• Mayor’s path decision is a worthy compromise • Informed electorate key to successful democracy • No cottages, no Hostetlers Mayor’s path decision is a worthy compromise The mayor’s decision to stay off the sand but stay on the roadside
• Mayor’s path decision is a worthy compromise
• Informed electorate key to successful democracy
• No cottages, no Hostetlers
Mayor’s path decision is a worthy compromise
The mayor’s decision to stay off the sand but stay on the roadside is a compromise that warrants support.
It may be one of the few times in the short time I’ve lived on Kaua‘i that a government leader has demonstrated any kind of respect to the kupuna leaders and cultural practitioners of the host culture.
Since the 1893 illegal overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani the kanaka maoli continue to get hosed. It is hard for us outsiders to imagine how difficult it must be to see your lands and your way of life be commandeered by affluent and influential foreigners. Imagine the pain and suffering of living in an occupied homeland where your language, resources and future are dictated by the foreign occupiers.
To experience that kind of injustice and the cultural genocide that has occurred in Hawai‘i is something I would wish for no one. Until we have experienced that kind of trauma we have no idea of the kind of offense that Native Hawaiians feel when they are confronted with another example of their culture being desecrated or disrespected.
Some insensitive folks would argue that Wailua Beach is already impacted; that there are volleyball courts, parking lots, and a freaking four-lane highway next to it. Drive by now, with all the bridge work being done, and you may ask, what would a beach path disturb that hasn’t been disturbed already? Yet that is the point that these folks miss; if desecration has occurred in the past, why continue with the offense in the present?
The iwi kupuna issue is one that will not go away. When you have actions like the Planning Commission and Planning Department continuing to allow Joe Brescia to build over known iwi kupuna it is easy for me to see why Native Hawaiians and others remain convinced that the injustice of the 1893 overthrow continues to this day.
Mahalo to the mayor for listening to the kupuna and kumu who spoke clearly of the offense and injustice that still occurs today.
James Trujillo, Kapa‘a
Informed electorate key to successful democracy
Questions posed in a letter on the Forum page of The Garden Island on Monday need to be addressed.
No member of the KIUC board of directors, past or present, has ever received perks for electricity. They are paid a stipend for time spent governing the co-op, period. No electricity perks, no benefits, no discounts. Just hundreds of hours spent on behalf of member-owners to direct the cooperative.
During the recent negotiations for a new contract with our bargaining unit employees, an agreement was reached to discontinue the employee discount which had been part of employee compensation for many years under Kaua‘i Electric and continued under KIUC. All employee electric discounts are being discontinued starting this month. Board members have never received a discount on electricity.
The purpose of the KIUC marketing/communications group is to support the democratic co-op model. KIUC takes the fifth principle, “Education, Training, and Information” of the seven co-op principles very seriously because we believe that the utility will be more successful in all ways with an educated, informed and actively participating membership.
There cannot be successful democracy without an informed electorate — in our case, our membership. So, while publications like “KIUC Currents,” bill messages and bill inserts may seem like PR measures, and programs like NRECA’s Youth Tour, GetCharged!, and other community programs may seem unnecessary, they are in actuality very representative of a cooperative’s place in the community. KIUC’s marketing/communications group does all of this with a budget that is less than one half of one percent of the total budget, including payroll, benefits and expenses for “requisite staff.”
Randy Hee, KIUC president and CEO
No cottages, no Hostetlers
We are really upset that the Jungle Cabana cottage is not available for our visit to Kaua‘i this year because of the ill-conceived legislation passed by Kaua‘i’s City Council.
Staying at a condo or a hotel is not an option for us since we love to experience Hawai‘i 24/7 while we are there by renting cottages. We have been spoiled by staying in the Jungle Cabana.
We will miss all the restaurants, luaus, helicopter rides, snorkeling and whale watching trips, cruises up the river, etc. that we have enjoyed during our yearly visits to Kaua‘i. In the future we will be staying on an island where we can enjoy cottage accommodations.
Brian and Kathy Hostetler, Fairfield, Calif.
