Maui News Talk Back

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Tuesday Nov 24

Yet more free publicity for Maui News advertiser EA Sports.

The decision on Hanzawa's Store zoning in Haiku has been postponed. Erin Wade, the county planner indicated that the store is important to residents and that if it closes, that will increase traffic on Kokomo and Makawao Ave as people will have to travel to Pukalani Superette or Haiku Cannery

Carrie Ann Shirota, the vocal opponent of the store is demanding additional testimony time, no food service, no subletting, no bar and wants the Daniels to deed over a right of way and leave one of their parcels in Ag. One wonders if this will enhance the value Shirota's family's substantial neighboring land holdings and what she has planned for her family land that is causing her demands of the Daniels.

One also wonders why the County Council has such a hard time granting a small zoning request for a business that has existed since before 1920 when it was so easy for them to approve hundreds of acres of rezoning for an exploitive mainland investment company in Makena that promptly went bankrupt.

Tradewind weather and a big north swell are predicted. This was illustrated with another nice Amanda Cowan photo.

County offices, pools, Lana'i, Olowalu and Hana landfills will be closed Thanksgiving.

UH got the Pacific Disaster Center contract renewed. MCC will be closed Thanksgiving and Friday.

Rubellite Kawena Kinney Johnson, author of the "Kumulipo: the Hawaiian Hymn of Creation," will lecture at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at the Duco Building, 1464 Lower Main St. (mauka of Archie's and Tiffany's Restaurant). Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. Seating is limited, so reservations are requested by Wednesday. For more information, call 269-8865.

There will be no torch march around Maui island this Makahiki by E Ka'apuni A Ho'a Kukui Na Moku'aina. U'ilani Kapu says that instead they will hold meetings in the various areas. West Maui has already met and Wailuku is next on Dec. 6 in Waihee.For more information, call Kapu at 250-1479.

Fundraising for Jharrell Sim's liver transplant met the $64,000 goal.

The new Maui News poll asks, "What are the chances of Sarah Palin being elected president of the United States?" with "No chance" in the lead by far. Since it is easy to vote multiple times, these polls are in no way a reflection of readers' views...although for once it looks accurate.

Letters to the Editor:

Nikhilananda wants to get the Green Party on the Hawai'i ballot and asks registered voters visit www.greenhawaii.org, call him at 572-8787 or send an email to nikhilananda@hawaiiantel.net in order to sign the petition.

Albert Molitor is all bent out of shape because we all didn't fly American flags to honor the soldiers. Hmmm.... where to start. Should I say, "Why not go back to America?". Should I say, "We honor our soldiers every day by trying to bring them home"? or should I say, "Symbols and patriotism simply play into the war profiteer corporations who are manipulating us into wars"? Yesterday Albert was all bent out of shape over the Lahaina Halloween event. Before that he was upset at speeders in "Maui cruisers" who he condemned as too poor to pay tickets.

Kaumana Rindlisbacher says America has become a dictatorship. I was following along with her, nodding my head, as she outlined how Bush had concentrated power and how Obama isn't doing too much better by supporting the Patriot Act when she took an abrupt right turn and lost me. She included comprehensive healthcare coverage and the immigration act as taking away our rights. Huh?

Fred Hetzer compared health insurance rates between Hawai'i and Joe Lieberman's state of Connecticut and found our rates significantly lower.

Dan Taylor says no one really holds unbroken chain of title to their land because it belongs to the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

Continuing the Lahaina vs Pa'ia rivalry in a moderating tone, Janel Whittaker, lauds Pa'ia.

In yet another round of EA Sports boosterism, today's editorial adds nothing new and simply repeats the $8 million economy boost they got from the EA Sports press release. Yawn.

Monday Nov 23

Noshir Gowadia accused spy from Maui was found competent to stand trial.

Maui stores predict less than stellar holiday sales due to the economy.

