• Doesn’t like Harry Kim’s remark • “Ice” use is sad • Likes Hooser • Please maintain altitude restrictions! Doesn’t like Harry Kim’s remark This quote was reprinted by your newspaper in your article about the state-wide showing of Edgy
• Doesn’t like Harry Kim’s remark
• “Ice” use is sad
• Likes Hooser
• Please maintain altitude restrictions!
Doesn’t like Harry Kim’s remark
This quote was reprinted by your newspaper in your article about the state-wide showing of Edgy Lee’s documentary:
“You have to be dumb, deaf and ignorant not to know that we have a severe, severe problem,” Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim said in the film.
Several deaf leaders had made a concerted effort prior to last night’s broadcast to have the documentary captioned so that this film could be accessible to the sizeable deaf population of the state. This was not done, although Dan Dennison of KHON apologized afterwards to Kristine Pagano, one of the deaf leaders who publishes Deaf News-Hawaii in addition to her job as Communication Access Specialist of DCAB.
I take special offense at Mayor Harry Kim’s statement.
We are kept ignorant by the media, and comments like this underscore Mr. Kim’s own prejudicial bias, which is not helped by your newspaper’s eagerness to highlight such comments. His thoughtless remarks are no less damaging than racism. A public apology would be a good starting point at undoing the damage.
Dr. Lucy Miller, Chair
State of Hawaii Disability and Communication Access Board
Lihu‘e
“Ice” use is sad
As an ex resident of Kaua‘i, 15 years in Ha‘ena, my wife’s home (Joan Lydgate), I learned to love Kaua‘i and the people. It is so sad to see the use of “ice” now being used by so many there. It makes me think there is a similarity with suicide bombers in the mid-east. They see no immediate hope for themselves, are assured an escape from what they assume to be a future without hope. So all they have to do is either blow themselves up or take drugs and their problems will all be solved. How tragic, and they say there is no such thing as “the good old days”?
I wish you all the success in solving the problem.
Matt Burns
Whidbey Island , WA
Likes Hooser
Last Sunday night, I had the pleasure of attending a standing-room only fund-raiser for State Senator Gary Hooser at Smith’s Tropical Paradise. It was encouraging to see such a great turnout to support Mr. Hooser, who announced his plans to run for re-election.
Gary Hooser reflects a culture of political accountability. His brand of politics reflects a time when people felt more connected and empowered in the political process. Mr. Hooser does not indulge in partisan politics; he is more an individual . . . a public servant . . . rather than a “Democrat” or “Republican.”
Senator Hooser blends wisdom, compassion, integrity and heart. Although warm and personable in one-to-one relationships, he has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to stand up to corporate interests that want to engulf our fragile island and “pave Paradise.” Too often, politicians are willing to “look the other way” when confronting wealthy developers who have committed flagrant and illegal violations upon the environment. Gary Hooser has shown a willingness to engage the mounting challenges to our island’s welfare such as the “ice” epidemic, severe traffic problems, and rampant development, all of which threaten everyone’s quality of life, residents and tourists alike.
Gary Hooser is a political anomaly; rather than being blinded by the glamour of his office, or self-absorbed by his own ego, Mr. Hooser remains open to the needs of the people and the Aina. Personally, I worked at Gary’s Publishing business for a number of years. I never saw him abuse his position of power. Although I was an employee, Gary always gave me the feeling that I was working with him, rather than under him. I was impressed by the even-handedness with which he handled his employees and his business as a whole. This quality of integrity, rare in any politician, carries over to the wider political arena.
Richard Moll
(Diamond)
Kapa‘a
Please maintain altitude restrictions!
I remember my days hiking in our incredible Na Pali coast and remote valleys before 1994 with awe at the amazing beauty I was immersed in, which let my soul soar up high…but this absolute communion with Mother Nature constantly vanished with the horrendous noise of helicopters appearing suddenly from nowhere at very low altitudes.
I was once going through a difficult narrow path towards Hanakoa Falls and almost lost my footing when I heard the deafening noise of a helicopter coming (believe it or not, so low that i was able to read its numbers!). I remember meeting a tourist in Kalalau who told me that his reaction upon hearing the first helicopter was to lay flat on the ground remembering his Vietnam nightmares. Not a nice experience when you intend to commune with Nature in one of our most precious assets.
And I heard so many others saying they refused to take a helicopter tour after having dealt with all that noise in some of our amazing treasures: Na Pali, Waimea Canyon, Koke‘e…
So, please, make SFAR 71 permanent!
Lilian de Mello
via the Internet
