HR 1286 is a bad bill for Kaua‘i
The salient policy issue raised by Speaker Saiki’s bill HR1286 is not whether or not Kaua‘i should participate in the state’s Safe Travels program.
The issue is where the power to make that decision lies. Currently, county mayors, who are elected by and held accountable to their constituents, have that power. Today, Kaua‘i is deciding how to strike a balance between public health and economic health. Tomorrow the debate will shift back to the perennial issues surrounding tourism, growth and education.
Saiki’s bill usurps the power of local government and places it in the hands of Honolulu politicians, behind a veil that allowing individual neighbor islands to create unique policy makes it too confusing for tourists. In reality, HR1286 is a power grab by state Legislature, and it leverages the debate over the current public-health and economic crisis to divide what would otherwise be unified opposition against such an affront to Kaua‘i’s self-governance.
There are 25 seats in the Hawai‘i state Senate, of which Kaua‘i holds one. Seventeen of those 25 seats are determined by Honolulu voters. The story is the same in the Hawai‘i House of Representatives, where Kaua‘i holds three out of 51 seats. Thirty-five of our state representatives are chosen by Honolulu voters.
Do the people of Kaua‘i or any of the other neighbor islands really want to hand additional power to the state Legislature, which is dominated by O‘ahu politicians, or would they prefer to see decision-making at the local level where their voices may be heard?
HR1286 is a bad bill for Kaua‘i, as it is for all the neighbor islands, because it wrests powers from local county governments and hands it over to a cohort of politicians who do not represent the neighbor islands.
Mark Wigent, Kalaheo
Pandemic and extreme sports pop quiz #9
Dr. Anthony Fauci
1. Recently smashed the freediving world record.
2. Dove to 750 feet in a sustained dive.
3. Former world record holder Herbert Nitsch was driven to drink after losing his title to Fauci.
4. I am not answering this idiotic question which makes fun of our No. 1 epidemiologist.
The Baja 1000
1. Was won this year in a surprise upset by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
2. Dr. Fauci held off the competition in this fierce off-road vehicle competition.
3. Sweating and exhausted Dr. Fauci held a triumphant news conference, claiming his victory.
4. Later he partied for three days with nonstop tequila.
5. You should have more respect for the individual most responsible for our public-health policy.
Later that month
1. Dr. Anthony Fauci won the King of the Air kiteboarding competition.
2. Fauci jumped to 150 feet and completed a triple-loop maneuver.
3. Red Bull clamored to get Fauci to sign a contract after his recent string of victories.
4. I think three days of tequila sounds like the best plan.
Dr. Fauci and his entire family
1. Received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
2. All sprouted strange growths and developed autoimmune diseases after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Here you go again making a fool of yourself criticizing the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Dr. Anthony Fauci
1. Created quite a scene diving off cliffs in Mexico in his tiny Speedo.
2. Even with the strange growths he looked pretty good diving from that 300 foot height.
3. Defeated Stipe in a thrilling cage-fighting event later in the day.
4. Needed an intravenous drip afterwards, due to the autoimmune problem.
5. You should encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, not scare them with this drivel.
Here are the correct answers: Oh no. I am not going there at all. Pick whatever you want and leave me alone.
Molly Jones, Kealia
Molly, your pointless drivel is tiresome. How about taking your own advice and leaving us alone, too?
some people think they are funny, some people laugh at their own jokes. Some letters are not funny and that is the real joke.
Lets be real, Kawakami wants that bill to pass. It forces Kauai to do what has to be done to save our economy from complete destruction, and when the vocal “shut it all down” folks start screaming, he can put the blame on the state.
Mark, you and Gary Hoosier (in his article today) have each commented on HR 1286 as being unwise for Kauai. Both likely see that the issue confronted is the issue of pure democracy versus a republic. It is also the Electoral College issue. In a pure democracy Hawaii is run by Oahu, period! Similarly, the United States is run by a few densely populated states on the east and west coasts, period! You don’t seem to want that! Perhaps you and Gary might each comment on how you would protect the “rights” of a small island from being over-ruled in a “pure democracy?” Thanks!
Your analogy is lacking. Voting for the president of the country should be like voting for the governor of the state, Yes, in this way Hawaii will largely be determined by Oahu.
But executing policies at the county level compared to the state would be like executing policies at the state level as compared to the country.
The only way you can call out Hoosier’s alleged hypocrisy is to first admit your own.
I am SO sick of Molly’s sick drivel! What is wrong with that ‘lady’?
Have you ever been to a comedy show where the comedian bombs? That’s how I feel when I see Molly has written another attempted comedic letter to the editor. I cringe and can’t even read them anymore. There’s something embarrassing about someone who thinks they are clever and funny, but they’re not. Please, for the love of God, just write a normal letter if you have to write something. Or better yet, just leave us alone!
A thread that runs thru Molly Jones’s fantasy quizzes is that there are frequent terrible side effects resulting from the covid vaccine. These vaccines were tested on tens of thousands of
people and these things did not occur. When a person such as Molly Jones wants to spread suspicion they do it in this way since no evidence is required on her part. There are already many “antivaxers” on Kauai who even oppose the measles vaccination and although we are doing a lot of covid vaccinations on Kauai, many members of certain employee groups are staying back when they have the opportunity to vaccinate. It is not helpful when one person
writes over and over about certain alleged side effects of a vaccine and gives no evidence.
I think I am going to side in with Molly on this issue. Deciding if the mayor has any power to carry out any legislation is a futile attempt. The issue of whether the community, the business side of it, can sustain itself with government intervention, does not belong to the county but is generated in the federal for more funds. There is centralized budgeting. The mayor has no jurisdiction in this matter seeing the businesses on Kaua’i remain on cares Act or are for FEMA. No where in it does it say the mayor has any say. Business wise. Now as for the health concern, COVID-19 protocols belong to the state. What jurisdiction does a mayor have? He hasn’t shown proper credentials to interfere on this matter. So the state DOH takes over. Logical to assume this case.
What is it with TGI & Molly Jones. Pretty sure there are more letters that aren’t rambling on and on about nothing.
Is it just me, or does it seem like Molly has a crush on Fauci?
have crush on big wave surfer
Most of our Spring and Summer business has either canceled or rebooked to Maui and the Big Island. A few customers were upset because they felt blind sided by the ever changing travel restrictions. Almost one year later, Kauai is still essentially shut down. The word on the street is that many residents are refusing or will be refusing to be vaccinated. (Some of the same folks who never get vaccinated for the flu). Will we be singing the same sad song in February 2022?
Oh, come on, we can use a bit of levity! I enjoyed Molly’s satire–just having fun!
Can Molly Jones stop using the LTE section for her tiresome “jokes?” They’re not funny, not informative, and don’t give any useful contribution to our community.
Molly Jones Pop Quiz’s are:
1) Lame x 9.
2) Waste of space.
3) Pointless.
4) Not even remotely amusing.
5) An embarrassment for her.
6) Insulting to a Dr. who far outweighs her intelligence.
If you chose ALL of the above, you’re 100% correct!
Yes, Molly is hitting some nerves! Did these circus clown commentators not get the “Game Over” memo? Kollar wants us to adhere to the fake, their science and rules while Mayor opines we will “cut bait” if we don’t!