• No sympathy for the gasoline industry from him • Kleckner’s essay ‘belonged’ in the opinion section No sympathy for the gasoline industry from him Since the beginning of this year to the onset of the Iraqi War in March,
• No sympathy for the gasoline industry from him
• Kleckner’s essay ‘belonged’ in the opinion section
No sympathy for the gasoline industry from him
Since the beginning of this year to the onset of the Iraqi War in March, Kaua‘i’s average gas prices rose 16% for regular and 15% for premium, and have remained at those prices for five months while gas prices elsewhere dropped.
Kaua‘i’s gasoline comes from Indonesia and the Persian Gulf. The same crude oil from which the gasoline is made sails right past our islands to West Coast ports and sells there for considerably less. West Coast prices likewise rose with the prospect of a protacted Iraqi war, but declined sharply as the swift victory became imminent.
Kaua‘i’s prices did not reflect that same decline. On March 20th, the average price of regular at Kaua‘i’s 19 public gas stations was $2.20 for regular gas and $2.39 for premium. Those are the same exact prices that we were offered to the public as of last Thursday.
There have been a few minor changes. For instance, the Kapa‘a Chevron dropped its prices 2c per gallon on both grades of gas in the past five months, while others (Kaläheo Chevron and Shell, Hanapepe Shell and Waimea 76) raised their prices a penny or two over the same time period. $2.34 will buy a consumer a gallon of premium at the Puhi Shell or a gallon of regular at the Princeville Chevron, just as it did before the war.
When it comes time for the Gas Cap Law to take effect, the gasoline industry will get no sympathy from me.
Martin Rice
Kapa‘a
Kleckner’s essay ‘belonged’ in the opinion section
I see you have printed Dean Kleckner’s essay on genetically modified crops. I’m glad you put it in the ‘opinion’ section, because that makes it clear that everything he says is just thatnhis opinion.
It’s his opinion that certain people he disagrees with are lying; it’s his opinion that calling people he disagrees with liars is a good way to make his case. I prefer to look at the facts that can be seen right here in the islands, and I recommend other readers look for themselves.
Try asking your local small organic farmers what is actually happening in their fields with their crops, and what they think the huge amount of open-air field trials of genetically modified crops in Hawai’i might do to their livelihoodnand to your food sources. Try asking your kumu and kupuna what they think of genetic manipulation of ‘ulu, mai’a, ‘ualanand of kalo, the sacred elder brother of the Hawaiian people.
After all, these are the real farmers, ‘na maka o ka ‘aina’, their thoughts, eyes and hands on the land day in and day out. Dean Kleckner, on the other hand, is primarily a highly paid consultant for North American and international agribusiness interests, as are most other board members of the organization he writes on behalf of. You decide who is better suited to inform you of what is good for the ‘aina and people of Hawai’i.
John Schinnerer
Kea’au, HI
