• Toys for Kaua‘i • Suggestions for Omidyar • Kaua‘i’s humble heroes • Why not indict the mayor? Toys for Kaua‘i Last year the Kaua‘i Marine Corps League detachment lost its affiliation with the national Toys For Tots foundation. This
• Toys for Kaua‘i • Suggestions for Omidyar • Kaua‘i’s humble heroes • Why not indict the mayor?
Toys for Kaua‘i
Last year the Kaua‘i Marine Corps League detachment lost its affiliation with the national Toys For Tots foundation. This was due to a technicality that will be corrected for the 2013 collection drive. This year, the drive will again operate under the local banner of Toys For Kaua‘i.
While the League’s efforts were not affected by this temporary change, it still came up short to the tune of 1,200 gifts for the 2011 Christmas season. This was due to a large increase in the need for gifts and not due to any shortfall in donations. The generosity of Kaua‘i’s ‘ohanas have always been impressive, even in these tough times.
In conjunction with the Salvation Army, and with the help of numerous civic-minded citizens, collecting of toys, gifts and gift certificates will start the weekend after Thanksgiving. Volunteers will be in front of Walmart and Kmart beginning at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas. Cash donations are welcomed and checks should be made out to Kaua‘i Marine Corps League with a notation for Toys For Kaua‘i.
Toys and gifts can also be left at all Kaua‘i fire stations. Donations must be new and not gift-wrapped. Don’t forget early teens. That’s an age group that is often overlooked.
Mahalo from the Marine Corps League and its team of volunteers.
John Burns
Princeville
Suggestions for Omidyar
It doesn’t take a genius or a bunch of scientists, architects and flow charts to find a solution to Pierre Omidyar’s proposal to develop the heights overlooking Hanalei Bay. Here is my solution and it will only involve a number of phone calls, meetings and some high level negotiating.
First, Pierre should recognize that a majority of people on the North Shore of Kaua‘i do not want this development. Sure, he can go ahead and restore the fish pond and build hiking trails around it and perhaps a bicycle path, some picnic tables and restrooms. Then, he can turn this over to the state to be used as a state park for the people of Kaua‘i.
Second, Pierre should enter into some high level negotiations with Jeff Stone to purchase the land around the former Prince Club. Jeff has already cleared much of the land, and Pierre can then build his homes and hotel on the heights facing ‘Anini Beach.
Pierre can also negotiate to buy the clubhouse and build a new swimming pool and fitness center for the use of his projects and the people who live on the North Shore.
Pierre can also negotiate to purchase the Princeville airport from Jeff Stone to fly his rich buyers into his new Princeville project.
Lastly, Pierre can try to buy the Prince Course from Jeff Stone and make playing there affordable for residents of the North Shore. This plan could make everyone happy and put us all back in the aloha spirit.
Richard L. Turner
Princeville
Kaua‘i’s humble heroes
On Oct. 26, between 4:30 and 5 p.m. at Kealia Beach, Kapa‘a, three girls became guardian angels for a lady in distress. Shyann Rosa, Chloe Matsuda and Jazlyn Rapozo saved a lady from drowning at Kealia Beach.
They heard a lady yelling for help. Shyann grabbed Chloe’s body board, swam out and placed the lady on the board. All three of these girls escorted her and her friend to the safety of the shallow waters at Kealia Beach. As they neared the shoreline, the lady was really grateful and thanked them for saving her life. Just before they reached the shore, her friend was heard to say, “Lucy, lets go.” They hurriedly left the beach into their car and drove away.
I would like to let Lucy know that she can be thankful that these three humble girls were there for her. There are many stories like this on Kaua‘i, where our youth rescue someone, but no one knows except the kids. I just wanted to recognize these three heroes.
Gordon Muramaru
Kapa‘a
Why not indict the mayor?
On Nov. 16, we learned in The Garden Island newspaper that the County Director of Human Resources was indicted by the County Grand Jury, and a warrant was issued for her arrest, for falsifying records to cover up Mayor Carvalho’s theft of county paid gasoline over a period of years (perhaps using county funds to purchase gas for his other family cars).
Strangely, we have not learned of the mayor being indicted. This is like a bank robbery where you indict the driver of the get away car and don’t indict the robber. Since the human resources director reports to, and can be fired by, the mayor, it is extremely unlikely that she had any role in, or benefited from the theft by the mayor. If the mayor is not indicted by the Grand Jury and criminally charged it is clearly not for the lack of evidence as the Grand Jury has shown that they already have the evidence.
If stealing gas over a period of years seems petty, one might remember when the most powerful member of Congress was indicted for selling stamps over a period of years to staff and friends to increase his personal income. That member of Congress was indicted, criminally charged, convicted and jailed. Let us hope that the Kaua‘i Grand Jury has the same respect for the law, and the equality of persons, and are not reluctant to indict and county officials criminally charge Mayor Carvalho for theft. One of President Kennedy’s favorite sayings was: “Those who the gods would destroy, they first make blind with greed.”
Joseph Frisinger
Princeville
