For 15 years, Jerome Freitas has been looking out for Kauai’s taxpayers, their concerns and their safety. Not alone, mind you. He has hundreds of anonymous helpers he refers to as “Silhouettes.”
He does this by asking questions of the county. Lots and lots of questions. Thousands since he voluntarily became “The Shadow.”
His questions cover roads to parks to brush to beaches to bridges and signs. If something is amiss, broken or overgrown, “The Shadow” is watching — over Kauai and Niihau, too.
Here’s an example of some of his latest queries:
• What is the status of efforts to address potholes on Papaloa Road?
• There is a rusted pay phone located at Kapaa Beach Park that has become a safety hazard for park users. Can the County work with Hawaiian Telcom to remove this?
• Who is responsible for the maintenance of the area surrounding the Kealia Lookout?
• The line of sight at the intersection of Panihi Road and Moanakai Road, and Makaha Road and Moanakai Road is obstructed due to overgrowth of the hedges that appear to be on private property. What is the County doing to address this concern?
All of these, and more, he submits to the county, which answers them in a timely fashion, and they are published in his column, “Da Shadow, generally on Sundays in The Garden Island.
Freitas was 61 when he became “The Shadow.” Here is how he got that moniker, as told to TGI in a 2013 interview:
“One day (2004) I was driving around and I ran into a rather large pothole in the road. So I decided to commit from that day on that I would go on my own and take pictures of public-safety issues, whether it may be on the county or state level,” he said.
When he began what he calls a public safety crusade, his calls to the county were anonymous. He called so frequently, he said, that when someone with the county asked him to identify himself. He refused.
“When I finally came into the office, someone said, ‘Oh, I know you. From now, we’re going to call you “the shadow,” so when you call we know who.’”
It stuck.
Today, he is 76. He still sports his well-known slicked back, black hair. He still breaks out singing Elvis Presley songs when the mood strikes him. He is as colorful and animated and talkative as ever, a rare man with a delightful sense of humor and yet, so serious about holding people accountable and the safety of the general public.
He loves this island. He went to St. Catherine School on Kauai, then to Kapaa High School and graduated in 1961. From there, he was in the National Guard Reserve. He was a meat cutter and worked for the state before retiring in 2004.
He takes pride in his work, in fighting the good fight, and displays clippings and files that go back more than a decade that testify to his efforts. His only concession is to time. He moves a bit slower now, usually with a cane or a walker.
But when the phone rings and someone asks for “The Shadow,” he goes into action. He takes notes, noting dates, places, descriptions. “The Shadow” rarely rests.
Why, at age 76, are you still doing this?
The reason I’ve been doing this the past 15 years, I think I’ve had some good response from the county, the government. We’re all not perfect but we try our best to work together in the best interests of the people of Kauai and Niihau. Taxpayers work hard for their money and I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing now.
What’s your motivation?
I’m retired. I have time to do this. I used to watch my mom but she passed away a couple years ago. So I have more free time, I want to keep myself going, my mind sharp. When something happens and I ask a question and get an answer, I’m happy for that.
How is the county to work with?
I got to meet with Mayor Kawakami, him and Sarah Blane (chief of staff) talked about things. He said ‘Jerome, you’re doing a good job, keep it up.’ He would rather me go back to the council again. To me, it doesn’t really matter. Sometimes, you have to go back and forth.
I set up a meeting with (council chair) Arryl Kaneshiro and give him 20 questions. I used to meet with Mel (Rapozo) twice a month. He suggested we just make it once a month rather than twice a month. Sometimes the questions are safety issues and need faster responses. You have to decide what are the priorities, what’s first, second.
The county, they have a lot of things they have to do. Right now the major things they have to do are the roads and the homeless. We have a lot of homeless here on Kauai.
Are you seeing the difference you are making on Kauai?
I have a lot of pictures to prove changes, I get a lot of feedback. I have four briefcases like this one with pictures and feedback on the questions I’ve asked and what happened with the county. I’m working with the state, too, but right now it’s not going in to the newspaper. I might start doing that, too.
Are there particular areas you focus on?
A lot of things. Number one is that it’s not only for myself. This is for the public. The people. Ninety percent of my questions come from the public. This is for the public, so what the public’s concern is, that’s what I do. They depend on me to take a stand and get something done.
A lot of times, on my own, if I’m driving around and see something, like the telephone booth in Kapaa Beach Park, a pay phone. A woman called me up and said kids were playing and climbing on that. I checked with the administration and they looked into it. Things like that.
If you don’t say anything, I’m not saying they’re not going to do it, but at least it gets something going if you come to me. There are a lot of other places around, our roads, our bridges, we really have to work together to get things done. The money comes from the taxpayers so we work together for the best benefit of the people.
Do you find the people happy?
The public always tells me, ‘Jerome, how come sometimes it takes so long to get things done?’ I’m not going to bad mouth anybody. Me and the new mayor, we’re going to work together. I give credit where credit is due. That’s the way I look at it. I’m not going to give you an A-plus or an A if you don’t deserve it. I don’t do that. You have to deserve it.
Do you still get a lot of phone calls alerting you to hazards and such that need your attention?
You’d be surprised how many people call me on the phone. ‘Jerome, I’ve been calling this place, nothing has been done. But you, The Shadow, I know you can get it done.’ They have trust in me.
How does that make you feel?
Pretty good. A lot of people want to be anonymous. So a lot of people who call me, they’re anonymous. They don’t have to worry about giving me their name. This is islandwide, all the way from Mana to Haena. Don’t be afraid. Just call The Shadow.
Is there an issue or two you feel you made a difference that makes you proud?
One thing was Kapahi, the bridge there. It was rusted out, in real bad shape. They looked into it and it’s all brand new.
Kapaa Beach Park, that was a place where young people would stay there all night and day and celebrate, at the pavilion. The structure was kind of unsafe, so the county took it down.
A lot of things actually, come to mind, things that changed for the best interests of the public.
I’m not perfect. I try to do my best. We all make mistakes. It’s one step forward.
Do you check into everything people call you about?
If it’s something about their neighbor, a complaint, I’m not going to look into that. Right? I look at the most important things, the safety of the public.
Will “The Shadow” ever disappear into the sunset?
A lot of people tell me, ‘Jerome, what’s going to happen when you’re gone? Is someone going to take over?’ I say no way. Nobody is going to do that. Nobody. As long as God gives me the strength and the willpower to do it, I’m going to keep on doing it. If I can do this five, 10 years more, I’ll do it.
Jerome Freitas, “The Shadow,” can be reached at (808) 635-3528 or his website theshadow96746.tripod.com.
His website, by the way, shares this message: “Wake up, Kauai people! There are a lot more serious problems on Kauai than potholes. Just ask Elvis! Jerome is now recruiting silhouettes! What is your main concern? Where do you want to see our watchdogs next?”
“Did you know that Jerome has trouble getting to both the North Shore and the West Side?? We NEED you and your camera in your own local area,” it goes on to say. “Jerome can bring YOUR photo of a local safety hazard to the attention of the PROPER County or State bureau. You can help ‘The Shadow’ get things done on Kauai. YOU can make the island a better island!”
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
When the mayor was busy putting together his team he forgot to include what would have been one of his best assets.