A jury found Kipp Haole not guilty of first-degree terroristic threatening and guilty of disorderly conduct. Judge Cardoza sentenced him to 30 days. Haole was apparently yelling about killing someone and was found at his ex-girlfriend's house, and then according to the arresting officer threatened to kill him. Haole has been previously convicted of first-degree criminal property damage, violating a restraining order 5 times, criminal property damage 5 times, terroristic threatening 4 times, DUI, third-degree assault, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and contempt of court 3 times.

You folks will be thrilled to know he already served his 30 days and is back out on the street.

In other crime news, meth-user, Zachary Alexander was sentenced to 18 months in jail, drug treatment and 5 years probation for burglary, theft of a credit card, car theft and driving without a license (recklessly). He had recently gotten out of jail after a 5 year theft sentence.

Judge August after once again being conned by the defendant and his supporters, said

"The best way to protect society in the long run is to have Mr. Alexander go through long-term treatment and probation,"

Newsflash, Judge. Drug treatment does not work too well unless the user wants to change.

19 year old Bobby Tabilangan of Kaunakakai was released after 3 months of jail and Judge Bisson put him on 5 years probation for stealing a moped.

In contrast, pushover Judge August, allowed deferred sentencing and community service for Kihei's Valerie Lester who was part of a group that broke into a car and stole items including a credit card. Come on, Judge August - just because she told you she's getting drug treatment and going to college - you believed her?

Maui Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward if you find Darrel A. Alexander, who is wanted for nine counts of first-degree sexual assault.He is African-American, 34 years old, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing about 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Call 242-6966 if you have any info on his whereabouts. And pray that Judge August doesn't get his case.

In the "There but the grace of God go we" crime section 6 people were sentenced for DUI.

Maui News photographer, Amanda Cowan took a cool photo of Scott Campbell near the D.T. Flemming life guard stand.

More publicity for EA Sports with a photo showing Trent Helle and Mark Few.

Our editor went to a Hawaii Employers Council meeting and brings back the news that neighbor islands are being hit harder by the recession than O'ahu, citing Maui's unemployment rate going from 2% to 10%. (Of course, those numbers do not reflect underemployment which is most likely double)

The speaker went on to say that Maui got hit because of the Maui Pine shutdown and that our future is "research and development of better crops." "Better" being a subjective and "research" being a code word for GMO and Monsanto using Maui as their isolated experiment station and us as their guinea pigs.

In Letters to the Editor

Audrey Rocha Reed lauds Virgilio "Leo" Agcolicol who resigned from the board of directors of the Cameron Center.

Albert Molitor writes in opposition to the Lahaina Halloween festivities.

Mike Kaufmann is advocating moving to organic and sustainable food growing instead of sugar. He doesn't say this, but we can all do our part by buying Maui grown food whenever it is offered.

On a related subject, Eloise Engman points out that the County's interpretation of ag products having to be sold in order for the grower to qualify for the lower property tax rate, ignores those who are growing their own food for consumption. Certainly we can craft a law which differentiates between the "gentleman farmer" who plants a few fruit trees and the family which is growing a substantial portion of their own food.

Wilson Branca calls A&B's Grant Chun on his viewpoint which somehow related the Superferry to asking for a lion's share of our water for HC&S and Wailuku Water,. Branka says the only thing that relates the two is that both HC&S and the Superferry want to bully their way around the State's environmental and water laws.

And (we have an emerging theme here) HC&S should put its people to work growing food and energy crops.

Just a comment on "energy crops". HC&S has been researching sugar cane use in ethanol. Cane has a much better energy balance than corn ethanol (which some claim actually uses as much oil as it replaces). So they are doing that part of your suggestion.

Froyam Edel and Lehua Cosma thank MECO for restoring power to Hana.

Alia Lim wants trained professional accountants and economists to balance our budget. Sorry, Alia, that isn't going to go over well with the rest of us who saw what the econmists at the Fed did to our economy. The lawmakers set priorities which is a far different task from bean counting.

Donald Estes disses the Republican (non)healthcare plan.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunday Nov 22

In a lead article that appears to be copied from a press release, EA Sports Maui Invitational NCAA men’s basketball tournament is estimated to bring $8 million to Maui.

