• Kind Kauai • Out with the politicians • Rules of crosswalks • Keep fighting the good fight Kind Kauai I am a visitor to your lovely island community. I am from Oregon and staying at Garden Island Inn. On Nov.
• Kind Kauai • Out with the politicians • Rules of crosswalks • Keep fighting the good fight
Kind Kauai
I am a visitor to your lovely island community. I am from Oregon and staying at Garden Island Inn.
On Nov. 12 I had the unfortunate experience of falling and injuring myself. The staff called 911 and I was taken to the hospital for evaluation and then rechecked again the following day.
The kindness, care and concern that I have experienced from firemen, paramedics, nurses, doctors, etc. has been overwhelming. Your community’s spirit of kindness is real and tangible, and I have been blessed by it.
Special thanks to Steve, Liz and Shelia at the Garden Island Inn for everything — and so much more.
I have heard it said that “kindness can be heard by the deaf and seen by the blind.” Kindness is alive here. Thank you.
Teresa “Terry” Waters, Oregon
Out with the politicians
I agree 100 percent with the letter Anne Punohu wrote in The Forum recently. She said that people should not fear the politicians, but the politicians should fear the people. The people have had it up to here with this patronizing attitude from our elected officials.
I have only one thing to add. Throw the bums out! Especially Bernard Carvalho.
Jerry J. Sokugawa, Kekaha
Rules of crosswalks
At approximately 1145 hours on Nov. 17 I was driving northbound fronting Times Supermarket in Kukui Grove and near the crosswalk when I noticed a white male with close to shoulder-length hair still under the overhang pushing his cart. I proceeded with caution and was halfway through the crosswalk when the man who had not yet passed the parked cars nearest the store yelled out to me. I had no time to yield and drove off feeling bad and wanted to see what the law had to say regarding crosswalks in Hawaii.
According to the DOT website, “The law does not require a motorist to stop for a pedestrian on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street. The pedestrian must be crossing within the crosswalk.” Hawaii Statutes – Section 291C-72 (b) states: “No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.”
While it is the law for drivers to use caution near crosswalks, the law also places the responsibility upon the pedestrian as well. That people stop their cars to allow pedestrians to cross while waiting at curbside is a courtesy extended by drivers. Courtesy by pedestrians, less expletives are always welcomed, too.
Dominic Acain, Kekaha
Keep fighting the good fight
We did it, we did it once again! The 2491 vote on Saturday was historic. I am so proud of our informed and persevering community. It proves once again that we must insist on home rule, integrity, health and environmental protection.
Time and time again we have challenged corruption, greed, dominance and exploitation with heart and soul.
We fought to protect the North Shore from resort development by keeping the one-lane bridge on the Hanalei River.
We fought the misguided attempt to develop the Makaleha Spring up a sacred and wild valley.
The super ferry went down on our shores and now we have insisted on the right to know what toxins are being sprayed on thousands of acres of the Garden Island, affecting people’s — and the aina’s — health.
My heartfelt thanks goes out to the thousands of people who volunteered their precious time, ingenuity and skills to forge, uphold and pass Bill 2491.
Each skirmish helps us to get stronger and more cohesive as a community. We, the people, are the fourth branch of government and are learning to enforce our rights and responsibilities.
We will continue to get stronger, because we have many challenges ahead. We cannot go to sleep on the pesticide issue, GMO’s, the Public Land Development Corporation, nor on the proposed drilling of Kahili/Waialeale.
Gov. Abercrombie is not fit to serve a second term. We also know now who on the county council we vote back in and who we vote out. This is also our responsibility as the fourth (actually the first and most important) branch of government.
Arius Hopman, Hanapepe
