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Letters for Thursday, August 23, 2007
• Wal-Mart timeline
• Blinding efficiency
• Go, Wal-Mart
• Economics of competition
• Made us feel at home
Wal-Mart timeline
In a presentation made to the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission, Wal-Mart’s position is that the master plan was approved and the right to expand was vested prior to the adoption of the Big Box ban.
Wal-Mart’s proposed expansion of its Lihu‘e store into the state’s first Supercenter is designed to fit entirely within the expansion area already approved in the 1992 permits, according to the presentation.
Following is a timeline that generally shows Wal-Mart’s efforts to obtain permission to proceed with expansion of the store:
• March 2006: Wal-Mart’s initial discussion with the Planning Department regarding the expansion of the Lihu‘e store.
• May 26, 2006: Wal-Mart submitted an application to the Planning Department to expand the Lihu‘e store.
• Oct. 13, 2006: Mayor referred Big Box bills to the Planning Commission.
• Oct. 25, 2006: County Council voted to refer Big Box bill to the Planning Commission.
• March 2007: Wal-Mart submitted a revised site plan to the Planning Department reducing the post-expansion floor area to 185,504 square feet.
• May 21, 2007: Wal-Mart’s meeting with the Planning Department to approve the revised site plan.
• May 23, 2007: Wal-Mart’s resubmitted application received by the Planning Department.
• May 24, 2007: County Council voted to pass the Big Box bill.
• Jack Stephens
Lihu‘e
Blinding efficiency
In response to a recent letter regarding the “aloha spirit” at Costco (“Where is the aloha?” Letters, Aug. 14).
Please Costco, don’t change your checkout procedure. I like the fact the I can shop and get on with my life when I go to Costco. I appreciate their efficiency and speed in assisting me to get through the checkout quickly. I really find it extremely rude that some customers feel that they must “talk story” when there are other people in line with ice cream melting. People who hold up the line are probably the same ones who drive below the speed limit and refuse to move over even though they have a line of cars behind them. Everytime that I have gone to Costco, I have found the employees to be very friendly and able to work quickly at the same time.
If you want to chat, please go to Starbucks and visit on the nice patio they provide.
Keep up the good work, Costco employees.
Robin Voorhies
Kapa‘a
Go, Wal-Mart
Bravo to Wal-Mart for standing up against an out-of-control county government. Among other things, they sued to stop a County Charter amendment that would have saved some from going under or moving to the U.S.A. in order to live out their remaining years comfortably. Then they take Wal-Mart to court to stop them from being able to sell us middle-class working people necessary items at a lower cost.
All I can say is thank God for a strong retailer with the gumption to do what they have a right to do via their permit when they bought the land.
On the other hand it is going to be fun to watch two “deep pocket” entities go to court over something that shouldn’t even be a problem. Wal-Mart has those “deep pockets” and Kaua‘i has our “deep pockets.” Well my money is on Wal-Mart, thus I say, “Hip hip hooray for Wal-Mart. Now get ‘er done.” And to the council I say, “Get on with something that will actually help the voters. Like fixing the roads, figure out how to get enough homes built that the supply will be greater than the demand, to name a couple of items that are more important.”
Gordon “Doc” Smith
Kapa‘a
Economics of competition
I would like to add my input on Michael Mann’s letter and Stan Godes’ response last week concerning transportation costs to Hawai‘i. Mr. Mann perpetuates the myth that ocean shipping is costly. As Mr. Godes alluded to, the reality is that, per container load, ocean shipping is significantly less expensive than trucking costs on the Mainland. That is, it costs much less to ship a container load from Los Angeles to Kaua‘i via ship, versus shipping that same container from Los Angeles by truck to, say, Denver, Colo. Of course, should one want to purchase one exercise bike and have it shipped from the Mainland to Kaua‘i the shipping costs are huge — more than having the same exercise bike shipped overland on the Mainland. But purchase a container load of exercise bikes and the cost per bike shipped to Kaua‘i will be much less. Or, fill the container with a mixture of items to sell in Kaua‘i and the cost per pound will be less than trucking. Considering that overhead costs are much higher on Kaua‘i than on the Mainland (labor, building costs, electricity — 33 cents per kWh versus 10 cents per kWh means to air condition a huge store costs a bundle — how else can Costco sell items for the same price as their Mainland stores except by having lower delivery costs? Sears and Wal-Mart, on the other hand, appear to mark items up about 10 percent over their Mainland stores — which is still less markup than many stores on Kaua‘i, especially the food stores. Safeway, for example, typically charges 1/3 more for many items than on the Mainland. Why? Probably because they have no competition from other food stores charging less.
