• Don’t be ignorant, vote Esaki • Some of us don’t care about trees • Thanks for monkeypod wood • Koloa has long memory Don’t be ignorant, vote Esaki I was very surprised in reading the highlight article of KIUC
• Don’t be ignorant, vote Esaki
• Some of us don’t care about trees
• Thanks for monkeypod wood
• Koloa has long memory
Don’t be ignorant, vote Esaki
I was very surprised in reading the highlight article of KIUC board member candidates in The Garden Island on Dennis Esaki that nowhere was it mentioned that he is the Hawai‘i representative to NRECA, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, of which KIUC is a part of. There are over 900 co-ops involved representing 40 million people and 47 directors including Esaki as one of the 47 directors.
His duties include the review of electric co-op issues, technology, legislative issues and actions to be taken to benefit their respective communities and the nation they serve as a whole.
To not support Dennis Esaki and not allow the continuation of his efforts locally and most importantly, Kaua‘i’s voice on the national level, as a national director, is ignorant and very shortsighted and there is enough shortsightedness running our island as it is.
I have family scattered all across the Mainland and believe me their rates have risen too. So to think that we Kauaians stand alone is like having our heads in the sand. Wake up and quit blaming world events and world economics on the locals involved in leadership capacity roles.
Critics are trying to stereotype the locals as being less intelligent than the Mainland Americans.
Esaki has won such distinguished awards as:
• SBA Small Business Person of the Year
• KCC Business Partner of the Year
• Contractors Association of Kaua‘i Member of the Year
Dennis is one local who is educated and steadfast in his love and believes in the welfare of our ‘aina.
And for the record, KIUC returned $17 million to members and has $43 million in trust for all members.
Rates are the same since 1996 and would have gone higher without KIUC. And no refunds, nor $43 million equity. So please, fellow islanders, we need Dennis and his onipa‘a on the board of KIUC.
Tony Ricci,
Kekaha
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Some of us don’t care about trees
I read with dismay the letter this morning about the Koloa trees (“Sad day,” Letters, March 12).
My wife and I are angry that The Garden Island printed such a mean spirited letter, and named individuals who are doing their job as trustee of a family trust. We accept that some will miss those trees, but know of many, many others who don’t care or support the removal. And many others who wish to voice their opinion are too afraid of the consequences from the ardent protesters, and so keep quiet. The entire tree removal program is printed on the Koloa Community Association Web site, so there are no secrets or surprises. Every tree removed will be replanted and will look better because they will be properly maintained. The Knudsen family has donated parks to Kaua‘i and has basically kept the entire area from Koloa to Kahili as a beautiful green belt. You may not agree with what the family is doing on its own property in Koloa town, but at least point out the good things they have done for the community. In our humble opinion, Koloa community is first and foremost a community of wonderful people who represent the true soul of Koloa.
Peter and Linda Baldwin,
Koloa
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Thanks for monkeypod wood
I would like to say thank you very much to the Knudsen Trust for the generous donation of the monkeypod wood to the woodworking community of Kaua‘i. Mahalo to trustee Stacey Wong and on-island owners’ representative Jean Camp for making this donation happen. Mahalo to Fred, the on-site coordinator, Jim and the crew for your help in cutting the wood to size and to Scott and the crew for your help with the loading of logs into our trucks and trailers.
May some of the beauty that these trees had in life carry on forever in our woodwork.
Randy Murch,
Koloa
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Koloa has long memory
It is ludicrous for anyone to think that the group trying to save Koloa’s monkeypod trees would be guilty of vandalism. This group has worked tirelessly and peacefully to stay within the law. The police who have patrolled and witnessed the peaceful demonstrations and vigils can attest to that and have learned to respect the community’s efforts to save the trees.
There is a strong argument for private property rights, but the community had hoped to appeal to the benevolence of the Knudsen Trust in an effort to help them understand that although it may be legal, it is not morally or ethically right to destoy the beauty of an historic town for the greedy gain of a few. Their appeal was to no avail, as the Knudsen Estate trustee, Stacey Wong, refused all efforts to meet with the community.
My personal feeling is that an official boycott of The Shops at Koloa is quite unnecessary as the Knudsen Trust has assured the downfall of their development all by themselves without help from anyone.
The shameful and obscene sight of the stumps of 100-year-old trees fronting the post office has sickened everyone, locals and visitors alike. Stacey Wong, The Knudsen Estate and Nelson Development will find that Koloa town has a long memory.
Marty Kuala,
Koloa
