• County has right to regulate GMOs • Other than when buying a piano, Superferry would be good • When Hooser supported GMO County has right to regulate GMOs I support the County of Kauai’s right to regulate GMOs on the island. Clearly,
• County has right to regulate GMOs • Other than when buying a piano, Superferry would be good • When Hooser supported GMO
County has right to regulate GMOs
I support the County of Kauai’s right to regulate GMOs on the island. Clearly, the county and councilmembers are looking out for the health and welfare of the residents of Kauai. As the local government, they have the right to do this. It is disturbing to see the U.S. federal government repeatedly protecting corporate profits at the expense of the health of the people and planet. The ecology of Hawaii naturally evolved over thousands of years into a unique and very special place on Earth, and these GMO companies don’t have any right to destroy that. It would be different if GMO companies behaved responsibly in their manipulations, but as an example:
Monsanto’s modifying plants so that heavy application and dependence of glyphosphates are required is a great example of questionable ethical, moral and public health practices. If I was a farmer in the islands, I would be extremely concerned about contamination from these GMO experiments. The citizens have spoken, boot GMOs out of Hawaii. Good riddance!
Giovanni Pivirotto
Fresno, Calif.
Other than when buying a piano, Superferry would be good
I agree with Marjorie Gifford in her letter titled “The Real Cost of the Superferry” from Sept. 7.
When it’s time for me to travel to Honolulu to buy my grand piano, I won’t care that there is no ferry for me to bring it home to Kauai in my car. Her tip to have the dealer pay for the shipping is certainly something I will remember to negotiate as well.
When we all buy our grand pianos the Superferry won’t help us. And I also agree that more people live on Oahu than live here. So it stands to reason that if the same percentage of folks statewide utilize the ferry more would be from Oahu. So what? The horrors to think that people within our island state would actually travel within that state. And, of course, since these folks live in Hawaii they won’t be spending any money when they come to Kauai. They know better. They’ll all camp and ruin our island. They have less respect for our special place than the tourists from who knows where. And to actually want to drive your own car in Honolulu? It would be far better to just go there and get a driver. Driving over there is terrible and I refuse to rent a car and get around while visiting, yes, a driver to the piano store will be just the ticket. Get real people. We’re an island state and a ferry would be a godsend unless you’re buying a piano.
Gayle Hughes
Kalaheo
When Hooser supported GMO
Dear Mr. Arakawa,
I can personally attest to a time when Gary Hooser supported the use of state lands for agro-science development.
In 2004, while dodging tax questions and vowing to deplete the State Hurricane Relief Fund (sorry Puna), state senatorial contender Gary Hooser came strolling through our Kekaha neighborhood blathering about being the education candidate.
“Well Gary,” I remarked, “for kids to achieve in school they need a stable home life. With Kekaha Sugar closing their doors, many parents are wondering where to look to earn a paycheck. Moms are working two jobs and dads are driving to the other side of the island for employment. What can you do to assist Gay and Robinson with lease acquisitions of the existing Westside sugar lands?”
“They need to go through the bidding process like everyone else,” he told me, “besides, sugar is done, a thing of the past.”
I then asked, “Yet, in light of the established labor force, the ag-designation infrastructure restrictions, and the ADC lease requirements, who else could manage?”
“Don’t you worry,” he replied. “We have people standing in line to take control of those lands.”
“Who?” I asked. “The seed companies?”
“Precisely!” he told me.
Decisive leadership?
Well, maybe not.
A divisive visionary?
Well, you betcha.
William Hartsell
Kekaha
