Letters for Tuesday, February 11, 2014

• Airport should deal with taxi problems • Warden dedicated to helping inmates • Missile range might make wildlife refuge • Military provides the freedoms we enjoy

Airport should deal with taxi problems

Walter Bonderoff hit the nail squarely on the head (The Garden Island, Feb. 6). His observation is typical of many other visitor complaints regarding taxi operations at this airport.

To begin, let me point out that most taxi operators provide the public with the on-demand services they deserve. However, just as in any other business, there are some taxi operators whose practice may be considered unscrupulous. What Mr. Bonderoff describes is one of them.

Unfortunately, Mr. Bonderoff’s experience happens all too often.

In the past, legitimate taxi operators have advised airport management of this (and many other) problems regarding taxis, yet airport management has refused to address them. The traveling public suffers.

It should be relatively easy for airport management to investigate and identify the particular driver in question. If Mr. Bonderoff’s allegations prove true then the offending driver should face disciplinary action.

I believe this would be a step in the right direction.

I would like to thank Mr. Bonderoff for taking the time to write his letter. Hopefully, under public pressure, airport management will begin to right all the wrongs they have been aware of for years.

Visitors to this wonderful and beautiful island should always be welcomed with aloha.

Bill Doherty, Kapaa

Warden dedicated to helping inmates

In regards to the recent allegations against Warden Neal Wagatsuma, I am writing to state that I was a member of the LTS program at KCCC and while I was there I did not have any issues with the setting of the day-to-day learning that I was given. In fact, I attribute a lot of my success of eight years of being crime, drug, and domestic violence free directly to the warden’s training program. I learned how to live my life in a positive direction where I was able to heal from my abusive past and gain a perspective of who I was then and who I am today. I am now in my master’s program aspiring to be a clinical psychologist where I can help others who once have gone down the same road I was once living on.

Neal Wagatsuma has dedicated his life to this community and his entire purpose has been to help those who no one else on this island wanted to, he has given me my life back and I know his heart and intentions have always been of the purest form. My hope is that people within this community will not judge reports without knowing all the facts first, because behind every allegation there is another part of the story yet to be told.  

Truth is never easy to swallow, especially when we as individuals know the truth. But once we admit the truth we ultimately embrace change and live within that.

Andrea Makepa, Hanapepe

Missile range might make wildlife refuge

I’m with Gordon LaBedz (TGI, Feb. 9) regarding his take on the Navy missile range at Mana. Not so sure, though, that the place would make a great national park, but it could be a great wildlife refuge. At one time the Mana marshlands, watered by artesian springs originating from the Kokee uplands, harbored many thousands of waterfowl, both native and migratory. There were also vast fields of taro, and later rice. The marshes were drained when sugar became king. The Navy has ensured that the marshes stay drained. Too bad.

Dave Au, San Diego

Military provides the freedoms we enjoy

Mr. Gordon LaBedz (TGI, Sunday, Feb. 9) is confusing Kauai with a Fantasy Island world where North Korea’s dictator is really peace loving and we do not need to spend money on a missile defense system. Is he sure threats of nuclear attack against the U.S. are just a misunderstanding, just as his execution of his uncle’s family was? Mr. LaBenz would not be enjoying the freedoms he does if it were not for our military.

“Freedom is not free!”

John Rogers, Bozeman, Mont.