Years ago I lived in a mountain community in Utah that had one gasoline station. It charged about 20 percent more per gallon than did stations in Salt Lake City. Why? Because shipping costs up the mountain were very high. Then one day a competing station opened up that charged the same price as did the stations in Salt Lake City. Guess what — the first station dropped its price to match the new station. Today, both stations are still in business. Amazing how the shipping costs dropped overnight — duh.
Roger Ward
Kalaheo
Made us feel at home
I would like to thank the families of the Kaulupono Girls Basketball teams “A” and “B,” Gee’s Angels and the Lihu‘e Kamikaze basketball team for their hospitality and genuine aloha spirit. These families have opened their hearts and kitchens to our girls from Hilo over this past weekend. Also a big thank you to Karen Matsumoto, without you, it would not have been possible. Again, thank you to all who have helped to make our Piopio Bears girls basketball team feel welcomed and comfortable. Being a native of this place that I call home, I am truly proud to have grown up on Kaua‘i. Mahalo to all.
Edward K. Kinzie
Hilo, Big Island
• Blinding efficiency
• Go, Wal-Mart
• Economics of competition
• Made us feel at home
Wal-Mart timeline
In a presentation made to the Kaua‘i County Planning Commission, Wal-Mart’s position is that the master plan was approved and the right to expand was vested prior to the adoption of the Big Box ban.
Wal-Mart’s proposed expansion of its Lihu‘e store into the state’s first Supercenter is designed to fit entirely within the expansion area already approved in the 1992 permits, according to the presentation.
Following is a timeline that generally shows Wal-Mart’s efforts to obtain permission to proceed with expansion of the store:
• March 2006: Wal-Mart’s initial discussion with the Planning Department regarding the expansion of the Lihu‘e store.
• May 26, 2006: Wal-Mart submitted an application to the Planning Department to expand the Lihu‘e store.
• Oct. 13, 2006: Mayor referred Big Box bills to the Planning Commission.
• Oct. 25, 2006: County Council voted to refer Big Box bill to the Planning Commission.
• March 2007: Wal-Mart submitted a revised site plan to the Planning Department reducing the post-expansion floor area to 185,504 square feet.
• May 21, 2007: Wal-Mart’s meeting with the Planning Department to approve the revised site plan.
• May 23, 2007: Wal-Mart’s resubmitted application received by the Planning Department.
• May 24, 2007: County Council voted to pass the Big Box bill.
• Jack Stephens
Lihu‘e
Blinding efficiency
In response to a recent letter regarding the “aloha spirit” at Costco (“Where is the aloha?” Letters, Aug. 14).
Please Costco, don’t change your checkout procedure. I like the fact the I can shop and get on with my life when I go to Costco. I appreciate their efficiency and speed in assisting me to get through the checkout quickly. I really find it extremely rude that some customers feel that they must “talk story” when there are other people in line with ice cream melting. People who hold up the line are probably the same ones who drive below the speed limit and refuse to move over even though they have a line of cars behind them. Everytime that I have gone to Costco, I have found the employees to be very friendly and able to work quickly at the same time.
If you want to chat, please go to Starbucks and visit on the nice patio they provide.
Keep up the good work, Costco employees.
Robin Voorhies
Kapa‘a
Go, Wal-Mart
Bravo to Wal-Mart for standing up against an out-of-control county government. Among other things, they sued to stop a County Charter amendment that would have saved some from going under or moving to the U.S.A. in order to live out their remaining years comfortably. Then they take Wal-Mart to court to stop them from being able to sell us middle-class working people necessary items at a lower cost.
All I can say is thank God for a strong retailer with the gumption to do what they have a right to do via their permit when they bought the land.