After reading some fluff about Christmas and flu shots we get to the real news.

The EPA required gas capture system at Maui County Landfill is in and we're now negotiating fines. Yeah, way to go EPA. Maui is struggling financially and instead of giving us some money so we can meet your requirements you want to take away money. That will certainly help us do the best job possible.

The State says the county allowed polluted storm water to run out of the Molokai and Lanai landfills, did not adequately contain motor oil, did not maintain storm water detention basins at Hana landfill, and allowed scrap vehicle operation.

The state wanted $32,000 for the Molokai violation, $17,600 for Lanai, and $12,700 for Hana but appears ready to allow Maui County to use that money to build additional pollution control facilities.

More fluff with a photo of Shane Victorino and 2-year old daughter at his charity golf game.

12-18 foot surf on the north shore today.

Azeka Shopping Center and KHON channel 2 are sponsoring a gift drop-off for the needy.

Comments on the County's "Sustainable Energy: Strategies for Implementation" have been extended until 4 p.m. Dec. 4. If you want to shape an affordable energy future, follow the above link and comment. Otherwise we'll get stuck with big, expensive projects.

Akaku TV offices will be closed Thursday and Friday

Road work delays M-W 8:30-3:30 - Hana Hwy near Hansons Rd, Honoapiilani Highway closed between Aholo and Lahainaluna, Kalae High-way on Molokai closed in both directions between Maunaloa Highway and Kalaupapa Lookout, 1 lane only for Maunaloa Highway on Molokai between Mile Post 5 and Mile Post 7

Editorial is about the assassination of President Kennedy. I notice they say nothing about the hate talk on the rightwing Fox and radio shows that is inciting other lunatics to attack our current President. We should all be condemning extremist, violent talk.

Letters to the Editor

Greg LaGoy executive director of Hospice Maui writes that there shouldn't be any competitors to his organization because then they'd have to spend too much money on marketing. Oh really? Do you really need to get more dieing clients? Isn't marketing what is so terribly wrong with our pharmaceutical and healthcare "businesses"?

Norm Franco advocates "agricultural condos" where a group of houses go together to lease or buy land for growing food. He points out (quite rightly) that the $ has been devalued and food costs are rising precipitously. His idea - a variation on the community garden - smart and useful. Is Norm related to Stan? Because both these letter writers post useful information.

Rep. Mazie Hirono writes a rebuttle to the Maui News knee-jerk GOP editorial dissing her amendment which allows Hawai'i the option to stay under its pre-paid health care plan or opt into the plan which is included in the Federal Healthcare Reform bill.

The Maui News was really reaching in their criticism of Mazie Hirono's amendment but I guess that you have to reach when you are trying to boost a GOP candidate against such a popular Representative as Mazie who has kept every single one of her campaign promises and seems unusually free from corporate influence.

Emily Hossellman from Oahu is all bent out of shape because Senator Roz Baker called Gov. Lingle on her vendetta against the teacher's union. Why would the Maui News run a letter from someone on Oahu when they are rejecting letters due to a cut back on space?

Karen Chun, while agreeing that the bank bailout was a sell-out of the American people, came to the defense of Rep Hirono's truth in lending bill.

Allen Vierra warns that developers are after the water.

Responding to the letter saying Paia was better than Lahaina, Norm Bezane praises Lahaina's Sammy Kadotani for all his volunteerism and Larry Sarner agrees that the Lahaina Halloween should be controlled. Larry also says, "Thank God Paia is no Lahaina" and wants to know what store it is that has "the widest selection of chocolate bars to be found anywhere"".

It's Mana Foods, Larry. But good luck finding parking!

Rod Kunishige who is listed as being from Wailuku (and there are a lot of Kunishiges in Wailuku so maybe he was born there) but comes up as from San Jose on an internet search, presents the "czars and Hitler" GOP talking point.

Come on, Maui News, this stuff is old, old, old and annoying. And it is just the kind of crazy talk that should have been condemned in your editorial mourning the assassination of President Kennedy. Instead you print this garbage that encourages unstable people to think that they are justified in using violence against our democratically elected President. Hitler indeed!

