• Who will be the new personnel director? • On suicides, mass murders and drugs • Preserve Wailua’s sacred grounds • The spirit of Grace Land at Wailua • Marijuana needs to be decriminalized • Who will be the new
• Who will be the new personnel director? • On suicides, mass murders and drugs • Preserve Wailua’s sacred grounds • The spirit of Grace Land at Wailua • Marijuana needs to be decriminalized •
Who will be the new personnel director?
Now that the personnel director has been relieved of his duties, we are all waiting to see whether Janine Rapozo, wife of campaign manager, Lenny Rapozo, will be get what she wanted and be appointed in the position. The rumors will no longer be rumors but the truth. A political obligation will have been fulfilled. Perfect example of how the mayor abuses his power and people should seriously question both their integrity after being accused of stealing from the county.
Just think, now as a TEAM, what else will they steal from the people of Kaua’i? Wake up Kaua’i. Voice your opinions and ask questions or be raped by this dynamic duo. Our budget is already in trouble, do we want to end up like California?
Janna Greene
Kalaheo
On suicides, mass murders and drugs
On Jan. 28, The Garden Island ran an editorial pointing out the increased suicide rates in the military. It cited the “stress” and “psychological toll” that combat duty can have on our young men and women, and the “anxiety and depression” that this can lead to. But the problem with this is that people in combat have always been put in similar stressful situations. What’s different now is the way we treat depression and anxiety.
With a trip to the psychiatrist’s or mental health professional’s office, a person is likely to walk out with a prescription for one or more psychotropic (mood altering) drugs (i.e. Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, etc.). However, these drugs now come with a “black box” warning, indicating the increased risk of suicide in young adults aged 18-24 (coincidentally the age of many in the military).
Unfortunately, this often gets overlooked, which is probably why it didn’t get mentioned in the above editorial. And it’s not just the military that’s in the news because of these anti-depressive drugs. It’s also a factor in cases of mass murders such as we recently saw in the Sandy Hook school shootings. If you want to check this out, try doing a simple Google search for “school shootings and prescription drugs.” You’ll discover that virtually all of the shooters were on one kind of anti-depressive drug or another, going all the way back to Columbine.
Personally, I think that giving drugs that carry an increased risk of violence and suicide to depressed or mentally unstable patients is morally and ethically wrong. How many more people need to die before this is seriously addressed?
Bob Swiyrn
Kapa‘a
Preserve Wailua’s sacred grounds
According to the website Coco-Palms.com/history, the Wailua area in which the property is located is culturally, spiritually and historically significant. The property is significant with many on Kaua‘i because it is in very close proximity to three of the most important historical heiaus on Kaua‘i.
Nearby is the beginning point of the legendary walk of the ali‘i spirits on their path up the mountainside and around the island (King’s Trail). The royal bell stone, significant as the blessing place for over 1,000 years of Kaua‘i’s rulers, prior to their births is less than one mile from the corner of the property.
There are also important ancient burial sites throughout the area, including on the grounds of the property. In fact some believe the proper translation of Wailua is spirits.
Please preserve land. People, we need no more parking lots. Take care of the people who need fresh air now and not two years from now.
Barbara Beissert
Kilauea
The spirit of Grace Land at Wailua
Some look at Coco Palms and grumble what an eyesore
Some see the shambled remains and sigh for yester-yore
Some ask what will Kaua‘i’s peoples stand for?
Some think the spirit of Grace confounds the unblessed sale
Some wonder if only the highest use will finally prevail
Some ask what will Kaua‘i’s peoples truly hail?
Some grieve our keiki falling prey to the enticements of intoxicants
Some see their outlook offering only one which disenchants
Some ask what will Kaua’i’s peoples advance?
Some hope the future of these grounds that hosted Queens and Kings
Someday can host the healing that Recovery brings
Some ask what will Kaua‘i’s peoples give to wings?
Anna Nimatee
Kapa‘a
Marijuana needs to be decriminalized
The state of Hawai‘i has defined marijuana as a medicine and legalized its use as such. It should immediately be decriminalized and its use transferred to the Health Department fully.
It should be made available to everyone over 21 years of age, just like alcohol, without any discrimination and it should be dispensed by state-owned and private dispensaries, including pharmacies.
It is available now as the state’s No. 1 agricultural product and biggest illegal money maker.
A large amount of this product sold here is from California, sold in Hawai‘i as “locally grown” to fulfill the demand for it by the military, tourists and local residents. It’s all a matter of good health, happiness and prosperity.
Lama Tashi Dundrup
Kapa‘a
