Letters for Jan. 17, 2016

Letters for Jan. 17, 2016

Get involved, learn about candidates

The upcoming election specifically for Kauai County Council will be a very important one. I think we all have seen the division amongst our elected officials and that does not help our community. Now more than ever we need fresh new candidates with new ideas, willing to work together and hungry to work for our island.

I would also like to encourage the younger generation to get involved, research on candidates and cast a vote. As much as people are on social media, you can spare some time and look candidates up. The only thing that is on the line is our future.

Wally Nishimura

Anahola

Shacks for homeless a good idea

In recent news, they announced that the state (Hawaii) is thinking of reserving some land to build grass shacks for the homeless to stay and live in. That would be a good idea!

Here on Kauai, an excellent place would be Old Mana Town. It would be a nice tourist attraction for the Westside of Kauai.

Set rules that these homeless would have to keep their area clean and free of junk. Limit pets per family. They (the homeless) must beautify their area by planting flowers, bushes, trees and plant a garden.

Mainly, they must be drug free.

Howard Tolbe

Eleele

Timeshares changing face of Kauai

As Steve Lauryn (The Garden Island, Jan. 7) pointed out, we just keep getting more and more and more timeshares.

This fact ties in directly with last year’s push to rid the island of bed-and-breakfasts, and I can point you to the evidence. Please go to Air BnB and look for places to stay on Kauai. There are no less than 943 listings for accommodations, most of which are either condos with absentee owners or — you guessed it — timeshare properties. Yes, they are in the visitor destination areas. And yes, the owners can do what they please with the albatross that hangs around their necks, but isn’t this a violation of something? Do small businesses ever stand a chance on this island?

Kauai is changing and not exactly for the better. Sure, rich mainlanders pay taxes, but like Steve pointed out, what really are the benefits to the local economy?

What I see are more Land Rovers and Mercedes racing along the roads, people buying pellet guns in Walmart to scare away the chickens, and a lot of sun-dazed people running into others with their shopping carts in Walmart and Costco.

Unfortunately, the aloha spirit has flown the coop and no one seems to care.

Sheila Heathcote

Kalaheo