Dennis Lokmer objects to stereotyping (and witch hunting) of Muslims with a sarcastic and oblique reference to Manzanar which hits home for the many of us who have kupuna who were rounded up into concentration camps during WWII for the crime of having Japanese ancestry.

Fred R. Wilson is dissing the Democrats for not putting something - I'm not sure what - in the Health Care Reform Bill.

Sherri Curry urges those of us who are laid off to volunteer at the schools. Good idea!

Jeff Churchill objects to government subsidies of Waikiki sand replenishment. I'm not sure who pays for this...possibly the City and County of Honolulu? He uses this to object to the "nanny state" (GOP catch phrase) and urge us to vote 'em out.

Jeff entirely misses a far, far bigger problem with the Waikiki sand replenishment. That sand comes from Maui and A&B has sold off the top 30' of dunes to be exported by weekly barge to 'Oahu. The result is our sand is estimated to run out (I know this sounds impossible) in the next couple of years.

For those of you saying, "big deal, who needs inland sand?", here is why. That sand is used to make cement. Without a local supply of sand (and we are not allowed to mine it from the ocean or beaches) we have to import our concrete sand from Australia. Notice that concrete has gone way, way up in price? That's partially because China has kapu'd cement for their huge construction projects but also because sand is becoming more expensive. Imagine how costly construction will be when we are importing from Australia.

Gabrielle Galler-Rimm wants more funding for the Humane Society and tells the story of slow response to a loose, stray dog that got hit by a car.

Bill Pietsch thinks the GOP should be charged with fraud and treason for running such an unqualified candidate as Sarah Palin. I would charge him with repeating Democratic talking points but the Democrats don't say this as they are busy encouraging the GOP to run Palin as they feel it is a sure fire road to Democratic victory. Sorry, Bill. Any idiot can run for office and almost all of them - Dem or Rep - are packaged to look a whole lot better than they really are.

Francis K. Ibara makes a very good point that Republicans are dissing Obama for deficit spending while at the same time pushing for a Afghan troop buildup. He says,

"Doesn't it cost money to pay for this buildup? Spending money at home is much better than spending money in other countries. What mentality. We should build up our defense at home and mind our own business in other countries."

Amen, Francis!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Saturday Nov 21

Hanzawa's Store owners applied for 800-foot expansion and additional three small commercial buildings which require rezoning and state land-use district boundary amendment. Because opponents petitioned against the project, it will require 7 out of 9 votes to pass the zoning change at Monday's County Council meeting.

Long-time neighbor and leader of the opposition, Leina Shirota-Purdy, fears it will change the rural character of Kaupakalua/Haiku area, increase traffic and open the door for A&B to develop their nearby 250 acres.

Owner Matt Daniels says that only one family is organizing the opposition to rezoning. Not mentioned in the article which devotes a significant portion to the anti-zone change family's statements is that most neighbors favor the zoning change as it will make their lives easier. Few Haiku and Paia residents want to travel to Kahului to shop as traffic is exasperating. Paia, although it has Mana Foods, generally has no available parking.

Kudos to Ilima Loomis for an informative article that delved deeper into the issues than most.

Cecilio & Kapono will be at the MAC tonight 7:30pm. Tickets are still available.

Accused Maui spy, Noshir Gowadia, was alleged to have narcissitic personality disorder but competent to stand trial. He is alleged to have designed stealth technology for China, offered to sell the technology to other countries, and is accused of money laundering and falsifying tax returns.

Kodah Kalawe-English, 21, and Kevin Lifoifoi, 26, are standing trial for a Nov. 6 Haycraft Park beating of Jerome Metcalfe which caused broken ribs and a broken right finger. They face charges of robbery and assault. Judge Simone C. Polak reduced bail to $20,000 each.

Photo of Pohakuloa Kahue, 14, of Paukukalo at the Keopuolani Skate Park

Dean Rickard, a 22-year Maui Police Department veteran, has been promoted to captain of the Molokai Patrol District starting Dec. 1.

