Letters for Tuesday, March 12, 2013

• Beautiful but deadly • Annoying fob • Embrace GMO • Thank you, KIUC

Beautiful but deadly

My son, Cory M. German, moved to Lihu‘e in 2006. We considered him an experience swimmer and diver.

But on March 15, 2008, all that experience didn’t matter as he was battered by the waves off of Po‘ipu Beach never to be found. So it was with much interest I read the March 8 letter suggesting information be given to tourists about the ocean surrounding your island.

I know it is too late for my son, but if it could be helpful to one person visiting or moving there, it is worth the effort.

I also must send a huge thank you to all the dedicated people who searched for Cory for three days. I don’t have specific names but we appreciate all your time and energy spent looking for Cory.

We will never loose hope that one day we will be contacted that he was found.

Until then, I pray that no other parent, brother or sister has to live with the pain of never having their child come home from Kaua‘i

Donna German-Clause

Slatiington, Pa.

Annoying fob

My husband and I recently visited your island for the first time. The laid back lifestyle and the incredible beauty made it a special holiday for us.

Just one thing we wanted to mention was the continuous disruption of the peace by people locking their cars with the fob.

We implore you to ask the car rental companies to disable this feature on all their cars so the tranquility of Kaua‘i is not tainted by this unnecessary horn honking.

Liz Edmunson

British Columbia, Canada

Embrace GMO

I’ve worked in both the lab and field in agriculture, but never in the field of GMO. However, I do understand the industry.

The fears being expressed by those opposed, are groundless. Since the thalidomide disaster of years ago, it’s been “covering yourself” time in the regulatory agencies of both the FDA and USDA. Literally, a mountain of data must be submitted to both before approvals are given. In the case of GMOs, that mountain has been even higher due to the voiced concerns of the entire world, especially Europe.

Man has been manipulating genes since the beginning of agriculture 8,000 years ago. We now have found a better way to do it. GMO products have given man much greater freedom and control over the vagaries of nature. Corn, rice, wheat can now be raised without many major destructive pests. RoundUp can be sprayed directly onto crops resulting in much less tillage and ground compaction. Many plant diseases have been eliminated. All without any effect on the food value of the crop itself.

Kaua‘i, due to its isolation and lovely climate is an Eden for this research. Hundreds of jobs have been created with many more to follow. Chasing the companies away will kill the goose that is enriching our island.

GMO crops promise to feed the exploding populations of the earth for years to come. Kaua‘i can be an essential part of this promise.

There is nothing to fear. Google this. Inform yourself.

Fawn Smith

Princeville

Thank you, KIUC

In my letter to KIUC published on The Garden Island Feb. 19, I asked the following question: “How much is KIUC paying A&B for the solar energy being generated at the new Port Allen solar farm?

Response was rapid, and Mr. Jim Kelly responded with “20 cents per kwh.” Thank you for your prompt reply; it is highly appreciated.             

Today I request your help again. How much will KIUC be paying for kwh generated by the upcoming bio-mass Green Energy Team LLC of Kaua‘i facility?                                                        

In your first reply you mentioned that such pricing information is available at the Public Utilities Commission in Honolulu as a matter of “public record”.

Having spent more than a hour on the phone with the PUC, neither the PUC agent nor I could find any mention of the Power Purchase Agreement price in the most recent document: Document No. 2011-0032 which was approved.

Could you please respond once again via The Garden Island?

Once again, mahalo and aloha.

John Hoff

Lawa‘i