On the other hand it is going to be fun to watch two “deep pocket” entities go to court over something that shouldn’t even be a problem. Wal-Mart has those “deep pockets” and Kaua‘i has our “deep pockets.” Well my money is on Wal-Mart, thus I say, “Hip hip hooray for Wal-Mart. Now get ‘er done.” And to the council I say, “Get on with something that will actually help the voters. Like fixing the roads, figure out how to get enough homes built that the supply will be greater than the demand, to name a couple of items that are more important.”
Gordon “Doc” Smith
Kapa‘a
Economics of competition
I would like to add my input on Michael Mann’s letter and Stan Godes’ response last week concerning transportation costs to Hawai‘i. Mr. Mann perpetuates the myth that ocean shipping is costly. As Mr. Godes alluded to, the reality is that, per container load, ocean shipping is significantly less expensive than trucking costs on the Mainland. That is, it costs much less to ship a container load from Los Angeles to Kaua‘i via ship, versus shipping that same container from Los Angeles by truck to, say, Denver, Colo. Of course, should one want to purchase one exercise bike and have it shipped from the Mainland to Kaua‘i the shipping costs are huge — more than having the same exercise bike shipped overland on the Mainland. But purchase a container load of exercise bikes and the cost per bike shipped to Kaua‘i will be much less. Or, fill the container with a mixture of items to sell in Kaua‘i and the cost per pound will be less than trucking. Considering that overhead costs are much higher on Kaua‘i than on the Mainland (labor, building costs, electricity — 33 cents per kWh versus 10 cents per kWh means to air condition a huge store costs a bundle — how else can Costco sell items for the same price as their Mainland stores except by having lower delivery costs? Sears and Wal-Mart, on the other hand, appear to mark items up about 10 percent over their Mainland stores — which is still less markup than many stores on Kaua‘i, especially the food stores. Safeway, for example, typically charges 1/3 more for many items than on the Mainland. Why? Probably because they have no competition from other food stores charging less.
Years ago I lived in a mountain community in Utah that had one gasoline station. It charged about 20 percent more per gallon than did stations in Salt Lake City. Why? Because shipping costs up the mountain were very high. Then one day a competing station opened up that charged the same price as did the stations in Salt Lake City. Guess what — the first station dropped its price to match the new station. Today, both stations are still in business. Amazing how the shipping costs dropped overnight — duh.
Roger Ward
Kalaheo
Made us feel at home
I would like to thank the families of the Kaulupono Girls Basketball teams “A” and “B,” Gee’s Angels and the Lihu‘e Kamikaze basketball team for their hospitality and genuine aloha spirit. These families have opened their hearts and kitchens to our girls from Hilo over this past weekend. Also a big thank you to Karen Matsumoto, without you, it would not have been possible. Again, thank you to all who have helped to make our Piopio Bears girls basketball team feel welcomed and comfortable. Being a native of this place that I call home, I am truly proud to have grown up on Kaua‘i. Mahalo to all.
Edward K. Kinzie
Hilo, Big Island
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| Politics over principle |
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 9:19 AM:
" Hello again TGI,
Please do not expect anyone to buy your theory of promotion or advertising and success program Waimea High School. We the former students there at one time in our lives actually do not care of local propaganda and success story with you or anyone there and their cars to show for as a success story.
Basically, I wrote to Waimea High School, and I suspect as always that this town is a ghost town. No offense but there is nothing to do there, just unemployed educators and former students.
I am not with their idea of success story, and I am not placing religion or anything like that on anyone, because as you know, this is still a free country and you can do anything you want. The whole idea of success just doesn't work well in a farm club setting and wanting to make it out or make it happen after you graduate in high school there to say the least.
Basically, some people I may know here, think some of you people still stuck there are still losers because you haven't made it happen for yourself or others, if you get my point staying home doing nothing.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
Please do not expect anyone to buy your theory of promotion or advertising and success program Waimea High School. We the former students there at one time in our lives actually do not care of local propaganda and success story with you or anyone there and their cars to show for as a success story.
Basically, I wrote to Waimea High School, and I suspect as always that this town is a ghost town. No offense but there is nothing to do there, just unemployed educators and former students.
I am not with their idea of success story, and I am not placing religion or anything like that on anyone, because as you know, this is still a free country and you can do anything you want. The whole idea of success just doesn't work well in a farm club setting and wanting to make it out or make it happen after you graduate in high school there to say the least.