Maui Community Work Day Program is looking for beach cleanuup volunteers. call 877-2524 or e-mail info@cdwhawaii.org. (incorrectly listed as infor in the news)

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church rummage sale today 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2140 Main St. to benefit Kau Kau Kitchen

Today's editorial says, "That a health care union would dare to ask for such an increase [10%] in this economy is outrageous." Talk about being out of touch. We regularly lose our techs (ultrasound and radiation), nurses and physicians to the mainland where cost of living is less, salaries are higher and hours are less oppressive. Then we have to pay a huge premium to get Traveling Nurses to take their places.

Paying our health care workers salaries commesurate with the mainland would go a long way to reducing costs by eliminating these expensive temporary workers, mandatory overtime and training that is wasted on people who leave after months.

In a completelly illogical mish-mash of GOP talking points the editorial goes on to say, "Normally, we are strong believers in free-market principles. But, it is simply not working in health care" and then "Health care reform should be stopped in its tracks unless it contains real oversight of the spiraling inflation in the industry."

The editorial completely mixes up payments to insurance companies with salaries of health care workers. No one (except the Maui News) has accused health care workers of driving up the cost of medicine. It is the healthcare insurance corporations who rake off in excess of 30% of every healthcare dollar into executive bonuses, lobbying and obscene profits that cause the problem.

Why did the Maui News go after the healthcare employees? Is it just knee-jerk anti-worker GOP talking points?

Today's Letters to the Editor.

The Viewpoint by "4 Ag Hawaii" exhorts us to buy local, pointing out that if we replaced just 10% of our food exports with locally grown, it would mean $94 million for local farmers, generate $188 million in local sales, create $47 million in earnings, $6 million in state taxes, and 2,300 jobs.

What the Viewpoint did not say (possibly due to space limitations) is that vibrant local food production adds to our security, gives us better quality and reduces our impact on global warming. Look for Maui and Hawaii grown lettuce, tomatoes, fruits, nuts and herbs at your grocery store. If they don't carry these items, ask if they'll carry them. Even if the price is slightly higher, you're supporting the local economy and helping establish a strong local food base.

Hans Riecke wants the new parking structure in Wailuku to be put underground and the ground level to be a new town center. Sounds like a good idea but how much will it cost?

Marion Francois points out that Belgium, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Switzerland have cradle to grave health care coverage for all their citizens at a much lower cost than we pay here.

Too bad the Healthcare Insurance Corporations have a stranglehold on our Senators and Representatives, Marion, or we could have the same thing instead of paying an extra 30% surcharge to these leach-like corporations who provide nothing except roadblocks to getting treated.

Sally Raisbeck suggests we read Levi Johnson's Vanity Fair article about Sarah Palin.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Friday Nov 20

Paia School won Ka'anipali Beach Resort Association's Na Mele Song Competition

With Michelle Anderson gone, the developers are working on gutting the Workforce Housing Law. Mayor Charmaine Tavares proposed reducing the affordable housing requirement from 40% to 30% for developers who build subdivisions with market-rate homes that are $600,000 or less. Developers creating luxury housing (over $600k) the 50% affordable housing would still apply.

According to the article the County is dickering with Canadian developers who want out of the requirement for their 250 Kihei units. Are these the same Canadian developers who were hiring illegal aliens instead of Maui construction workers?

Dave DeLeon of the Realtors Association of Maui is predictably opposed to the bill since his group makes most their commissions selling luxury vacation homes to the wealthy.

Father Damien Statue gets maile lei

Public is urged to ignore the new monk seal pup at Hana lest it meet the same fate as Ho'ailona on Moloka'i. Stay at least 150 feet away, do not feed it, do not make eye contact, do not try to get its attention and if it approaches, ignore it and leave. NOAA captures tamed seals and they never get released again. Don't be the one who tames this seal pup and sentences it to a life in captivity.

