Not understanding why we can’t sunbathe
Dear TGI,
Simple question, Mayor K: What is the medical imperative that forbids people from laying out after duly exercising at the beach, if clearly spaced out many yards apart from each other, to relax, boosting their immune system from stress reduction and natural vitamin D?
I’m talking people being mindful of each other, knowingly spread 50 yards away from each other, let’s say —nowhere near possible disease-transmitting distance?
Further, there’s absolutely no apparent good reason to issue a $300 to $500 ticket for that SPECIFIC edict unless it’s just to enforce control and give our decent police, who I believe have good hearts, something different to do.
So, who thought the no-beach-layouts-possible rule and why? Do tell, please. A good citizen here happily wearing my mask, limiting trips out, and keeping safe distances. If you want “shakas not shakes” toward our fine police and yourself, you potentially see one rule to modify or remove without medical risk.
Aloha,
Jenn Tyler, Kapa‘a
Lighten up on some of the rules
When I served in the military I saw that when arbitrary and capricious regulations were issued not only was it bad for morale but that the men would start thinking that even good rules were pointless and they’d start ignoring them all. So it is with some of our mayor’s recent edicts.
A prime example is his closing of the golf courses. So let me get this straight. We can take our exercise by a walk in the countryside, but we can’t include whacking a ball now and then as we stroll along? We golfers have been social distancing, keeping spaced apart as we walk the course. There’s no way we were transmitting the virus among each other.
Or how about the no-sunbathing-on-the-beach rule. This is a particularly silly thing, as it does absolutely nothing to impede transmission of the virus. Indeed, coronaviruses are sensitive to ultraviolet light, so being out in the sunshine does some good. So long as sunbathers keep well away from each other, they are not going to transmit the disease.
It is said that Puritans couldn’t stand the thought that somewhere someone might be having a good time. It is time our mayor rescinds his Puritanical regulations. We have a tough few weeks ahead of us without having rules that only make ourselves more miserable.
If the mayor wants to really help he should see that our island is well-stocked with hydroxychloroquine, as this extremely safe drug (I used it for a year for its anti-malarial properties when deployed in south Asia 45 years ago) has been shown in numerous small studies to be very effective in fighting and preventing the coronavirus.
Ken Fasig, Kalaheo
There are good and bad things about COVID-19
Good things about the pandemic:
Dolphins reappear in Venice canals.
Much less air pollution.
People eat more pizza at home.
Everybody working together toward a common goal.
Bad things about the pandemic:
Lots of people die.
Wholesale undermining of civil rights.
Wholesale economic hardship.
Everybody working toward a common goal based on
fear, and one-size fits all medical dictatorship.
People eat more pizza at home.
Molly Jones, Kealia
Waa, waaa, waaaaa! People just need to stop whining!
Get off the “me” train! You can tell how mature people are by how they are reacting to this lockdown. If they can’t have what they want, they start crying like when mommy won’t let them have the candy in the grocery aisle.
This isn’t going to last forever. Deal with it. Find a new hobby. Broaden your horizons a bit. And above all, grow up!
Everybody’s letter today seems to be in revolt against the rules that were put in place to protect us from the Corona virus. They are trying to blame the Mayor for their miseries, but fail to see the whole picture. I agree with all that has been said that are the unfortunate results of the mandated guidelines promoting social distancing and closing of businesses. But if you think about it for just a minute, you might see that Mayor Kawakami has taken a proactive approach to the problem instead of a too late reactive approach. He’s been way ahead of a reality that other areas are finally coming to realize. Oahu is finally mandating the use of face masks starting Monday, literally weeks after our Mayor started suggesting it. Who was the first island to have night time quarantine? Which island was the first to advocate wearing masks and even have a Mayor to demonstrate how to make and use them correctly? Which was the first island to try to control gatherings of groups to minimize the chances of spreading the disease? Who is the only person to give daily updates on our status and a true history of each and every positive case? All of these things have kept our island relatively clear of disease compared to the other islands. Our positive cases numbers has stayed at 21 since April 5th, almost 2 weeks now, with no definite community spread evident. Isn’t that what we have aimed for the whole time? Isn’t that a good thing and a reason to continue to follow the new rules?
To tell you the absolute truth, if restrictions were lifted today and I was allowed/asked to return to work in my tourism job, I think I would have to refuse to do so. It doesn’t seem safe yet and I don’t trust others to be as conscientious about protecting my health as I am I’m referring to anyone willing to travel at this time, not my employers.
I thank Mayor Kawakami for giving me the modicum level of safety I’m feeling at this point. When flights were still bringing in lots of visitors to Kauai daily, I was worried for this island. As far as rights and liberties being infringed upon, there is normally a broad gap between common sense and stupidity that can quickly be reduced to a very fine line. I don’t feel that that line has been crossed over, not when it’s being done for my own good.
I get plenty of exerciser and i do not go to the beach and sunbathe and I get plenty of sun, walking and exercising as much as I can. I also have a smal manual stationary bike at home which helps as well. You can get more sun by walking than you can by sitting. You just get one side when you sit, or sunbathe. When you keep moving, air gets into your lungs better and you get sun all over.
Stop whining, you all sound ridiculous. If you re a visitor who wants to hit the beach, pleased go to Michigan. I hear they deny the virus there, and run around toting guns and confederate flags and breathe all over each other. Sounds like good exercise to me.
After my question being deleted and then Blocked on instagram from our Mayor. (for asking a rather mild question). It is all the more reason we need to speak out against this. If anyone in power is reading this, Where is the line in which We the people have the duty to rise up against tyranny?
One of the things I love about Kaua’i is you can find a beach somewhere where you solitude and privacy at the beach unlike the other islands or mainland. Crowded beaches lead to busy bathrooms, eating joints and beach centric commerce but we don’t have that except a few places. It is possible here on Kaua’i to find a private place where no interaction is possible. I think we should take advantage of that.
Jenn, I actually agree with you. These rules must balance the need to stop the spread of the virus with the strain on our civil liberties. Some rules are less thought out than others. For example, initially, hunting and fishing were banned. After some push-back, those rules were amended. Same for the rule banning landscaping and gardening services. I don’t see a problem with excising, walking, jogging, doing yoga, or just relaxing on the beach as long as the social distancing rules are followed. I don’t see the logical rationale for the beach rule.
Sun bathing, though perhaps not necessarily risky, is not essential as important as getting food or maintaining health (exercising). Additionally, no one is prevented from sun bathing at home – just in a public area.
Lines have to be drawn somewhere.
Jenn/Ken, RELAX! The Governor has now implemented it, because not everyone is like you and me, they just dont follow the rules and mess it up for the rest of us. The reason for any rule or regulation, is because some knuckle head didn’t use common sense and selfishness and only thought of their own needs and wants.
The Mayor and KEMA has been in front of this early on, thankfully, which has made Kauai lead the State.
We are almost there, be patient, like the rest of us are, and everything will workout.
the mayor’s update on Sunday Apr. 19 includes the word lockstep at 2 minutes and 40something seconds. LOCKSTEP means close proximity and is what Natzis wanted the prisoners to do……..marching off to the gas chambers. Who writes his scripts???
haloes…. that’s who’s complaining, and protesting. then by all means…go back to where you came from. you all got the Capt. Cook mentality, you know the one that first brought all the disease…. is that your intention… continue in this disease spreading like your forefathers …. flights are cheap… go home to the state you came from…. shame on you… things have changed in Hawaii… everyone is educated now. Thank you Mr. Mayor, for saving the life of all on Kauai. I stand behind this Mayor.