Queen’s Bath drownings On Oct. 12 a pair of Mainland visitors walking along a ledge at Queen’s Bath in Princeville were swept out to sea by a large wave and drowned. In the weeks that followed, water safety advocate Dr.
Queen’s Bath drownings
On Oct. 12 a pair of Mainland visitors walking along a ledge at Queen’s Bath in Princeville were swept out to sea by a large wave and drowned. In the weeks that followed, water safety advocate Dr. Monty Downs and two tourism industry employees identified “The Ultimate Kaua‘i Guidebook” as the primary source of visitors’ awareness of and desire to go to the coastal pool.
In November, the County Council unanimously passed a resolution urging government agencies and guidebook authors to participate in a concerted effort to address the hazardous conditions at Queen’s Bath, proposing increased signage, guardrails, an emergency phone, an informational kiosk, temporary closures, revised guidebooks and a broad educational campaign.
Sluggish economy hits Kaua‘i
After 61 years of service between the Hawaiian Islands and to the Mainland, Aloha Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection and then shut down its inter-island and trans-Pacific passenger flight operations on March 31.
Within days, ATA airlines followed suit after 35 years of service, leaving the island without two major sources of tourism dollars.
Iconic vendor Hilo Hattie also declared bankruptcy in 2008, but remains open for business.
The tourism pinch can be felt all over the island, as various hotels have scaled back operations, costing dozens of people their jobs. A stimulus package is set for 2009.
Energy rate hikes encourage change
As the price of oil skyrocketed throughout most of the year, renewable energy became a hot-button item worldwide.
On Kaua‘i, a bill to expedite the permitting process for renewable energy systems such as windmills was introduced and sent by the County Council to the Planning Commission for review.
The state Legislature passed a bill requiring new single-family homes to be fitted with solar-powered water heaters.
The effective energy rates for Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative peaked around 50 cents per kilowatt-hour before coming back down. Rates of just over 24 cents per kilowatt-hour were announced yesterday for January 2009.
Construction on burial site stirs community
The controversy over a proposed oceanfront home at Naue point on the North Shore grew when permits were approved despite some 30 Hawaiian burial sites on the property.
Landowner Joseph Brescia was stalled several times in his plans to construct the single-family residence as dozens of protesters confronted contractors and police.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe ordered the State Historic Preservation Division to revisit the issue and consult with various Hawaiian organizations, and the Kaua‘i Ni‘ihau Island Burial Council in November rejected a revised burial treatment plan.
SHPD is expected to announce its decision early in 2009.
— The Garden Island