In crime, Joseph "Joe" Kahanu Jr was convicted of punching his girlfriend's 6 year old in the forehead. Guys -- "never shake a keiki" also includes never giving them a ringing punch to the head. Sheesh.

Maui Taekwondo held a car wash last week at St. Theresa Church in Kihei.

Orlando Tagorda replaces J.B. Guard on the Maui Planning Commission.

The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center received $10,000 from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.

The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission is extending the deadline for nominations to fill the Native Hawaiian organization representative seat on its seven-member state commission. Visit the Web site www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov or call Ka'onohi Lee at 243-5020 for applications.

Letters to the Editor:

Netra Halperin extols Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the schools.

Emmons Connell thinks many of the Federal programs are broke and wants them fixed prior to doing anything new ... like healthcare? This is one of the GOP talking points that they encourage their followers to write.

Alex Davis condemns organizations who want to "stop everything". He apparently wants Upcountry to drink from the pesticide polluted Hamakuapoko wells so that developers can build more subdivisions upcountry. He apparently feels that it is OK to ignore environmental law and run the Superferry without an EIS...and ignores the fact that it was a plan doomed to failure because its buisiness plan was faulty.

He calls groups that watchdog the environment and insure laws are followed "anti-everything". Presumably he wants these pesky zoning and environmental protection laws removed so that our island can be fully exploited and we can get on with making money.

Richard Webster propagates the GOP lie that the healthcare reform bill will create "a government health committee that will decide whether you, your children or parents can have treatment" Apparently he has never tried to get treatment out of his insurance company. There will be no government panel. But we already have insurance company panels dedicated to disallowing coverage for all kinds of reasons. Why print letters that you know contain erroneous information, Maui News?

Editorial -

Dissing the slowness and small size of stimulus funds reaching Maui

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Thursday Nov. 19

Lead story: Hawaii Canines for Independence is training dogs to respond to Japanese commands. Dogs will go to Shizuoka Children's Hospital in Japan. The Tyler Foundation is helping fund the training.

At a meeting of the Kihei Community Association, Senator Roz Baker said the state Legislature is likely to return for a special session to address the issue of school furloughs in early December.

Budget cuts so severe that they leave holes in the public safety net (schools, mental health services, agricultural inspectors) "result in an unhealthy community," according to Sen. Baker.

Yvonne Biegel, Gene Zarro and Marc Hodges advocated for local control of schools. Mary Cochran, of the School Board is opposed to local control. Not mentioned are Mary Cochran's hints that she may run for County Council in the West Maui District.

Predictably Marc Hodges of the Maui TEA Party said they should, "cut waste". What waste? Easy to say but these guys haven't come up with details of what they consider waste and how much they can cut. That is the problem with so-called Teabaggers - they criticize but they aren't willing to do the labor of examining the budgets and coming up with a workable plan. Not to say that we aren't spending too much on administration and too little on teaching, but just mindlessly repeating "cut waste" and "get the government out of our lives" is not helpful.

Looks like Hanzawa's plan to build a second building containing 3 stores on Kaupakalua Road in Haiku may be scrapped for a compromise plan to double the size of the existing store. The plan has split the community and apparently there were some fireworks with Attorney Isaac Hall siding with those opposed to the Land Use change.

KP2, the monk seal who played at Kaunakakai Harbor on Moloka‘i is being sent to California for cataract surgery. The friendly seal bit people and held them under water (apparently playfulness in the seal world) and was named Ho‘ailona (Hawaiian for a meaningful sign). His removal by NOAA upset people. It appears that Ho‘ailona will not be released back into the wild. Walter Ritte did the blessing to speed Ho‘ailona on his way.

They're trying to catch up on Kihei's trash pick up which got behind due to staff shortages and mechanical problems.

Today's editorial was a defensive reaction to a letter-writer's accusation that the Maui News "flip-flopped" on the General Plan and its affect on Tourism. Apparently the editor didn't really read Stan Franco's thoughtful letter on Tuesday or they wouldn't have ended the editorial with the implication that the new General Plan is tougher on tourism than the old.

