• Learn your bridges • Mahalo nui loa for Po‘ipu Road Design Workshop • Knuckles made my visit • Atheism and Agnosticism are actually religions Learn your bridges Having been born on Kaua‘i and having worked as an inspector for
• Learn your bridges • Mahalo nui loa for Po‘ipu Road Design Workshop • Knuckles made my visit • Atheism and Agnosticism are actually religions
Learn your bridges
Having been born on Kaua‘i and having worked as an inspector for the Department of Transportation for 36 years I would like to set the record straight about one-lane and two-lane bridges.
Certain council members and some members from the public have been trying to make the case that one-lane bridges are just as safe as two-lane bridges. The facts will prove this is not true.
In August of 1980 I was the state highway inspector for the Kuhio Highway at Hanalei Safety Improvement project. The one-lane bridge located about 500 feet from the existing steel bridge on Kuhio Highway was repaired with a two-lane bridge due to the accidents being caused by the one-lane bridge. This was called the Structure 1 project.
Then in August 1983 a one-lane bridge on Kuhio Highway in Haena, a Structure 2 project, was also repaired with a two-lane bridge for safety purposes.
These two replacements alone are evidence that one-lane bridges are more dangerous than two-lane bridges. Mr. Takeshita has given facts about more accidents happening on one-lane bridges and thus, over the years, the FHS has mandated that, for safety reasons, their funds can only be used for two-lane bridges.
Historical importance may be a valid reason for a bridge being one lane but it should never trump the important of safety for the driving public.
Joe Rosa
Lihu‘e
Mahalo nui loa for Po‘ipu Road Design Workshop
I want to thank the County, Get Fit Kaua‘i, and everyone involved in putting together the three day Po‘ipu Road Design Workshop last weekend on the south shore. I am so grateful that I was able to attend both of the walking audits and all three workshop meetings.
I know some of you reading this might be wondering who in their right mind would feel “grateful” for getting to walk around Po‘ipu for several hours and then attend three separate workshops to discuss the roads?!
I sure do and I bet everyone else who attended any portion of the workshop would say the same thing! Two nationally known experts on creating walkable, bikeable communities across the U.S. facilitated the three day workshop and what we learned from them was simply amazing.
The County’s press release stated some of the topics to be covered were: “…how residents and visitors can shop, dine, go to the beach, and enjoy all that the south shore has to offer; how can the area be made safer for children to walk to school in Koloa; what are the options for people that work in the area for getting to and from work; and how can problems such as speeding and parking be addressed.”
As a group we covered all of those topics and more as we actively participated in designing and creating a vision for the south shore based on input and ideas from everyone involved. The workshop sure changed my way of thinking.
As I drove to work today I realized I will no longer be able to look at another road the same as I envision what a significant impact even a few small changes can make to transform an ordinary road into a true village that meets the needs of all users in a safe and efficient way.
I’m hopeful that the excitement and enthusiasm shared at these workshops will continue to gain momentum as we all work together to move forward and take the next steps.
Kymry Perez
Po‘ipu
Knuckles made my visit
April 2010 was my first visit to Kaua‘i. “The Garden Isle” seemed to be the perfect spot for me to recuperate after my double mastectomy because of breast cancer. We had a wonderful visit to the island. We traveled in kayaks, helicopters, snorkeling boat trips and car to “see it all.”
The experience I most looked forward to was the walk around Hanalei bay. I first heard about Hanalei when my mother played “Puff the Magic Dragon on her ukulele when I was about 8 years old. Now I was on Hanalei beach with the sand under my feet. My husband and friends were snorkeling while I enjoyed the sand between my toes.
As I was walking along Hanalei beach I was joined by a very friendly dog. I checked his collar, it clearly read “KNUCKLES.”
He became my immediate friend. Knuckles walked with me and didn’t leave my side. We walked through some fresh water, he stopped to take a drink. Finally I just found a place to sit on the beach and look at Puff’s outline in the mountain.
Knuckles dug himself a spot in the cool sand beside me, curled up and went to sleep.
I sat next to him alternately petting his back and rubbing his legs. He seemed to enjoy just being there. What I need to tell you is how much he helped me. Just having him there next to me was a very healing experience.
Thank you Susan for caring for Knuckles and allowing him the freedom to care for me.
Allison Cole
Sheridan, Wyoming
Atheism and Agnosticism are actually religions
One of the many definitions of religion is a system of faith and a common bond of worship.
Atheism and Agnosticism are actually religions in their own realm since one of the many definitions of religion is a system of faith.
An atheist is actually practicing a system of faith and common bondage with others, that faith being, not believing in a God.
This is similar to a Christian saying he or she is a non-denominational Christian, and when visiting other cities will usually seek a church calling itself non-denominational, which is in essence a denomination.
May God, Darwin and anybody else anyone believes in, bless us!
James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapa’a
