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Letters for Sunday, May 24, 2009
• Information is key
• KIUC faces challenges
• Awaiting the next wave
Information is key
I am writing this letter in response to your article “2 Drown in 5 Days.”
It absolutely sickens me to read the paper and see yet another article describing how some family has lost a loved one due to drowning. While I understand that there are often extenuating circumstances not described in the article (such as a heart attack, etc.), nonetheless, more often than not, the tragedy could have been avoided.
I am an owner at a Po‘ipu timeshare. I have tried for years to get them to open a kiosk that has access to kauaiexplorer.com. Their response? Pay for daily Internet services and bring a laptop. I have stayed at various other resorts with the same response.
When I go to the “person in charge” to find out about surf conditions, I am told to call a boat charter company and ask them (Nice!).
I have written letters to various levels of management at our timeshare in Po‘ipu, with no response, for years! This last trip in April, I especially made a stink about it and walked out of my presentation professing how they really don’t care about the safety of their owners.
I don’t know what needs to be done to get these resorts to listen, but I cannot help but to wonder how many people’s lives would be different had the information been made available. And what I mean is a simple computer with a direct line to kauaiexplorer.com for up to date conditions.
Access to information is key. The blame game serves no point.
Karen Gonzalez, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
KIUC faces challenges
We thank our members for their suggestions and we strongly agree that “thinking out of the box” will be required to meet the challenges that we face in developing renewable energy projects.
In the late ‘90s, Kaua‘i Electric had a power purchase agreement with Kaua‘i Winds to develop wind energy. They were unable to find a site, mainly due to landowners’ visual concerns.
More recently, KIUC has been actively working with Mike Gresham of First Wind to develop a wind farm. They have also been having challenges finding a site due to visual concerns and concerns involving endangered seabirds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently required First Wind to remove their meteorological tower at a site in Moloa‘a because of potential bird strikes on the tower guy wires.
KIUC has been actively working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife in producing a Habitat Conservation Plan to mitigate bird takes. The current effort is to produce a Kaua‘i island Habitat Conservation Plan within the next five years. KIUC is hopeful the plan produced by the agencies will address the installation of wind turbines.
KIUC has been working on seabird mitigation measures for many years including funding the Save our Shearwaters program, which the Kaua‘i Humane Society is managing for KIUC. Other mitigation measures performed include replacing all streetlights with bird compliant lighting, placing marker balls in areas of concentrated seabird flight paths and changing line construction to more bird friendly configurations.
The highway widening project in the Wailua area will include the undergrounding of all utility lines from KIUC’s Lydgate substation to the Kapa‘a Bypass Road with the aid of stimulus funding.
Seabird issues on Kaua‘i are more prevalent than the other islands because Kaua‘i is not infested with mongoose, which has devastated bird populations on the other islands.
Besides wind generation, KIUC is actively working on other renewable energy sources including hydroelectric, biomass, photovoltaic and solar thermal projects around the island.
We are faced with many challenges as we switch to sustainable energy sources but we are confident that we can meet those challenges.
We are encouraged by the county’s recent approval of a permit to operate a wind turbine in Kilauea. Anyone with questions regarding KIUC is welcome to call CEO and President Randy Hee at 246-4389.
Phil Tacbian, KIUC chairman of the Board
Randall J. Hee, KIUC president and CEO
Awaiting the next wave
With regard to the May 7 article “Kauaians could be liable” ... The Ha‘ena land in question is a burial site open to tidal waves and should not have been sold to private interests. All the land on the makai side of the highway should be a public domain park like Kapiolani Park on O‘ahu for the enjoyment of everyone, rich, poor or whatever.
Hawai‘i is screwed up because we let the haoles slide in when the ali‘i were preoccupied with their drunken luau, fancy uniforms, building palaces and lavish trips to Europe on palatial yachts. In effect, squandering the spoils of the sandalwood trade and frittering away the ‘aina in their dalliances with the trinkets of western civilization. So here we are, what a mess. Oh well, the next tidal wave will settle everything.
Kawika Moke, Kekaha
• KIUC faces challenges
• Awaiting the next wave
Information is key
I am writing this letter in response to your article “2 Drown in 5 Days.”
It absolutely sickens me to read the paper and see yet another article describing how some family has lost a loved one due to drowning. While I understand that there are often extenuating circumstances not described in the article (such as a heart attack, etc.), nonetheless, more often than not, the tragedy could have been avoided.
I am an owner at a Po‘ipu timeshare. I have tried for years to get them to open a kiosk that has access to kauaiexplorer.com. Their response? Pay for daily Internet services and bring a laptop. I have stayed at various other resorts with the same response.
When I go to the “person in charge” to find out about surf conditions, I am told to call a boat charter company and ask them (Nice!).
I have written letters to various levels of management at our timeshare in Po‘ipu, with no response, for years! This last trip in April, I especially made a stink about it and walked out of my presentation professing how they really don’t care about the safety of their owners.