But then again, its hard to be objective when your publisher is chair of the Chamber of Commerce whose position is that any restriction (like zoning and smart planning) on the ability of developers to come over here from the mainland and extract money from Maui regardless of its effect on our quality of life has to be fought.

In Letters to the Editor:

Fred Losano objects to U.H funding to study obesity

It's a little hard to tell, but it appears that Walter Chihara wants more MIL football games to be played here on Maui.

Sky Schual thanks the people who stopped to help after a hit and run truck hit her car on Haiku Road.

News that didn't make the paper:

The film "Pidgin: The Voice of Hawai'i" will be broadcast this evening, Thursday, November 19th at 8:30 pm on PBS/HI and repeated later tonight at 11 pm. "Pidgin..." won the Audience Award for documentary at the Hawai'i International Film Festival

It will be preceded at 7:30 pm by "Insights" hosted by Dan Boylan and featuring a panel discussion about Pidgin with guests the former governor Ben Cayetano, Mari Matsuda (Professor of Law, William S. Richardson School of Law specializing in critical race theory, civil rights law-accent discrimination), Laiana Wong (Assistant Professor, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language), and Kent Sakoda...this is a live program and the audience may call in with questions and comments.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wednesday

Lead article is full of tears for the naupaka hedges beachside of Kihei's Mana Kai Resort and Hale Hui Kai Condominium. One is left with the lingering impression that DLNR are the bad guys here.

On the contrary, naupaka hedges have long been used by the wealthy owners of ocean-front mansions and resorts to illegally extend their properties and block the riff-raff (that's you and me) from our constitutionally guaranteed right to ocean access.

Buried deep in the article: "DLNR also determined that the spread of the naupaka was artificially induced by irrigation, not only creating barriers but giving the impression that the area is privately owned." Hale Hui Kai is also being required to remove their irrigation, stepping stones and artificial hardening from the State beach.

Much finger pointing asking Where's the Stimulus Money for Maui County. The Administration says it's the long and laborious application process. Mayor Tavares applied for 26 projects and $33.4 million and so far is confirmed to recieve $11,300,000.

Unbelievably, the Feds rejected a request to put solar hot water heaters on county swimming pools as frivilous.

But they did give the county $600,000 to hire a team to audit the county building's energy use - something a private company selling the actual energy-savings material would have done for free.

I love Mike Molina's comment: "I understand people are frustrated because the money has been a little slow to arrive, But we are talking about the federal government."

There will be a rally along Kaahumanu Avenue to mark National Homeless Awareness Week followed by Stomp Out Hunger at the War Memorial Soccer Field. The goal is to raise $100,000 for "Feed My Sheep". The number of homeless on Maui is unknown but 1,115 of them are housed in Hale Makana, Ka Hale A Ke Ola and other shelters. For more info contact Pastor Jonavan Asato, the Stomp Out Hunger coordinator, at 276-2398

Feed My Sheep says:

"For far too long, the public's image of homelessness is that of the 'chronic' homeless individual who panhandles for money, is possibly a substance abuser, and who seems unmotivated to work toward self-sufficiency... this image, while accurate for some, is not the true face of homelessness.

"We know of many working families who earn minimum wages and who cannot afford to pay rent and utilities, and thus are compelled to live in their vehicles or in the backyards of family members, or who are forced to seek help in homeless shelters.

Which seems to bring up the point - why is it no longer politically correct to differentiate between the deserving poor and the substance abusers and criminals?

In another puff piece for one of their big advertisers, Maui News lauds Times Supermarket and its take-over of the Kihei Star Market. Ironically, the last line of this slobbering tribute is:

The two Maui stores will employ approximately 150 people, including many former Star Market employees.

"We have not hired any new people and kept a lot of positions at Times open to preserve as many jobs for the former Star employees as possible," Stout said.

What is not mentioned is the years-long union-busting that Times Supermarket has been engaged in and the pay and benefit cuts it imposed on employees.

