• Everyone involved and concerned • Where are all the clocks? • Happy holiday wishes Everyone involved and concerned Today I was out walking my pup on the path today, as I had been doing everyday — sometimes twice a
• Everyone involved and concerned
• Where are all the clocks?
• Happy holiday wishes
Everyone involved and concerned
Today I was out walking my pup on the path today, as I had been doing everyday — sometimes twice a day -— for about the past two weeks. I was stopped by a man driving a truck wearing a t-shirt that read “Enforcement.”
He informed me, as I assume he did everyone walking by with dogs, that dogs are not allowed on the path. I, as most dog walkers on the path that I have personally come across, have licensed and leashed dogs. He said leash or no leash that dogs are not allowed on the path and that I had to go back to my vehicle.
As I said above, I have been walking my dog most everyday for the past two weeks. In this past two weeks I have noticed that the path is teeming with people walking their dogs. In fact at any time of day, the number of dog walkers far out number any other group of people on the path. There are far more dog walkers than there are bicyclist, joggers, and even regular pedestrians. In fact, as I have seen, the only group of people who might outnumber dog walkers are the homeless that hang out in various pavilions along the path.
In the pavilion behind the police sub station in Kapa‘a is a hot spot for homeless and drug pushers it seems, right next to where our kids play soccer and various other activities, yet nothing has been done about this. I have been walking the entire length of the paved path from the boat launch in Kapa‘a to Kealia and back, and this is what I have noticed.
This path has cost me, and every other citizen of this island a great deal of money and time as the work continues, Dog owners have vested as much into this path as anyone has. Why have we been banned from using it?
I have heard a bit about the recent controversy about dog droppings on the path. In the past two weeks, I have only seen dropping on one spot on the path one time. That’s right, only one time! That seems pretty amazing to me, since there are very few rubbish cans only in a couple of different spots.
There seems to be no reasonable argument as to why dog walkers with licensed and leashed animals should not be allowed. It can’t be a safety issue, as there are bicyclists on the same path as us pedestrians. You are far more likely to be hit and injured by a cyclist, than bit by a dog. I see several near misses every day in fact.
The path is littered with homeless and drug dealers. That in itself is a very real danger to our children in particular. Yet I have yet to see an enforcement officer chase off any of these people. I would not let my children walk the path alone without a dog for protection, especially the areas of the path that are not in direct view of traffic or the general public.
What’s going on here? We have spent millions of dollars on this thing, and now the county has banned the largest portion of the population trying to make use of this thing. This path has cost Kaua‘i and its people a tremendous amount of our resources. Resources that could have been better spent taking care of various other important issues.
Has it all just been a big waste? It sure seems to have been. There is absolutely no reason in the world why licensed and leashed dogs should not be allowed on this path, no legitimate reason whatsoever.
If the county wants to make the path safe and fun for everyone, if they want to remove nuisance and dangers from legitimate path users, target the drug dealers, the homeless, and reckless bicyclers, even target the unlicensed and unleashed dog walker. But not responsible dog owners. All of us who have paid into this path should be able to use it.
Bill Magruder, Anahola
Where are all the clocks?
Honolulu International Airport may have the most on time flights of any airport, but try finding a clock anywhere on the wall.
Lihu‘e has a similar problem, they have a wall of clocks which represents times all over the world but not one clock works. Lihu‘e Airport is much smaller and friendlier, making it easier to ask a stranger for the time.
I was at Honolulu airport a few hours early for a flight back to my home and favorite island of Kaua‘i. My time was being spent on an internet kiosk. I do not wear a watch and refuse to become part of the cell-phone-digital-time mania that has taken over the world.
My flight was departing at 10:25 a.m. I needed to watch the time and there were no clocks within distance, so I took a stroll, still no clocks. This is an international airport and finding a clock was an act of God. Finally I looked at a flight arrival board and in the smallest numbers was the time.
Try finding a clock at any major shopping center, bar or restaurant anywhere in Hawai‘i. It’s no wonder “Hawai‘i time” has become synonymous with arriving late. I understand Aloha but still feel the need to look up and see the time.
I remember as a youth, clocks were everywhere — at the post office, shopping malls and airports. In this fast-paced world of computers, cell phones, high-definition television, iPods and jet travel, a clock is a commodity that is hard to find.
I miss the good old hanging clock with dings and dongs. What has gone wrong? Where has all the time gone?
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Happy holiday wishes
Aloha all Garden Island community members,
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2008. May you enjoy each moment with your family, friends and co-workers.
I believe the little things you do makes it special to someone in a bigger way. We need to be humble, kind and passionate from within ourselves, for that is the greatest gift we can give each other.
Remember Christmas is not only once a year, but 365 days of the year. We all have challenges, but we learn from our experiences and positive things can happen if you just believe and trust in yourself and others.
My wish is for all of us to give a helping hand to someone who needs a loving touch of kindness and cheer. I am thankful for the community members who have supported me while I had my knee surgery. Each day is a blessing.
May you have a joyful holiday season this year.
Charly Andrade, Kapa‘a