Basically, some people I may know here, think some of you people still stuck there are still losers because you haven't made it happen for yourself or others, if you get my point staying home doing nothing.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:45 PM:
" First of all, let this be known, that these comments here are worthless and useless considering the topic being discussed. We found this topic a useless waist of time and money. This is from any intellectual interested reader. And yes, I am not associated with any former classmates there on Kauai also, for this matter alone.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:50 PM:
" I have seen alot of losers being mentioned in association to Waimea High School sports at UH Manoa. Might I add they are the one's who are delerious and a debachery to any level minded reader. These names are wide and long. And they run from 1979-1990 graduates trying grace the pages of Kauai and represent that school, outrageous. I for one, right now am putting all of them down for ever contemplating fame and popularity. We actually do not understand your fame and glory at Waimea High School.
This is in regards to your articles on the Waimea High School athletics and any department there.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
This is in regards to your articles on the Waimea High School athletics and any department there.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:55 PM:
" Losers I have mentioned that graced those pages are as follows:
Ross Kagawa 1984' UH baseball 1987' classmate of Percival Butay(cousin)
Edmond Acoba 1981'
Liko Pereira 1989 and someother school baseball?
Kui Souza 1988 Sacramento state baseball
Craig Ibara 1983' HPC of honolulu baseball
Keith Pigao - student information desk for all information here for class reunion
Lyman Lacro 1986, UH Volleyball 1987
Barry Magoay 1985, UH Volleyball 1989
These are just some of the names trying to gain popular votes via their own high School Waimea High School
even now. Unreal!
Best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
Ross Kagawa 1984' UH baseball 1987' classmate of Percival Butay(cousin)
Edmond Acoba 1981'
Liko Pereira 1989 and someother school baseball?
Kui Souza 1988 Sacramento state baseball
Craig Ibara 1983' HPC of honolulu baseball
Keith Pigao - student information desk for all information here for class reunion
Lyman Lacro 1986, UH Volleyball 1987
Barry Magoay 1985, UH Volleyball 1989
These are just some of the names trying to gain popular votes via their own high School Waimea High School
even now. Unreal!
Best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 12, 2009 1:08 PM:
" Hello again TGI,
This is me, Dean Kelly Sabado. Thank you for letting me comment on your articles there on the island. I just want to thank everyone agreeing with myself on who actually I meant, calling them losers in that town. Ha! Ha! Ha! I am a personal graduate of that high school but will proudly say if they keep up the good work in academics and life, will not be too ashamed of being associated with Waimea High School as an alumni.
Sorry, but there are others who felt this way! Here on the island of Honolulu and even the mainland. These names may have one time in their lives even mine represent the epitome of failure and laughs, and not success.
best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
This is me, Dean Kelly Sabado. Thank you for letting me comment on your articles there on the island. I just want to thank everyone agreeing with myself on who actually I meant, calling them losers in that town. Ha! Ha! Ha! I am a personal graduate of that high school but will proudly say if they keep up the good work in academics and life, will not be too ashamed of being associated with Waimea High School as an alumni.
Sorry, but there are others who felt this way! Here on the island of Honolulu and even the mainland. These names may have one time in their lives even mine represent the epitome of failure and laughs, and not success.
best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
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HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 9:08 AM:
RE: 2/11/2009 and the above topic
Can we cut out the "EXPLETIVE" here. Everyone knows if you are or were affiliated with high school at one time in your life in Waimea, Kauai, you would know that you do not place one of the three stooges willing to work at Kentucky fried chicken and place him at the vice principal's seat at Waimea High School. We all know that BOE and DOE played no roll in this nonsense of students being athletes then becomming success in the respected choice of degree and field like a BA degree. An example, you cannot put someone like a Pereira or even an Aaron Francisco from Kahuku High School, now former Arizona Cardinals NFL, as a BA candidtate after a prolific showing in sports. It just does not work that way. We all know that they cannot be serious placing academics after a 10 year assistant coach with a rediculous man/educator and/or coach if I might add like Tommy Rita of the 1980's and then expect him, Patrick Pereira to educate people in 2000's after being associated with dumb athletes all their life and now turn to academics. Now they educate people? Ha! What are we looking at here is basically a rediculous and dumber community than most perceived DOE standard base learning. Otherwise throw this article out already, alright?
best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "