., Kekaha
Wilcox better than
big-city hospital
I recently had the unfortunate experience of having a major medical episode during my most recent visit to Kaua‘i, one of many spanning some 30 years. I spent quite a few days as a patient at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
The total experience I had at Wilcox, safe to say, was better than I have experienced at my big-city hospital near San Clemente.
Not only was the care at Wilcox second to none, 11 days interfacing with the staff really brings home the true aloha spirit of the people of Kaua‘i.
Those of you who live on Kaua‘i are very fortunate to have this hospital, its staff and its most competent physicians.
Wally Roberts, San Clemente, Calif.
It doesn’t go unnoticed
More days than not, as I drive home in the late afternoon and early evenings, I notice a very dedicated good Samaritan. This guy walks along the highway in front of the Wailua Golf Course and beyond picking up trash.
I want to thank him for his loving, generous and much-appreciated service to Kaua‘i. However, he may want to take on a new hobby or project so maybe we can all stop littering! Every time I see him, he has bags heaped with trash.
Once again, thank you for helping keep our island clean.
Rebecca Gorsline, Kapa‘a
Tropical Garden Halloween mahalo
Thank you so much to the staff at the National Tropical Botanical Garden for making Halloween even more enjoyable this year! This was our first chance to see the gardens and see for ourselves what a wonderful treasure they are.
The whole event was pleasantly festive, and all the volunteers and staff were so much fun. I am amazed at how much thought and work went into the decorations and activities. I know my daughters, my wife and I will be hoping for and looking forward to this event again next year.
Mahalo, well done!
Matt Stevenson, Wailua
