• Be a part of the day the music is reborn • A tragic loss • Time to modify ‘business as usual’ approach • Hang in there, Glenn Be a part of the day the music is reborn If I
• Be a part of the day the music is reborn
• A tragic loss
• Time to modify ‘business as usual’ approach
• Hang in there, Glenn
Be a part of the day the music is reborn
If I may be presumptuous, at least for this letter, I’d like to use a line from Don McLean’s 1971 hit “American Pie” — the line “the day the music died.” For the beautiful island of Kaua‘i that day was May 13.
My wife Cathy and I have been visiting this piece of heaven that is Kaua‘i for the past 25 years. An integral part of each visit was to spend at least one evening with local songwriter, musician and friend Larry Rivera. Listening to him sing his songs of love and tell stories about life on his beloved Kaua‘i brought us and countless others so much joy.
On May 13, Larry gave his final performance at the Kaua‘i Hilton Hotel. Where, or if, he will perform again is uncertain. For us, it represented the day the music died. Larry Rivera has spent his entire life since age 12 bringing happiness to music lovers.
He was part of the Coco Palm’s family since 1951 taking only a few years out to serve his country in the military. How sad it is, especially in these troubled times, to see this legend silenced.
He sings that “Kaua‘i is Love”, “Kaua‘i is Magic.” My wife and I believe that too! We believe that some venue will have the foresight to provide the stage for Larry’s music to once again be heard.
He is simply too much a part of the history and splendor of Kaua‘i to not be allowed to continue his life’s love. Please prove that Kaua‘i truly is love and be a part of the day the music is reborn.
Art and Cathy Messenger, Magalia, Calif.
A tragic loss
Regarding the monk seal killings reported on May 23, this news is so disturbing and frightening!
Our community should have zero tolerance for this type of cruelty and abuse. These creatures are magnificent and critical to our environment.
Other related monk seal populations are already extinct in other parts of the world so it is our obligation as a people to care for our environment and animals that depend on our protection.
The person(s) responsible for this should be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Someone must know something and I hope those who do are brave enough to step forward and share what they know with the authorities.
This crime shames Kaua‘i in a time of economic downturn and environmental challenges. If nothing else, we as a community should be caring for the land and animals as it may soon be all we have left.
There are many volunteers who work tirelessly to protect, document and support the conservation efforts. My heart goes out to all of them for this tragic loss.
Melissa Costales, Kapa‘a
Time to modify ‘business as usual’ approach
The focus on “who or what to blame” with respect to teenage drinking that persists boils down to lifestyles, perceptions and attitudes.
How often have these rationalizations been used: “It’s the rites of passage to celebrate…”; “As long as they drink under my rules…”; “They’re going to do it whether we like it or not…”; and on and on.
Haven’t we heard and/or used these phrases far too long?
Gary Shimabukuro has done a phenomenal job dispensing crucial and relevant information to promote prevention and to certainly educate the public. Yet, the alarming rate of drug misuse and abuse proliferates.
Societally, we cling to traditions, we cross our fingers and hope for the best, or we succumb to the lure of sophistication, thrill and excitement that comes with drug-induced binges, as teenagers and adults.
Until the combination of factors that perpetuate the “business as usual” approach can be modified, it will unfortunately remain a constant as we bemoan the continual senseless tragedies of losing our dear and beloved youth and adults to the clutches of substance abuse.
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
Hang in there, Glenn
I recently received a phone call from my optometrist telling me that my eye exam was satisfactory. He also said that he enjoyed my letters to the editor and suggested that I enter into a debate with Glenn Mickens.
Today I read about Glenn and his devotion to maintaining his 1935 Ford convertible. When I read that after many years he had discarded the original 85 horsepower Ford V8 engine for a Chevy engine, I knew that our first debate would be Ford versus Chevy, tradition over modernization; but as I read further and was able to form a better assessment of Micken’s character, I realized that it would be an exercise in futility for some one as loose jointed in my thinking as I am to debate someone as well grounded and organized as Mickens.
Hang in there, Glenn. It would be a sad day for me if I didn’t have someone to disagree with.
Harry Boranian, Lihu‘e
