Letters to the Editor
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
WIND FARM OFFERS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO LANA'I
With a seemingly grim economic forecast for our state, what a great opportunity for Lana'i to have a wind farm.
It's fortunate that the island will be able to have a stable source of jobs, a great way for students to learn how renewable energy works, increased tax revenue for the county, and help our state be more energy self sufficient.
I know the hard part to swallow is change and development, but I would ask residents to not miss an opportunity to improve their economy that other islands have missed out on.
I would ask the developer to guarantee that a certain percentage of jobs go to Lanaians, ask to put Lana'i on the grid and in so doing also provide discounted electric cars to residents (I'm sure paying $5 a gallon is a pain), ask that the developer work closely with community organizations like the Lana'i Archaeological Committee and the Lana'i Culture & Heritage Center to ensure that the land is treated with respect and cultural sensitivities are met, and request educational involvement on the part of the developer in the form of apprenticeships for high school students.
As a frequent visitor to Lana'i (my wife is from there), I understand that the island is a very special place, and can continue to be so with careful and thoughtful development.
Kevin AncogPearl City
PUBLIC SPACES
GRAFFITI ON WALLS IS JUST A SIGN OF SMALL MINDS
Mahalo to Ron Artis for sprucing up the bus stop at Karsten Drive and California Avenue in Wahiawa. Hopefully this will deter graffiti.
When I see graffiti, I'm reminded of the old saw, paraphrased, "oh what minds so small, they put their thoughts on public walls."
Paul K. FunkhouserWahiawa
COQUI
OTHER ANIMALS SHOULD BE OF GREATER CONCERN
It's interesting that most of the anti-coqui frog responses to Soma Grismaijer's Island Voices column (Nov. 17) originate from people who have a direct financial interest in maintaining the pogrom against the tiny frogs with the melodious voices.
Representatives of the various island ISCs (Invasive Species Committees), HISC (the Hawai'i Invasive Species Council) and CGAPS (Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species) — all of whom are underwritten by the taxpayers of Hawai'i who pay their salaries.
The dismal record of the Department of Agriculture at keeping unwanted animals out of Hawai'i should be of greater concern. Just recently a black widow spider was found to have arrived in Hawai'i — but the ISCs care more about the coqui than a venomous arachnid. Go figure!
As for the other complainants, there will always be someone in heaven who will kvetch that the angels are playing their harps too loudly.
Cathy GoeggelDirector, Research and Investigations, Animal Rights Hawai'i
ECONOMY
SEVERAL WAYS TO SAVE ON HEALTHCARE COSTS
With tightening budgets, there are reports of people cutting back on their healthcare for economic survival. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some ways to save:
Assistant clinical professor of medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine
TRIBUTE
PETER DEASE — A TRUE TREASURE OF HAWAI'I
With the passing on Nov. 11 of Punahou grad Peter Dease of Lawa'i, all Hawai'i lost a beloved living treasure.
Many considered this great-great-grandson of Kaua'i's first missionary doctor, James Smith (1818-87) — whom he resembled both in service to his fellow man and in uncanny likeness — the most knowledgeable historical resource on Kaua'i.
Dease retired back to his boyhood home after years representing the Hawai'i Visitors Bureau in Chicago. He then began 15 years as the island's outstanding volunteer docent for five of the island's natural and cultural attractions.
"What days are Peter's tours?" visitors would ask at the Kaua'i Museum, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lumahili Gardens, Grove Farm Plantation Museum and Kilauea Lighthouse. People responded to Dease's infectious love of Hawaiiana.
This tall, friendly kama'aina modeled the "Hawaiian Hospitality" claimed as the heritage of these islands. We say: "Please send us more Peter Deases."
Ray SmithWheaton, Ill.
CAR STEREOS
LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC, DON'T FORCE OTHERS TO
Walls and windows pound day and night? Meet the Subwoofer Assault Vehicle. Like a mobile version of graffiti, arrogant drivers with super-amplified car stereos increasingly thump our neighborhoods with their unwanted music. And their aftermarket mufflers. Isn't a muffler meant to suppress noise?
I am all for personal freedoms, including the freedom of speech. Freedoms are only viable if they do not infringe on the freedoms of others. While a person should be allowed to enjoy whatever music they like in the privacy of their own car, they should not be allowed to force everyone else within a mile radius to listen to that music against their will.
The issue is not musical taste. The bass caused by boom cars are so powerful they drown out all other sound nearby, and are low enough not to be noticeably dampened.
By all means, listen to your music, just turn it down so that only you become deaf, not everyone around your car as well!
Allan SommercornKa'a'awa
PROPOSITION 8
DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE MIGHTIER THAN COURT
The issue and case of Proposition 8 and gay marriage might and should come down to the definition of the word "marriage."
In its simplest and lowest common denominator, marriage is defined as a union of a man and woman in the dictionary, by most states, by the federal government with the Defense of Marriage Act and the Bible.
What the California Supreme court did is throw the word "marriage" out the window.
I believe in the saying that the "word is mightier than the sword," and the word marriage is mightier than the Supreme Court of California. Or any court.
Ken ChangKane'ohe
