• Legislature hard at work? • Population boom equals less resources • The cause of bird deaths are complex • We need to clean up our act • Protecting Wailua led to our arrests • I apologize for my eco-friendly
• Legislature hard at work? • Population boom equals less resources • The cause of bird deaths are complex • We need to clean up our act • Protecting Wailua led to our arrests • I apologize for my eco-friendly van • Will liberals embrace compromises? • Mahalo to Wilcox Hospital staff • Will you help with my report?
Legislature hard at work?
It’s great to know that our Legislature is working so hard on earth-shaking issues, such as protecting us from GMO foods and protecting so-called celebrities from us. Keep up the good work!
Joyce McDowell
Kilauea
Population boom equals less resources
In the last 50 years our country’s population has better than doubled. A good portion of our citizens rely on the government for survival even though they are very capable of being productive, responsible, tax-paying citizens.
We all know and must understand the consequences of the continuing behavior of society and what will take place if it continues on the rampant pace that exists. There is now no reason to worry about the future. At our local Walmart you can purchase a large bucket of survival food (203 serving pouches) — no MSG or GMOs — with a shelf life of 25 years for $86.87.
There’s a limited supply better hurry before it all comes to a head.
Steve Martin
Kapa‘a
The cause of bird deaths are complex
As I read Sue Scotts response to Mr. Patterson’s letter about cats, I look out my window and see two dead birds. My wife works for a vet and brings home the ones “destined for the freezer.” She doesn’t bring them all but we are up to 22. They stay in a confined area in the backyard.
The dead birds flew into my window for some reason. I guess that the one that I hit with my car was doing the same.
I’m glad that I don’t live near or know Mr. Patterson. Simple minds offer simple solutions.
Chip Nelson
Asheboro, N.C.
We need to clean up our act
The Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean are actually located in the most isolated spot on planet Earth. As such, the “malama ‘aina” principles to protect and preserve our finite resources should be the foremost priority for all of us.
This is our shared kuleana (responsibility), and each and everyone of us must adhere to stewardship principles and practices. This is why it is important to have clarity, transparency and accountability in the ways we use our water and land with regard to the use of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, fossil fuels and other contaminants in our environment.
We can’t place the blame on OTHERS for being the culprits. If we are responsible in any way, we need to clean up our act! The time has come for each of us to be a part of the ways in which we each can take care of our environment. It requires effort. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations.
Jose Bulatao Jr.
Kekaha
Protecting Wailua led to our arrests
Our peaceful action on Wailua Beach on Feb. 6 to protect the sacredness of this shoreline, and specifically the Mahuapu‘uone Heiau, resulted in our arrest and being charged with “obstructing government operations.” We were told by both Kaikor management and the KPD officers this was bring done for our safety, in which we responded, “what about the safety of this sacred site and the protection of the Hawaiian culture, which benefits everyone?”
We hold nothing against the construction crews of Kaikor, Petersen and Pacific Concrete. Some of them expressed to us they understood the erosion that could happen and the sacredness of the beach and the heiau area.
Kaikor workers told us, especially as being local people from Kaua‘i, that they didn’t want to wreck that kuahu or alter and that someone else would have to deal with it. They showed us nothing but real aloha and no harsh words or gestures were exchanged between us.
As working people ourselves, we understand where they are coming from and they are just trying to support their families. The arresting KPD officers and those that booked and fingerprinted us in the station, also showed us the same respect. For this we thank them as well.
Mayor Carvalho stated in a news release after our arrests that he was “very dismayed.” Actually the mayor and his closest bike path supporters like Tom Noyes, Tim Bynum and Doug Haigh should be very embarrassed for the desecration that they have unleashed on our precious Wailua Beach.
James Alalem
Wailua
Ray Catania
Puhi
I apologize for my eco-friendly van
My sincere apologies to the people of Kilauea, and to those that travel into Kilauea via Kilauea Road.
We have a van that is no longer running parked in our yard.
For some reason it has become a tourist attraction.
Every day for the past 8 years or so tourists have been stopping by to take pictures of or with the van.
Sometimes they block traffic.
I have often asked them out of curiosity and numerous have said it’s because it’s eco-friendly.
We have funds to remove it and we have been offered by community members the fund to tow it away, but truthfully we find it amusing on the amount of people that stop by daily.
So if you’ve experienced waiting behind a car that’s stopped to take pictures, I humbly apologize for the delay.
Lynette M. Viluan
Kilauea
Will liberals embrace compromises?
I read with interest the editorial penned by Donna Brazile in the Feb. 12 edition of TGI. Specifically, she quoted Eric Cantor describing conservative principles of self-reliance, faith in the individual, trust in the family and accountability in government. Her response was that she endorses them all.
OK, let’s take them one by one and compare them to the current administration’s performance and track record:
Conservative value – self-reliance. Liberal results – millions more Americans on welfare in the last four years.
Conservative value – faith in the individual. Liberal results – extending unemployment benefits giving a sense of lost hope for millions of Americans looking for work.
Conservative value – trust in the family. Liberal results – abortion on demand with the government and insurance companies paying parents to kill their unborn child.
Conservative value – accountability in government. Liberal results – uncontrolled government spending, unsustainable national debt, passing the buck to generations to come, government run amok.
Ms. Brazile finishes her comments by stating, in part, that the Republican establishment needs to become more tolerant of the diversity taking shape in our society.
In view of the above values expressed by the Republican Party, I can only suggest that for these values to be compromised in the interest of “tolerance” would only prove the oft quoted observation that “When good negotiates with evil, evil wins!”
Dave Stokley
Kapa‘a
Mahalo to Wilcox Hospital staff
After many winter vacations from Alaska to Kaua‘i, we consider this island our second home.
Our first visit was our honeymoon, 28 years ago. We have always loved the beauty of the land, sea and people who live here.
Recently a sudden illness led me to the Wilcox Memorial Hospital ER shortly after 4 in the morning.
Knowing this is a remote island with a relatively small population, we had no idea what to expect in the way of care. After two days I was discharged, with instructions on how to continue my recovery.
During my hospitalization, everyone we encountered was very professional and extraordinarily and sincerely caring.
Mahalo to Dr. Downs, Dr. Miyashiro and to the nurses and assistants on the fourth floor. We are deeply grateful for your help.
Rob and Jackie Shoaf
Anchorage, Alaska
Will you help with my report?
My name is Chloe. I am a 4th grader at Evansville Day School in Evansville, Ind. I am working on a state report on Hawai‘i.
I would appreciate it if you could publish my letter in your newspaper so that your readers could send me postcards, brochures or anything else that would help me with my report.
Could you please have them send the information by April 1, 2013?
Chloe Gonzales
3400 N. Green River Rd.
Evansville, IN 47715
