• Lack of ERs could be fatal for North Shore, Westside residents • Lost wallet returned, completely untouched • Second Amendment is not about gun control • 8 bus shelters planned for this year Lack of ERs could be fatal
• Lack of ERs could be fatal for North Shore, Westside residents • Lost wallet returned, completely untouched • Second Amendment is not about gun control • 8 bus shelters planned for this year
Lack of ERs could be fatal for North Shore, Westside residents
Did you notice that there are only two main hospitals on Kaua‘i? Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital is in Waimea, which is on the Westside, and then there’s Wilcox Memorial Hospital, which is on the Eastside in the Lihu‘e area.
It’s not fair for residents who live more than 10 to 15 minutes away by vehicle to get to an emergency room — especially residents who live in Hanalei or Princeville. If we are not able to have more hospitals on the island, at least have more dispatches for the Fire Department or ambulances.
I’m not asking for more stations. I’m just suggesting we should have more places to dispatch the KFD or medics to arrive to the situation sooner. Are the majority of dispatched ambulances from either KVMH or Wilcox?
And as for the fire stations, there are only so many on the island. I was talking to one of the fire inspectors and he told me a story that he had to do CPR for three hours before the medics arrived. This is just something to consider.
It does make me sad that there are a number of people, not just people I know but in general, that might not make it in time if they had to drive far to the emergency room. I hope this letter advocates the message that I’m trying to get across, because I’m speaking for everyone on the island.
Ashley Linoz
Kaumakani
Lost wallet returned, completely untouched
Mahalo mui to Times Big Save market and Subway in Hanalei. Misplacing a wallet can really downgrade one’s day. I did just that last week when making a purchase at the Subway sandwich counter in the Hanalei Times Big Save market.
The following day, when retracing my steps, I inquired at the counter, and viola, the wallet, totally intact, was found. The relief was further enhanced when the staff refused any reward, stating it was only proper to return it.
Here, we often use a standard phrase to describe many of the good things about Kaua‘i. The people of Subway and Times Big Save market at Hanalei are another reason to say “lucky we live Kaua‘i.”
Russell Boyer
Hanalei
Second Amendment is not about gun control
Well regulated, in relation to the Second Amendment, does not mean restricted. Before you start trying to dictate what the Constitution states, perhaps you should spend some time studying history.
Back in the day, the young, fresh faced states were all about being armed and provisioned, but at that point in history we weren’t a wealthy super power, so the everyday citizens were recommended to make sure they were capable of forming well-regulated militias.
Now what does that mean?
Does that mean restricted, controlled? No, it means well-maintained, provisioned, stocked. It means having a fighting force with a reliable amount of powder and lead, reliable weaponry and good stores. So in short, no, it has nothing to do with gun control and restrictions.
And people, please stop calling guns you don’t like assault rifles or weapons. It is either a “sporting rifle” or “semi automatic rifle.” AR stands for ArmaLite, not evil murderous assault rifle.
Be passionate about your ideals and views. But stop misspeaking and trying to misdirect things in an effort to demonize them.
Will Sexton
Kilauea
8 bus shelters planned for this year
A recent letter to the editor questioned when additional bus shelters might be provided at county bus stops.
Mayor Carvalho’s Holo Holo 2020 Vision includes providing a shelter for every county bus stop on the Garden Island. Granted, this effort will take some time. However, in October or November of this year, we will begin seeing construction on the first eight of 46 bus stop locations that are currently being designed.
The design work includes surveying of the 46 sites, completing Auto CAD (computer aided designs), developing bus stop design guidelines to be used in all future bus stop projects, securing any necessary SMA (special management area) permits and assuring the shelters are ADA-compliant.
Our contractor, SSFM, will in the next month complete the production of the schematic drawings for the project, along with construction cost estimates.
We have an existing $240,000 in county CIP funding. Preliminary estimates of a development cost of $30,000 per shelter would result in approximately eight locations being completed with the current funding.
The Transportation Agency has also identified an additional $200,000 in existing federal monies for which a funding reallocation request will be submitted to the State Department of Transportation for this project.
Approval of this request will result in an additional $200,000, and will provide for the completion of approximately six more locations. Many community organizations will assist in erecting the structures once the design and preliminary construction is complete.
We look forward to seeing bus shelters coming up all over the island before year’s end.
Celia Mahikoa
Executive on Transportation
County of Kaua‘i
Lihu‘e
