Kaua‘i too slow to implement mandatory recycling
I find it odd that the administration states that only 5% of waste would be diverted with household recycling. This is not my experience at all. We recycle, and I would say it cuts our household waste output by at least 50%. In Los Angeles and other cities on the mainland curbside recycling is the norm. In fact, you can get fined for not recycling.
Kaua‘i has been too slow to implement mandatory recycling.
Molly Jones, Kealia
Is Hawai‘i ready for legal gambling?
Do you like the idea of legalizing gambling in Hawai‘i?
In California, I think it is illegal. Still, gambling exists in the Southern California San Diego area.
The idea of gambling takes on not just the dimensions of economic structure supporting it, but it entails a religious connotation to it, that spells crime-rate increase, and maybe even more prostitution. In Waikiki. Or anywhere else.
If someone wanted to gamble all he had to do is go to Las Vegas. Vacations Hawai‘i, and make a reservations package plan and he would be in there with a tour group. Costing no more than $699 per round trip ticket/hotel and meals included. This idea has been around since 1978 when Las Vegas opened its doors to Hawai‘i and Jackie’s travel hit it big with Hawai‘i residents. Nights and casinos. And this lady became a millionaire because of Hawai‘i’s interest in gambling.
Is Hawai‘i ready for gambling? Mexico has it. California has it. 1.4 million residents live in Hawai’i. The population would jump to 2.5 million people in a few short years if gambling is made legal. Hawai‘i is due. Watch tourism grow. One businesswomen put it, “you make it happen.” Do you agree with her?
Dean Sabado, Honolulu
Surfers, responders provided kokua, aloha to injured visitor
Hi. My name is Diane Kaelin and I am 75, and from San Diego.
We spent our 45th wedding anniversary in Kaua‘i, and stayed at the Lawa‘i Beach Resort. The last day, June 7, we went to the beach next to the lovely Beach House restaurant and Boss Frog’s.
I collapsed on the asphalt street walking back to our resort after the beach. I told my husband I felt dizzy and remembered nothing else.
I woke up on the grass next to the restaurant. These wonderful, handsome surfer dudes were right next to me. One was to my left and was so sweet. He kept staring at me and I asked him why he was staring. He said, “You fell, and I wanted to make sure you were OK.”
I did not remember anything. He stayed right beside me until the little fire truck and big fire truck came. My husband was talking to all the responders, explaining what happened.
I am not too heavy, but I was dead weight. My husband and four surfer dudes had carried me to the grass. I felt there were angels all around me. Leah, from Boss Frog’s, got me the best cold water I ever had. Somebody was holding my back, not sure who.
Then the wonderful firemen came and helped me with my cuts. They took my blood pressure and asked me to stand so they could take it standing, but I fainted again, so they told me no more standing and gave me oxygen, lol. Blood pressure was very low. Do not know names of firemen or the surfers.
Then the medics came, Phil and Jeff. The firemen got me over to the ambulance and I went in the ambulance, my first time ever in an ambulance.
They did all kinds of tests with me, and got my blood pressure up, and they said I was better, and it was up to me what I wanted to do. I said I felt fine and did not want to spend my last night in Kaua‘i in the ER. I wanted to go back to the resort and watch the sunset, so we did.
So I wanted to say thank you for the spirit of aloha. All of you were so kind and saved my life. Mahalo!!!!
Diane Kaelin, San Diego
I agree with Molly Jones. The water bottles you can get an extra $55 dollars per x amount every time.
When people talk about is there Aloha in our islands for the visitor I’m going to recall this fortunate ladies story. So glad she got to go back for the sunset. Well done, Kaua’i!
While I rarely agree with Ms. Molly Jones on issues, IF what she says about the administration saying that only 5% of waste would be diverted by curbside household recycling, I am all on board. How many residents, guests and businesses find it far easier just to discard recyclables than to separate them and get them into the recycle stream? We need to get up to speed with communities who understand the value of serious recycling, and we need to create a plastic and paper recycling system right here right now that can utilize all the crappy plastic packaging brought here by Costco, Walmart, Amazon and the like and all the useless junk mail brought to us by the USPS. Let’s see some real action, instead or more talk.
The US has only six states without any casinos, including Hawaii. Why not allow legalized gambling here and reap all of the monetary benefits instead of giving our money to Nevada? Also, why not legalize recreational marijuana for the same reason? Think of all of the affordable housing, jobs, funding for social programs, infrastructure, money for schools and other necessities that the increased revenue can be used for to benefit the people of Hawaii. The reality remains that people already gamble. How many illegal game rooms get busted every month? Folks smoke pot, usually obtained illegally. Let’s get practical, lawmakers, and get our collective heads out of the “holier-than-thou” morality quick-sand that has pervaded Hawaii since the arrival of the Missionaries back in the 1800’s. It’s time to join the 21st Century folks.
That’s good Molly. County funds are needed to put in place the curb side services, This would require more county taxes to support it. But where? Kaua’i is more reliant though on federal funds. Such as the CARES act. Useless are county jurisdictions, But do try harder for the county department,
“Kaua‘i has been too slow to implement mandatory recycling.”
Great idea Molly…let’s add another mandate to the list. Just what we need after two years of unnecessary police state dictates & misery–a little more top down totalitarian control from a gaggle of political hacks. I remember all your grousing about that…
RSW
That’s really good Dean. But I figured Kaua’i is into church group so not that much customers on Kaua’i going to Las Vegas. This is on Statistics only. You might want to hype out the night life there more if you want more customers. Business mind set, I agree with you. Selling is the key.