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| James “Kimo” Rosen is a retired professional photographer living in Kapa'a with his best friend Obama Da Dog, Rosen also blogs as a hobby. check out the story of the Coco Palms resort. I cannot believe my name is associated with this. I am besides myself. http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/fire-investigation-underway/article_136d6c06-04d2-11e4-b9b8-001a4bcf887a.html |
The evils of social media
"Think once before you act, twice before you speak and three times before you post on Facebook."
People can no longer joke or be sarcastic, every word is taken to the extreme of serious. Political correctness is at an all time high, just say one wrong word and your career or social life could be over, pau.
Let me tell you a little story that was a shock and even had the Garden Island question me as a freelance columnist.
I was as shocked and disturbed as everyone in the community that the Coco Palms was recently torched. I first found out through a local councilman's Facebook posting.
I left to make my daily rounds last Friday, July 4th, on bicycle with my dog and had just come home, ready to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath. I just happened to look at my computer and saw an email from a friend asking, "what's all this about?"
I had commented on a local bloggers Facebook page after he posted an article about the Coco Palms. I told the blogger his article was spot on, in my opinion, and what needs to be done is for them to start from scratch in lieu of renovating, since renovating would cost so much more than just torching the place with a 1,000 gallons of gas.
I was only echoing and paraphrasing what so many others had in the past. However this particular blogger decided to share this post on the Coco Palms Facebook page, with many misunderstanding my out-of-context comment.
It was coincidence and eerie timing that the Coco Palms would go up in flames after making the comment.
I have learned from my mistake and will not be commenting anymore on any Facebook pages besides those I know personally. I am thinking of not commenting and just sticking to the "Like" button.
I am truly sorry, especially to Mr. Bob Jasper. I would never consider such an evil act as arson. The irony is I hate fireworks and anything that has to do with fire. I consider myself an honest man and could never live with myself if I was ever part of anything so destructive.
Two weeks ago I found a purse with money, credit cards, and a cell phone and turned it over to the police. I was later rewarded for turning in the purse. I had refused the reward, however the lady insisted I pay it forward, as I did.
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-mitzvah-good-deed-purse-returned.html
I love Kauai. It's been over 20 years since Hurricane Iniki destroyed the iconic and historic resort, and nothing would be finer than seeing a resurrected Coco Palms.
I am proud of The Garden Island newspaper. They helped me achieve one of the items on my bucket list by allowing me to be a regular columnist. I hope they continue to publish my columns.
The evils of social media are out there. I hope you are never misunderstood or make a comment that comes back to haunt you. As I've seen on a Facebook meme, "Go ahead. Judge me. Just remember to be perfect the rest of your life."
I have learned and hope to pass this on to everyone, that words are powerful and should be measured carefully.
Thank you Garden Island Newspaper and my apologies to the Mr. Bob Jasper(caretaker of Coco Palms) and the Coco Palms community.
I pray. As Elvis would say, "Thank you, Thank you very much" for your understanding.
P.S.
Read part 2, Stop the madness;
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2014/07/stop-madness-james-kimo-rosen-part-2.html
Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...
69 comments:
via Staradvertiser comments section;
"My comment on the Star Advertiser article:
Kimo is a writer who uses sarcasm as a tool. His articles in The Garden Island newspaper are humor, meant to be silly, but some people don't understand sarcasm very well. He wrote about not taking shoes off in homes because he was writing about his germophobia. He wrote a column titled, "Breaking bad and writing bad, it’s all good," joking about his own writing. He's self-deprecating, honest, and a genuinely good guy. I have known Kimo for years and he would never seriously suggest someone burn down Coco Palms or do anything illegal or violent. If every Facebook comment was taken literally, we would all be in jail."
