Letters for Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Meeting with a wise man

I was riding my bike on the path late in the day, as usual. Having passed a local man and his two sons several times before, this time I pulled over and said “Catch any fish”? “Yes, my son just caught one that we’ll eat for dinner,” he replied, pointing to the fish. Our conversation continued as we both agreed that the sparse traffic on Kuhio Highway in Kapaa is a delight, just like the old days, and how restrictions from the virus have improved the air quality in the world. We spoke of the the love we have for Kauai the the need to care for her, that strong steps must to be taken now as the ravages of climate change threaten our reefs, coastlines and communities.

The man began speaking about the impact of the virus in a way that I want to share. I said, “ Boy, this virus has affected everyone throughout the world, as a kind of equalizing factor no mater the color of you skin, religion, the country, rich and poor.” He agreed and stood up with arms open and said ‘My hope is that this experience will bring all people to a new awareness. It’s giving us the opportunity to look at what is really important in our lives, not just material things, but relationships, kindness, health and and how we choose to spend our time after the COVID-19 curfew is over. We now have the time to take a step back and shift our perspective to the bigger picture and realize that we are all connected.”

I was deeply moved by our conversation. In dealing with the pandemic, my wish is that we can make a shift from fear to love while living in peace and

harmony, together, on this magnificent island, Kauai.

In Graditude

Gabriela Taylor, Kapaa

How much longer?

Everything in life has trade offs so there always needs to be a balance. 40,000 people die annual in traffic accidents yet we do not ban all forms of road based transportation because doing so would lead to way more deaths and other damage. According to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research every 1 percent hike in the unemployment rate will likely produce a 3.3 percent increase in drug-overdose deaths and a 0.99 percent increase in suicides, Yes we need to kill the virus but at the same time we need to stop killing the economy because by doing so we are killing people.

I respect and appreciate the job that our local Kauai government and health workers at all levels have done to control the virus. But, day after day I see no new cases reported on the island yet all I hear our Mayor telling us is to “hang in there Kauai we will make it through this together”. How long must we wait for a lifting on restrictions? What is the plan to start allowing travel to and from Kauai, etc.? Is there and plan? If so we need to hear it.

PS. To the frustrated high school graduate. Facts matter. It was not just “selfish” tourist that brought the virus to Hawaii but also many returning residence.

Michale Zieman, Kapaa

Thanks to Mayor

We all owe our thanks to Mayor Derek Kawakami and those advising him for keeping us safe from the COVID-19 virus on this small petri dish of an island. In reading last Sunday’s Garden Island front page with its picture of 10 protestors framed to look like a giant mob and finding that there were only an est. 25 people in all at this corona virus swap meet, I was concerned by both the picture and the headline making it look like it was a major event. I’ve seen more people at a small family’s birthday party then attending this so-called protest. Please stay safe everyone and I pray that those protesting haven’t infected themselves or the rest of the island.

Larry Bergh, Hanapepe