• Extinct waterfall • Feels a lot like locusts, Mr. Giusto • Fight the right battles • Must be fiscally responsible now more than ever Extinct waterfall Secret Falls has all but dried up. The water source feeding Secret Falls,
• Extinct waterfall
• Feels a lot like locusts, Mr. Giusto
• Fight the right battles
• Must be fiscally responsible now more than ever
Extinct waterfall
Secret Falls has all but dried up. The water source feeding Secret Falls, aka Uluwehi Falls, has been illegally diverted to benefit one tour company at the expense of 10 kayak tour companies all offering “waterfall” tours.
A check with DLNR determined that no permits were obtained to divert the flow of water away from Secret Falls. As a spokeman for the Wailua River Kayak Coalition, I am hopeful that the offending company will take immediate steps to restore the flow of water to Secret Falls and avoid a commencement of legal action for financial damage caused by the offending company’s illegal diversion of public water.
(Employees of the offending company have admitted that their company diverted the flow of water).
Pete Fisher
Kapa‘a
Feels a lot like locusts, Mr. Giusto
I appreciate Mr. Giusto of Pacifica, Calif.’s enthusiasm about stopping the onslaught of development on Kaua‘i because of the horrible consequences he’s observed during his trips here (Letters, Aug. 17).
Might I respond to his comments concerning my use of the following descriptive phrases to visually communicate the scope of the problem Kaua‘i faces. He feels my reference to Californians descending on Kauai like “locusts” is name-calling and asks where I got my information. I’ve lived here for 20 years, Mr. Giusto. Californians moving to Kaua‘i make up the largest percentage of newcomers, as well as our tourist base. The second place state isn’t even a close second.
We currently have 1.2-million visitors a year on tiny Kaua‘i and that’s more than the entire country of Costa Rica receives even though it’s only three hours from Miami and Atlanta. Visitors to this tiny island have increased by over 40,000 tourists per month in just four years (June 2003 to June 2007). Over a million visitors increasing by over 25 per cent in four short years, and the largest contributor is California, sure feels a lot like the locust cloud I experienced in southern Utah a few years ago.
I also mentioned that developers are descending on Kaua‘i like “Monkeys from the Wizard of Oz.” Anyone who’s seen the movie remembers the feeling we had when Dorothy and her companions were escorted by flying monkeys which came from the sky to reacquaint her with the wicked witch of the west. Seems like an accurate visual to me; with uncanny parallels?
Why? Kaua‘i has gone from several hundred units of developments per year just a few years ago to nearly 15,000 units planned, or being developed, right now. I’m sure those who really care about protecting Kaua‘i feel just like Dorothy!
The last comment “millions of Californians would love to make money off of Kaua‘i,” are you saying it isn’t true?
As far as where I get my information, all the usual places, the Planning Department, Kauai Board of Realtors, The Garden Island newspaper, Google, Kaua‘i Tourism Bureau and watching the sky.
Regarding the comments that we should quit writing about it and do something. I agree! Contact the Kauai Coalition for Responsible Development at kauaicoalition@yahoo.com or 822-9899 and get involved. Development on Kaua‘i will undergo a dramatic change if you do. They can’t wait to hear from you, Mr. Giusto.
Gordon Oswald
Kapa‘a
Fight the right battles
I wish the same loudmouth and opinionated sports show hosts, sports jounalists, and game announcers who have rightly condemned Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for animal cruelty, would also condemn President George Bush, but in much stronger terms, for the murderous war he is waging on the innocent civilians of Iraq and Afghanistan.
These “sports guys” have become so self-righteous about Vick’s despicable dog fighting, but nary a whimper when the U.S. military drops bombs on villages that have killed and injured thousands of people. They can’t tell us that sports and war are separate issues. It’s sickening how sports announcers at professional and college football games go absolutely gaga over military fighter jets that zoom over stadiums before games. Let’s face it, these planes are killing machines. We are constantly reminded during games to support America’s violent military exploits by telling us to “Support Our Troops.” We sports fans should start ignoring these hypocrites.
We should speak out against dogfighting, but it’s about time that we start speaking out against the ultimate cruelty. That’s the crime of waging unjust wars. If these same blowhard announcers, with the little flags on their suit lapels, are really concerned about violence, then they can start by joining the growing numbers of Americans who are demanding that our troops come home now.
Raymond Catania
Lihu‘e
Must be fiscally responsible now more than ever
Recent headlines focusing on funds being withheld from the Department of Education distract readers from the real issue — that state tax revenues fell short of projections and this reality calls for increased fiscal discipline.
Instead, media reports focus solely on how this cash shortfall will affect renovation projects of one department, DOE, which has been consistently plagued by skepticism as to how it is spending the billions of dollars already entrusted to it. Let’s put this into context.
The Legislature set aside $235 million for DOE assuming that money from tax revenues and the general fund could absorb the cost. Now, figures reveal there is a gap of $188 million between what was projected the State would receive and what was actually collected. As a result, the Lingle-Aiona Administration is releasing only first-quarter funds to all departments until it gains a clearer picture of the state’s economy at the upcoming Council on Revenue meeting. The administration has also directed the DOE to request from the legislature $110 million in bond financing rather than using cash from the general fund.
I, for one, am thankful that the administration is being responsible with taxpayer money and has decided to curb spending until we know what is coming in.
Kevin Causey
Honolulu