Chuck
via Facebook;
"Hang in there, Kimo"
via Facebook,
"Very Nice! the growth of the community will noticed with your words and how you handle being the messenger. Spoken from your heart. Now the next story will be told."
via Facebook,
"With his heart of Gold,Kimo Rosen Never harm anyone will get a Medal of Peace & Love for All people & Animals from Unc C"
Via facebook,
" I stand behind you Kimo...."
via email,
"I was sorry to read in the paper about your dilemma. When I read TGI I thought they were grasping at straws. I hope this eventually sorts itself out and they find the arsonist who did it. There are a lot of strange people on this island so careful what you say. Aloha and good luck," Ada
Nice post from chuck!! Hang in there - things will work out!!
Take it in stride Kimo. But use it as a learning experience. Words are powerful and should be measured carefully. This too shall pass.
Great!! Looks like u have lots of support !!! Keep me posted - you will b fine!!
via Facebook,
"You have had my support through out this crisis. Remember no one was hurt, & no one is actually blaming you. I hope you will continue to comment on my posts since you do know me!"
Read psalms 91
David felt this way a lot... As he ran for his life from his father in law king saul.
Our steady comfort and deliverance comes from heavenly realms.
The suggestion that Mr. Rosen
could possible be responsible for
the Fourth of July fire
of "controversial Coco Palms
Hotel" is outrageous, and hurting
an innocent person.
It is beyond me that a recent
story made it to publication--
because of all things--a Facebook
comment made on a timeline,
that was then shared to the Coco
Palms Resort FB timeline, and by
a person aside the original,
experienced writer.
There are many possible causes
for spontaneous fire in an
abandoned wooden, thatch roof
structure such as Coco Palms
Hotel, which is now 60 years old,
and having been abandoned over
20 years. US FEMA lists nearly
100 possible reasons, and
that "the causes of fire are often
a complex chain of events."
To this fire, Honolulu Star
Advertiser quotes Coco Palms
Resort, Site Manager, Mr. Bob
Jasper, stating to the
effect, "There is no electricity
down there. There can be only
one cause--someone set it." Is
Mr. Jasper really the right person
to be quoting an opinion about a
structural fire?
This fire fell on the day of July
4th, Independence Day. Was this
fire possibly an act of arson,
fueled by anti-American
sentiment? Is it a coincidence
that this fire fell on Independence
Day?
Further, think twice about this
structure, "Coco Palms." Was it
simply a fire waiting to happen?
Never mind the "FB shared
comment," and finally, please,
leave the investigation to the
experts.
Deborah Morel
Bangkok, Thailand
I slept a little better, but still can't believe I am living this nightmare all over a thought that so many have echoed.
via Facebook.
"Kimo, you are a stand up guy in my opinion don't let this change your sense of who you are, your sense of humor or your writing, you have always been courteous, kind & I don't think you should have to defend yourself whatsoever."
via facebook,
"Right behind you Kimo,"
Let the authorities or any blogger find the solid evidences of the fire before accusing any one of wrong doings
via Facebook...
"Right there with you Kimo."
Many people don't understand a sense of humor,if I got a penny for offended people by uttering a wrong word in everyday conversation ,I'll be a millionaire
via Facebook,
"Sorry for your troubles that others have created. Jimbo you have a heart of gold. Your comments are what most think and speak on this island. I for one would say the fire should be a message to the owners. Owners that in the past that have blamed the county and residents of Kauai for dogging the project. The grandiose dreams that make 21 century planning just that, a dream. Now the new (almost) owners dreams are here with the same attitudes. It's a big blame game when in fact the cheap fence they installed for security and dust could not replace private security as really needed. It was on they're 'the new (almost) owners' watch this happened. I now in the resent weeks have decided like you to question if the island even needs this project. I'm for removal of Coco Palms and replacement as a cultural park with great renewal of problems needing corrected for this area. It is a bottleneck area. I would like to suggest to you about a new story of is this needed in the 21 century for the island and it's residents. Most will support a non commercial use of this area. "Elvis has left the island, No monument required"
OK. Now that we have decided you set the fire lets look at how you were able to do so. Since you ride a bicycle everywhere with Obama in tow you must have attached a wagon to the back of your bike and towed 5 gallons of gasoline to the Coco Palms Resort in full view of everyone on the Island driving by to finger you as you went to set said fire. Good idea.