I don’t know what needs to be done to get these resorts to listen, but I cannot help but to wonder how many people’s lives would be different had the information been made available. And what I mean is a simple computer with a direct line to kauaiexplorer.com for up to date conditions.
Access to information is key. The blame game serves no point.
Karen Gonzalez, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
KIUC faces challenges
We thank our members for their suggestions and we strongly agree that “thinking out of the box” will be required to meet the challenges that we face in developing renewable energy projects.
In the late ‘90s, Kaua‘i Electric had a power purchase agreement with Kaua‘i Winds to develop wind energy. They were unable to find a site, mainly due to landowners’ visual concerns.
More recently, KIUC has been actively working with Mike Gresham of First Wind to develop a wind farm. They have also been having challenges finding a site due to visual concerns and concerns involving endangered seabirds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently required First Wind to remove their meteorological tower at a site in Moloa‘a because of potential bird strikes on the tower guy wires.
KIUC has been actively working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife in producing a Habitat Conservation Plan to mitigate bird takes. The current effort is to produce a Kaua‘i island Habitat Conservation Plan within the next five years. KIUC is hopeful the plan produced by the agencies will address the installation of wind turbines.
KIUC has been working on seabird mitigation measures for many years including funding the Save our Shearwaters program, which the Kaua‘i Humane Society is managing for KIUC. Other mitigation measures performed include replacing all streetlights with bird compliant lighting, placing marker balls in areas of concentrated seabird flight paths and changing line construction to more bird friendly configurations.
The highway widening project in the Wailua area will include the undergrounding of all utility lines from KIUC’s Lydgate substation to the Kapa‘a Bypass Road with the aid of stimulus funding.
Seabird issues on Kaua‘i are more prevalent than the other islands because Kaua‘i is not infested with mongoose, which has devastated bird populations on the other islands.
Besides wind generation, KIUC is actively working on other renewable energy sources including hydroelectric, biomass, photovoltaic and solar thermal projects around the island.
We are faced with many challenges as we switch to sustainable energy sources but we are confident that we can meet those challenges.
We are encouraged by the county’s recent approval of a permit to operate a wind turbine in Kilauea. Anyone with questions regarding KIUC is welcome to call CEO and President Randy Hee at 246-4389.
Phil Tacbian, KIUC chairman of the Board
Randall J. Hee, KIUC president and CEO
Awaiting the next wave
With regard to the May 7 article “Kauaians could be liable” ... The Ha‘ena land in question is a burial site open to tidal waves and should not have been sold to private interests. All the land on the makai side of the highway should be a public domain park like Kapiolani Park on O‘ahu for the enjoyment of everyone, rich, poor or whatever.
Hawai‘i is screwed up because we let the haoles slide in when the ali‘i were preoccupied with their drunken luau, fancy uniforms, building palaces and lavish trips to Europe on palatial yachts. In effect, squandering the spoils of the sandalwood trade and frittering away the ‘aina in their dalliances with the trinkets of western civilization. So here we are, what a mess. Oh well, the next tidal wave will settle everything.
Kawika Moke, Kekaha
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
makanui711 wrote on May 24, 2009 6:37 AM:
" Regarding Karen's letter about the recent drownings...
Yes, computer access to surf conditions would be helpful, but we don't need to be as high-tech as that. A local radio station, KFMN (96.9), broadcasts local surf reports frequently. All one has to do is listen to the radio on the way to the beach.
Also, there's a local contact for the National Weather Service by phone. One can call 245-6001 any time for a complete weather forecast. I've found this very helpful as well.
On another subject, I'm just shocked and saddened by the report that two Hawaiian monk seals have been killed intentionally. I realize they might interfere with fishing activities, but they were here first, and we need to respect and care for them. I hope the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice!
John LaGourgue
Po'ipu and Monarch Beach CA "
Yes, computer access to surf conditions would be helpful, but we don't need to be as high-tech as that. A local radio station, KFMN (96.9), broadcasts local surf reports frequently. All one has to do is listen to the radio on the way to the beach.
Also, there's a local contact for the National Weather Service by phone. One can call 245-6001 any time for a complete weather forecast. I've found this very helpful as well.
On another subject, I'm just shocked and saddened by the report that two Hawaiian monk seals have been killed intentionally. I realize they might interfere with fishing activities, but they were here first, and we need to respect and care for them. I hope the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice!
John LaGourgue
Po'ipu and Monarch Beach CA "
kapahiresident wrote on May 24, 2009 8:32 AM:
" Re: Information is the Key to Prevent Drownings: What a shocking letter!
To read that some Poipu resorts have told you that you need to supply them with a laptop computer ( stolen how quickly I ask?) and pay for daily internet access is ridiculous. ( what about free airwaves, and an old computer. can they be set to only go to kauaiexplorer.com??? )
A free or almost free solution that I saw Winston of Kauaiexplorer.com had was to put the daily Kauai Ocean Report page in a
" acrylic stand". Dah!!!! How what a great idea!
