Sweet smell of justice overpowers stench of rotten apples

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Looking back on the last week, there is much to be thankful for.

Sure, it was a mixed bag. The traffic camera fiasco got, unbelievably, even more entangled; the City Council jumped in where it shouldn't in business dealings between Outrigger and private land owners; and it was business as usual at the Legislature.

Bummer.

But roses bloomed among the weeds, and it's important to stop and smell them sometimes. The roses, that is.

For starters, thank goodness the jury didn't buy the Clyde Arakawa "practiced liver" defense. That could have led to a whole new movement in the community. Imagine legions of people saying they'll be home late because they have to go to "liver practice" after work.

Personal liver trainers would pop up with promises of getting your liver into shape with the proper "experience."

Picture drinkers trying to qualify for different levels of liver tolerance, almost like a black belt in martial arts: "Oh, I can have eight beers and drive home cuz' I been working out my liver. I brown belt now, but pretty soon, I make 'em to 11 beers and one shot, no problem."

Think of the ramifications in the judicial system: people would argue that yes, they had a lot to drink the night of the accident, but they've attained Master Liver status and were therefore not really drunk, just a little sudsy after a good workout at the liver gym.

And thank goodness the City Council is stepping in to help those poor homeowners in Kahalu'u defend themselves from the unbelievably hostile actions of billionaire landowner Gensiro Kawa-moto, who went as far as to hire construction crews to tear down a rock wall to drive home his point on Christmas Eve.

Pilau. Sure, the neighbors' driveways sit on property that is legally Kawamoto's, but what skin is it off this guy's nose to let an old lady use a couple of feet of his land to safely get into and out of her home? Major bachi, if you ask me. Here's an example of what's legal being very different from what's right. Thankfully, the City Council is using its powers of condemnation to help out the little guy. Thankfully, the City Council is using its power to make things right.

Also, we should send a mahalo to Janet Jackson, who set a nice example of a big production coming to town and NOT asking the state for money.

Say what you want about the live show and the taped HBO special, but remember that Miss Jackson showed America a good five minutes worth of beautiful Hawai'i scenic shots that we didn't have to pay for.

She even did a nice little endorsement in the pre-show special about how much she loves the Islands and how magical this place is. She got here, she said nice stuff, she showed more body than "Baywatch," she did a show with Olympic-level athletics and not once did she have her funky pink Teletubbies-looking hat in her hand looking for taxpayer subsidies.

Imagine! A show from Hawai'i that paid for itself! Just goes to show you, miracles can happen.

Thank goodness!

Lee Cataluna's column runs on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.