No? Then you must have hand carried 5 gallons of gas (about what 40 pounds?) across country, crossing roads where you were seen by numerous drivers, set said fire then escaped carrying the now empty gas can back to your residence where you tried to explain to your neighbors the gas is for your human propelled bicycle.
Need another stab at you alleged arson? You filled an undetermined amount of balloons with helium, using a battery/solar powered fan you directed this floating cloud (undetected mind you) from your place to the resort where you used the gasoline to start the fire and floated back home. Neat trick since you were not seen with that rainbow floating over all the people and cars that would have noticed you.
I was a criminal justice major in college and will help you any way I can so relax and breathe. They have to have physical evidence before they can charge you with a crime, simply saying you "feel" as many of us do, Coco Palms should be torn/burned down because of so many years of neglect and disintegration it would not be safe to put a band aid on for repair doesn't constitute evidence just you right to an opinion. Hang in there my friend, we will ride this wave together.
Shalom,
Kit
Kit is it Ok to post your email?
Honey be my guest!! I will send as soon as I can but they don't like my ideas at all. Post everywhere and if the cops take you in for questioning and they leave you alone in interrogation... Shut Up!!! The tape is left running for people to hang themselves.
The situation changed dramatically since we spoke. You did the right thing by posting an apology and also did a good job in the writing of it.
Pete Antonson
Arthur hits eastern Canada, causes power outages....OK Kimo....how did you cause this one???!!! Becca wanrs to know!!!!!
These antis hate everyone who doesn't follow their agenda 100% and delight in jumping on any opportunity to attack us.
Do you still want to write for TGI after they throw you under the bus?
Chuck
Via email
My comment on the TGI article (which at least included some of your comments so isn't as bad as the Star-Advertiser article).
"The story is not accurate regarding James Kimo Rosen's post. He posted his comment to a personal Facebook timeline on July 1st in response to that person's anti-development post. After the fire began, Bob Jasper posted a screen shot of the comment on the resort's Facebook group. Kimo did NOT post on the resort's group on Facebook at all, and the screenshot did NOT get posted on that group the day before the fire, as you stated.
You would think TGI would have enough loyalty to an unpaid columnist to at least investigate the truth instead of copy and pasting from your parent company's website. Kimo is a good man who made a sarcastic comment on a friend's Facebook timeline. And it's a comment that gets thrown around on Kauai on a regular basis - "just burn it down." Who among us could withstand full scrutiny of every comment we post on Facebook? Who among us would be happy if a single off-hand comment was pulled from a friend's timeline and featured in a TGI article with incorrect details?
Kimo has been an outspoken supporter of TGI through thick and thin. He made an off-hand comment 3 days before the fire and since apologized. Suspending his column shows the complete lack of aloha of this paper. Aloha includes standing behind your friends, your ohana, and, in TGI's case, your contributors. Shame on you."
I am also submitting this as an LTE (edited to refer to the article).
Chuck
Chuck Lasker
Please link back on to the blog post and check out all the comments. They are more interesting than the blog itself.
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-evils-of-social-media-coco-palms.html
From the blog Got Windmills,
Andy Parx
Sunday, July 6, 2014
'TAIN'T FUNNY MAKIMO
Frankly we haven't exactly been the President of the Kimo Rosen Fan Club over the years. We don't think we've even read one of his columns. Ever since he was virtually the only one on Kaua`i riding the Superferry bandwagon his markedly wise-ass-settler views have been widely viewed as insulting to the host culture and local community.
But all schadenfreude aside it's outrageous that he has not only been forced to apologize for an innocuous "joke" on Facebook but the local newspaper has taken his weekly column away from him after he wrote that the “(b)est thing we could do is get 1,000 gallons of gas and burn it down,” referring to the old ruins of the Coco Palms hotel- a day or so before fire destroyed it.
The paper has announced that "Rosen was a contributing columnist for The Garden Island. His column has been suspended in light of recent events."
