• Extraordinary wrong? • TVR trash talk • Are you nuts? • Kudos to KPAC • Your bodies, yourselves Extraordinary wrong? TGI has reported this week that Rep. Mark Takai plus 4 military personnel or veterans and a sixth person
• Extraordinary wrong? • TVR trash talk • Are you nuts? • Kudos to KPAC • Your bodies, yourselves
Extraordinary wrong?
TGI has reported this week that Rep. Mark Takai plus 4 military personnel or veterans and a sixth person challenged the constitutionality of the state’s redistricting plan in a Hawai‘i District Court. The intent of the lawsuit is to include 100,000 military personnel, their dependents and out-of-state university students in the political district population totals “in order to remedy extraordinary wrongs.”
Most Hawaiians consider the nearly 100,000 U.S. military personnel to be foreign occupiers of the sovereign Kingdom of Hawai‘i, and not its permanent residents. They are the uninvited guests of the Hawaiian nation, and I don’t know any kanaka maoli who would like to have them here permanently. They are here to serve the interest of the United States, but it has nothing to do with defending Hawai‘i, because no nation is threatening the Hawaiian Islands. Even in the case of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese targeted the U.S. military and not the Hawaiians. The presence of U.S. military in our island nation is more of a danger than a benefit, because it will make these islands the prime target of military responses from other countries after an aggressive first strike launched against them from our islands by the U.S. military.
It’s not enough to have around 100,000 U.S. military personnel here; soon we will get around 2,500 more represented by the troops that were kicked out of Okinawa (oh, pardon me, “will be transferred here in the framework of strategic troop realignment,” to preserve the politically correct term). They were not liked there; do you think that they would be here?
Even if the upcoming elections are their elections, closing all U.S. military bases in the Hawaiian Islands would be a great peace action that would benefit not only the Hawaiians but the entire peace-loving world. Let those military personnel go home with their families and worry about the redistricting of states they can call their own. And that will be a true and just remedy for the extraordinary wrong of their being here.
János Keoni Samu, Kalaheo
TVR trash talk
This new trash fee for transient vacation rentals is just one more poke at legal vacation rentals. I’ve been in the business over 15 years and find the guests from the mainland are so used to recycling that after departure, we often find separated cans, glass and paper, which the cleaning people take to recycle. Instead of going after the hundreds of known illegal vacation rentals, the county just adds fees to the legal ones.
It seems better to be illegal, as we all know the county will do nothing about them. The tax the county gets from legal TVRs is huge. If a little time was spent to find the illegal rentals and fine them they could recoup a lot more then this trash fee. Most owners on the mainland have not received the letter yet, but it is to go into effect in about two weeks. That does not seem fair.
People seem to think because you have a rental, you make a lot of money; in fact, you are lucky to break even, with the taxes and high maintenance. As a rental the home must be kept in good shape, which adds a better look to the island.
Therese Zeller, Kilauea
Are you nuts?
Michael Shooltz’s letter to the editor, (April 27, “Power Play”) was alarming. If what he claims is true, then the only thing transparent about KIUC is their concern over the results of their last Board of Directors election. The new kids on the block are on our side for a change and that’s why we put them there.
It’s not unusual for KIUC staff to be on their various committees, but even suggesting they be allowed to vote is asking for trouble. What could possibly be their justification? Lost a few cronies? Need to restack the deck? Are you nuts?
Try this and another petition will certainly be on its way.
Vince Cosner, Lihu‘e
Kudos to KPAC
On Saturday night my husband & I went to see “My Fair Lady,” the current KPAC production, and loved it. Once again, thetalent of Kaua‘i’s youth is apparent in this delightful musical. The actors do a wonderful job singing and dancing and the sets and costumes are top-notch, too. They have a live orchestra performing all the music as well. If you want to enjoy a wonderful theater experience and support Kaua‘i’s talented high school students, please attend one of their performances this weekend. There are only three shows left: Friday & Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e. Mahalo to everyone who made this wonderful production of “My Fair Lady” possible.
Tracey Schavone, Anahola
Your bodies, yourselves
Men don’t have monthly menstrual periods. Men don’t get pregnant and give life and birth to humans. Men don’t go through menopause. Men, including the Pope, don’t have the right to tell women anything about their sexual activities, and the results of their sexual activities.
A woman’s body is her own responsibility, period. The giving of life or not is her choice only. If men don’t honor women’s wishes and support women’s decisions, this planet of humans will continue to be full of pain and suffering on all levels of existence.
Ah, women!
Lama Tashi Dundrup, Kapa‘a