It would be so easy for the staff to print off the Kauai Ocean Report each morning and slip it in the " acrylic stand".
Hopaco sells them.
Or, if the cost of a stand is too much, make your own, improvise, or just post up the Kauai Explorer Daily Ocean Report on the Board with tacks!
The simple act could be the most valuable work performed every single day.
It can't get much easier than that.
Please every and all Resort STAFF... take these letters in... it means thousands of others are reading it too.
If nothing else, and the management staff says "No, it costs too much in ink and paper to print out 1 page of paper on FAST", a staff member at home could print out the Report and bring it in each morning au gratis,
Every guest needs to told about the Kauaiexplorer.com Daily Ocean Report as soon as they arrive at the front desk.
It is the single most important piece of information they can access.
aloha! "
To read that some Poipu resorts have told you that you need to supply them with a laptop computer ( stolen how quickly I ask?) and pay for daily internet access is ridiculous. ( what about free airwaves, and an old computer. can they be set to only go to kauaiexplorer.com??? )
A free or almost free solution that I saw Winston of Kauaiexplorer.com had was to put the daily Kauai Ocean Report page in a
" acrylic stand". Dah!!!! How what a great idea!
It would be so easy for the staff to print off the Kauai Ocean Report each morning and slip it in the " acrylic stand".
Hopaco sells them.
Or, if the cost of a stand is too much, make your own, improvise, or just post up the Kauai Explorer Daily Ocean Report on the Board with tacks!
The simple act could be the most valuable work performed every single day.
It can't get much easier than that.
Please every and all Resort STAFF... take these letters in... it means thousands of others are reading it too.
If nothing else, and the management staff says "No, it costs too much in ink and paper to print out 1 page of paper on FAST", a staff member at home could print out the Report and bring it in each morning au gratis,
Every guest needs to told about the Kauaiexplorer.com Daily Ocean Report as soon as they arrive at the front desk.
It is the single most important piece of information they can access.
aloha! "
INTERESTING wrote on May 24, 2009 10:43 AM:
" ----- "haoles slide in when the ali‘i were preoccupied with their drunken luau, fancy uniforms, building palaces and lavish trips to Europe on palatial yachts. In effect, squandering the spoils of the sandalwood trade and frittering away the ‘aina in their dalliances with the trinkets of western civilization"
a short but compelling review. brings to mind all sorts of questions
good strong letter Kawika Moke "
a short but compelling review. brings to mind all sorts of questions
good strong letter Kawika Moke "
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Denny Jackson wrote on May 24, 2009 5:43 AM:
The time share visitor wanted the resort to provide a computer to access " napaliexplorer ocean and surf reports "
What the visitors to kauai need to learn is to take personal responsibility for their own actions and safety.
1. Swim at Guarded Beaches
2. Look at the surf and current conditions before entering
3. Read up on ocean safety, and learn what to look for and understand the power of our ocean
4. Pick up the telephone and get the recorded weather and surf conditions NWS: 808-245-3564
5. Turn on the TV, and watch the local morning news and the surf reports
6. Read the Garden Island Surf Report
7. Go to an activity desk, and ask if they could call up www.kauaiexplorer
8. Listen to KONG radio for the surf reports
9. Check verbally with the lifeguards.
When I worked at Brenneckes Beach Center, first thing on shift, we called the surf /weather report phone number and posted it on a big white board for the visitors to read. I would also , if asked, let them know of any warnings on any of our beaches.
Very few even took the time to read it.
Also, after changing jobs to concierge/activies at the Lawai Beach Resort, I made sure the Ocean Safety Brochure was in each and every one of our welcome packets that were given to the arriving guests. Doubt they even read them, but we were trying.
On radio, TV news weather, and The kauai information channel, they constantly advise visitors to swim at guarded beaches.
Most people are getting in trouble by not taking any personal responsibility for their own actions.
Do they look at others in the water and check their set and drift, do they look at whitecaps, breaking waves, or a stirred up sand from the bottom, do they look for rips or long shore currents, and openings in the reefs, or do they, once in the water, look thru their masks at the bottom while floating and check out thier own movement in relatiion to the bottom....big sign of current ?
Do they know that you can have current in any surf zone ? And no matter how strong you are, you will not swim against a strong current.
If I was running a concierge desk, or front desk at a resort, or condo rental property, it would be a standard procedure, shortly after
9:00 am, to call up the kauaiexplorer web site, and print and post a copy of the daily surf and ocean report. And from from having been in the visitor business, I would say maybe 10 % of the guests, or less would even read it. But, it would be done.
With all of the information , readily available for free, and the visitor taking personal responsibility to learn about ocean safety, prior toe they even climbing on the airliner, they can be that much more prepared for entering our ocean waters.
The tools for ocean safety are there, readily available, we just need for the visitor to take it upon themselves to use them.
Capt. Denny Jackson "