They say the only sin in crafting a joke is not being funny. We're sure we've been guilty of that but we can't help thinking "there but for the grace" of whatever-it-is that bestows grace. Had we been the one caught in the wheel of unfortunate timing we'd have probably told the press to shove it and hung out "Psychic For Hire" shingle.
part two, Got Windmills,
But then telling the the local paper to shove their column is something we've never had the distinct pleasure of doing, having been pen-sona non grata there since the day legendary editor Jean Holmes retired.
Rosen has apparently chosen to grovel, quoted by the paper as saying:
“It was coincidence and eerie timing that the Coco Palms would go up in flames after making the comment,” Rosen wrote in a statement. “I have learned from my mistake and will not be commenting anymore on any Facebook pages besides those I know personally. I am thinking of not commenting and just sticking to the “Like” button. I am truly sorry, especially to (Coco Palms care taker) Mr. Bob Jasper. I would never consider such an evil act as arson. The irony is I hate fireworks and anything that has to do with fire. I consider myself an honest man and could never live with myself if I was ever part of anything so destructive...
“I have learned and hope to pass this on to everyone, that words are powerful and should be measured carefully,” he wrote. “Mahalo for giving me this space to express myself. Thank you TGI and my apologies to the Mr. Bob Jasper and the Coco Palms community.”
It's not like he pulled a Donald Sterling... or for that matter a Ben Cayetano who was chastised by Dave Shapiro today for using the phrase "let's call a spade a spade" in referring to President Obama's Syria policy- also on Facebook.
Rosen simply gave voice to what 99% of Kaua`i residents have thought on one occasion or another, as he pointed out the day before in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Having not come across one person who doesn't think it was arson, that apparently makes everyone just as "guilty" as Rosen although what it is we're guilty of isn't quite apparent.
The fact is that arson by the owners seems unlikely since the fire is going to add a huge expense to any dismantling effort since the asbestos removal phase is going to be that much costlier of a nightmare... although a Star-Advertiser story says that Jasper told them that the elements that were destroyed in the blaze- apparently the lagoons building, offices and breezeway- were to be preserved in the latest attempt to eventually reopen the resort... the first time such details have been "revealed."
Many had assumed the place would have been be razed and replaced but the old original Iniki rebuilding ordinance- which was extended yet again by the Kaua`i County Council last year just for the current iteration of the rebuilding effort- would seem to restrict that and actually pertains to structures that were destroyed "50% or less."
How that affects the current plans is probably going to take a team of lawyers to figure out.
We can't say we'll miss Kimo's weekly non-sequitors and banal banter. But then we wouldn’t miss anything important if today's "all-the-news about churches, dogs, jogging and the Rotary Club, all-the-time" from a bunch of misinformed malahini were to disappear either.
Although, as has been the case with the current iteration of the local Kaua`i newspaper, less is seemingly more, Kimo might just have been the most informative and witty thing in the paper.
I guess this is what one calls a left handed compliment...?
A few seconds ago · Like
Id say it's more than that, seeing as how he wrote a whole post on it.
True Marianne!
via email,
Legally, at least- I don't think you have anything to worry about. :)
Personally, I wish it would have burned the whole way, then redevelop to condos with a 900 square foot one with a trash chute for me.
Excellent Kimo, the supportive comments speak volume. Common sense and decency. And yes, I would say Andy Parx's story is one of his signature "left handed compliments." Andy is in usual form, and has gone to time and trouble to write a story on your behalf...I think! Now, I hope that TGI will retract this nonsense about the "suspension" and extend an apology. Hang in there, Kimo.
via Facebook,
Kimo dont let this get you down....you have done nothing wrong......stand tall go on doing what you have been doing....there are many of us out there that enjoy your posts and your writings,,,,,we love you....dont give up......Aloha..
via Facebook,
"According to Jaspar, they were going to try to preserve some of the buildings. Ridiculous. The place was a huge, ever growing mold spore. What ever happened to free speech?"
Kimo anybody that knows you will know that there is no way that you are tied to this fire. If anybody asks which nobody has I will tell them what I know of you...good hearted, speaks his mind, and full of aloha.
Feel better? We have your back Sweetie.