Times removed jobs of long-time employees, many of them female, drastically reduced healthcare for injured workers and their families, took away the guarantee of a 40-hour workweek for full-time workers, eliminated the employee annuity (retirement) plan and lied when it said it would recall union workers by seniority. See more about the Boycott of Time Supermarket at www.boycottTimes.com

In crime news, Judge Cardoza sententenced Georgette Stevens of Molokai to a five-year prison term for stealing an iPod, wallet and checkbook from a vehicle in a Kaunakakai. She was already convicted of four counts each of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

She apologized to the victim. What baloney! Of course they always apologize. Their lawyer tells them the judge will go softer on them. But their apology is worthless because it does not come with a commitment not to repeat the act. Why even include this in the story?

In another druggie case Keoki "Kahi" Cabebe was sentenced for criminal tresspass and attempted assault. He was already on probation for second-degree robbery, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Roadwork Advisories

On Lower Honoapiilani Highway, the right-turn lane onto Honoapiilani Highway in the Lahaina-bound direction will be closed through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to build a curb island.
Lahainaluna Road from Kelawea Street to Ikena Avenue will be closed through Sunday for work related to the Honoapiilani Highway Realignment project. Detours will be in effect; there will be no access between Kelawaea Street and Ikena Avenue.
Shoulder-lane excavations are planned for Hana Highway from Hansen Road to Haleakala Highway through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The right lane of Hana Highway will be closed intermittently during the work.

Trash wasn't picked up Tuesday in Kula due to staff shortages

Today's editorial is a pitch to donate to the Maui Food Bank

In today's Letters to the Editor Warren Watanabe writes a long viewpoint extolling Maui agriculture with his informational nuggets buried towards the end.

"our costs of doing business are much higher than those of our global competitors and local products are often undercut at the market by cheaper imports....Enhance public policies to support agriculture's needs. Understand that dust, smoke and dirt are all part of farming. Buy local."

Then he says,

"Some think we should only have small family farms... Larger companies are able to invest in infrastructure and research that benefit others growers."

I guess Warren has to dance to Monsanto's tune here since they are the 800 pound gorilla in the Farm Bureau. But a lot of us think very poorly of the "research" that Monsanto is conducting with Maui residents as guinea pigs.

"The state Legislature passed the Important Agricultural Lands bill to encourage businesses to dedicate their land to agriculture."

This was actually a give-away to big land owners like A&B, allowing them to turn a significant portion of their land into Rural designation (which means they can develop it for gentleman's estates, golf courses, etc) while at the same time giving no real requirement that they keep the remaining land in agriculture.

"We need water. The state Commission on Water Resource Management will soon be making decisions about our stream waters that could dramatically impact all water users on Maui. It's critical that all of us - residents, businesses, farmers and ranchers - share our thoughts on this critical issue with our government leaders and the water commissioners."

Ah ha! Now we get to the nitty gritty. Warren wants the Water Commission to keep stealing from the taro farmers and the public by getting us to pressure for water to go to HC&S.

Next Steve Alumbaugh writes that the Federal government should get out of telling us how to run our schools.

Carol Pratt is irate (as most women are) that the Stupak (Stupid) amendment is restricting contraception and abortion in the Health Care Reform bill. Some information that wasn't in her letter: The amendment goes far beyond the current Hatch Act which prohibits Federal funds for abortion and would most likely have the effect of removing abortion coverage from all health insurance.

Stupak, a Democrat, resides at the notorious C-Street religious cult run by Hilter-worshipping Doug Coe. Proving that religious cult members dedicated to turning back Medicare, Social Security and fighting unions come in all political stripes - not just Republican.

You may recall that C-Streeters while professing piety and living in a tax-exempt "church" have been caught paying off mistresses, etc. Read more about this powerful cult at Jesus Plus Nothing: Undercover among America's secret theocrats by Jeff Sharlet

Bill Blietz is unhappy that AARP supports Health Care Reform.

Bill Pietsch feels that the Afghan government is corrupt and we should get out now. (I think most of America agrees with you, Bill). And he wants an intelligible announcer at MIL football games.