• A no for GO! • Fact checking Lingle’s record on Polihale • Energy conservation • KPD should enforce driving laws • KKCR fund drive this week A no for GO! I recently had occasion to fly GO! Airlines and
• A no for GO! • Fact checking Lingle’s record on Polihale • Energy conservation • KPD should enforce driving laws • KKCR fund drive this week
A no for GO!
I recently had occasion to fly GO! Airlines and it was, without a doubt, the worst customer experience of my life.
The trouble began when returning to Kaua‘i from Honolulu.
In an ordeal lasting over three hours, I was photographed by GO! employees without my consent, made to wait needlessly, treated with contempt and disrespect, given the run-around, yelled at, publicly humiliated, verbally abused, physically threatened and ultimately extorted out of $17, just to check a one-inch oversize (allegedly) bag onto a half empty plane.
There is simply no excuse for this type of “service” and needless to say, I won’t be flying on GO! Airlines ever again.
I urge the rest of our community to do the same. Just say, “no Go!” GO! Airlines does not deserve our business.
Larry Richardson
Kapa‘a
Fact checking Lingle’s record on Polihale
On Monday a friend said to me “Hey, I just heard Linda Lingle taking credit for the Polihale (Polihale State Park on Kaua‘i) road project, and I thought it was you guys who did that!”
My friend was referring to a radio ad featuring one of those phony staged phone calls in which Lingle states “…we worked with the community to repair the washed out bridge at Polihale…”
Actually, that project was conceived and completed by a bunch of us working together with lots of volunteer help from both individuals and local companies with the blessings of the DLNR and State Parks Department.
We completed the bulk of the work in a couple of weeks after being told by the state that they would need two years and four million bucks to re-open the park.
To her credit, Lingle DID stay out of our way and didn’t come anywhere near the place as far as I know. After I was done feeling offended by her claim, I laughed and thought of some of the other ways that she, as governor, “worked with our community,” like cutting the salaries of our already under-paid teachers, taking away school days from our under-educated kids, all the while squandering many millions of precious state dollars trying to shove the Superferry down our throats. (By the way, isn’t it time someone did a truly exhaustive probe of that sleazy deal?)
Mazie, I wish I had more than just one vote to give to you!
Andy Johnston
Kalaheo
Energy conservation
Mr. Shaefer (Oct. 23) presents an interesting case against investing in solar energy. Actually, all of his suggestions for conserving energy are excellent. At our house we have done all except for the on-demand water heater, and have additionally stopped using a clothes dryer routinely and no AC (yeah, that counts too). And we added solar panels to the roof.
But the first step is always to cut your energy use by half, then look at solar. Where Mr. Shaefer kind of wanders off into the weeds is where he states building solar power infrastructure is a waste of money.
Calculating a 5 percent increase in petroleum based energy costs per year over the next 10 years, I calculated roughly that the solar array in question will save about 55 million dollars over 10 years based on the KIUC 2010 annual report of $73 million spent for fuel, increasing that amount by 5 percent per year, then taking 6 percent of the result for each year. And solar panel life cycles are generally based on a 20-year life expectancy, not 10 years.
Of course my calculation assumes that oil will increase in price. It is possible natural gas imports will become cheap for Hawai‘i. So far that has not been the experience. Another way to look at it is if we all adopt the measures Mr. Shaefer suggests, the $40M solar array will then provide more like 12 percent of out energy needs. Wait, let get my calculator …
Kurt Rutter
Kapa‘a
KPD should enforce driving laws
I agree with the letter by Jon Hare (Tuesday Oct. 23) regarding the three-way stop sign at the intersection of Kaneka and Nuhou streets. I live in the area and on a daily basis I see numerous drivers run the stop signs, in all directions. Shortly after the signs were installed, I contacted Chief Perry via email expressing my concern over the lack of compliance and enforcement at the intersection.
He responded promptly (thanks chief) informing me that the police department was not made aware in a timely manner of the change in traffic sign control, and was reacting as best as possible to that.
He also stated that “the drivers who use that route on a daily basis will over time become aware of the new signs and comply with them.” Well, it has been almost two months since they were installed and there is still no compliance by some of the “daily route drivers.”
As a retired law enforcement officer from the Los Angeles area, I believe in educating the citizens regarding changes in the law and the proactive enforcement of those laws after the educating period is over. Well Chief Perry, the educating period is over.
Now it is time for proactive verses reactive law enforcement. And while the traffic division is enforcing the stop sign regulation, how about enforcing the speed limit regulation as well? I know that the Kaua‘i Police Department may have a manpower issue and that your officers may be stretched to the limit. If that is the case, how about developing a Reserve Officer Program to help with issues such as these? I’d even be willing to join and work for free if it meant saving a child from being injured.
Craig McConnell
Lihu‘e
KKCR fund drive this week
KKCR’s Fall Fund Drive is happening this week.
Being a non-commercial, community radio station we depend on our listeners financial support to keep thriving and improving. We truly are volunteer-powered and member supported. All the programmers you hear on KKCR are volunteers. When you donate to KKCR you support the right to hear music chosen by people who live on Kaua‘i, instead of a playlist that someone thinks would maximize potential commercial revenue.
Your contribution also supports a forum for you and others to share concerns, ideas, views and opinions via the “airwaves.” Most of what you hear when you tune into KKCR you will not hear on any other radio station.
Has listening to the station ever given you information you deemed of importance? Has a song you heard ever brought back a precious memory for you? Have you been inspired or found interest in thoughts being shared over the airwaves?
KKCR does not have “shareholders,” we have listeners.
When listeners become members we have financial support to cover our operating expenses and continue providing services for Kaua‘i. Our goal for this drive is $75,000 and we need your help to meet our goal. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Please tune into KKCR on your FM dial at 91.9, 92.7 or 91.9 and be a part of community radio.
To pledge your support phone 826-7771 or donate on line at www.kkcr.org
Tracey Schavone
Anahola