You should ask for an apology for being under suspicion for something do far afield! They need to look at Jasper as he must not have cleared the buildings and it was the 4th. Can anyone say fireworks? There are too many possible suspects to zero in on you. Be at peace my friend.
Oh Jim, what a horrible coincidence! That is so sad that your comments happened at such a bad time and place. {{Hugs}}
Via Facebook,
"that is so sad! I really did always hope someone could fix it up again. But I know that your comments had nothing to do with that terrible event."
Thank you, Ronald John, it's obvious few will listen, probably wouldn't matter if they did. This milk factory is a done deal. Surprised at intelligent voices who believe it's great because we'll have fresh milk on Kauai. Truth:, we cannot drink that milk.It must be pasteurized. It must be shipped to Honolulu, pasteurized, bottled and shipped back. Has anyone ever heard of anything more ridiculous? 2000 cows on a little over four hundred acres? Come on. Poor Poipu. Thank you John Craig, 'Food for thought', John, but not to be digested. We cannot eat the seed corn. AgScience? The moon is made of green cheese. Thank you, Lynn Ellison, this is madness. That Kimo Rosen should somehow end up a suspect is beyond madness. With you all the way. Great letter. I think Kimo has a surprising number of friends who will speak out on his behalf. Bettejo Dux
Thank you, Ronald John, it's obvious few will listen, probably wouldn't matter if they did. This milk factory is a done deal. Surprised at intelligent voices who believe it's great because we'll have fresh milk on Kauai. Truth:, we cannot drink that milk.It must be pasteurized. It must be shipped to Honolulu, pasteurized, bottled and shipped back. Has anyone ever heard of anything more ridiculous? 2000 cows on a little over four hundred acres? Come on. Poor Poipu. Thank you John Craig, 'Food for thought', John, but not to be digested. We cannot eat the seed corn. AgScience? The moon is made of green cheese. Thank you, Lynn Ellison, this is madness. That Kimo Rosen should somehow end up a suspect is beyond madness. With you all the way. Great letter. I think Kimo has a surprising number of friends who will speak out on his behalf. Bettejo Dux
Talk about your first amendment right of free speech being taken out of context and sensationalized by the news media only to help sell newspapers and bring one of their "Friends" down... I thank all of you for your support!
My friend Kit Ellison's, opinion article appeared in today's Newspaper,"Evidence seriously lacking..."
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-july/article_82b0b2e0-0594-11e4-a100-0019bb2963f4.html
The Garden Island doesnt even deserve the term rag. Consider their rejection a compliment Kimo.
Kimo, I hope you read the 'song'.
I have not read the song, please post it here, so everybody on this thread can view it! Thanks bettejo.
I hope you stay your witty self, Kimo! We can't all be politically correct all the time and that's what makes life challenging, controversial and FUN!
I'll also throw a little sarcasm into the mix: During a recent conversation with a Kauai County official, I was told that Kauai does NOT have an arson investigator, so you're (probably) safe ;)
Good morning Kimo, and from Thailand. I think that the 47 comments to your situation is the most ever posted on your blog!
This whole "witch hunt," opportunist reporters, is being taken to task.
Great comments with clarity by Kit Ellison. Loved your LTE, Kit. Thank you for watching over Kimo. He needs the moral support right now. Kimo, you've got decent society backing you, Kimo.
This is the light shining, after having been blind-sided.
I believe it is more than fair to say that an apology is in order from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and TGI.
Will this be forthcoming? Will these businessmen show some character, and do the right thing? I doubt it.
Finally, I agree with the comment on TGI comments board that TGI's reporter's story was sloppy...beginning with inaccurate information, and inappropriate damning "suggestions." Any need to mention the writer's errors in grammar basics such as Subject-Verb agreement. It's just all too much. Priorities all wrong.
Via Facebook,
"i've got a great idea for a t-shirt; ''Kimo Didn't Start the Fire''
Jimbo...your last comment interests me. I can't agree with you more. The comments post will show the proper light on this TGI follicle. The local paper of division on Kauai.
Well they (IMO) owe you an explanation and an apology for the poor decisions and knee jerk reaction. They have done you an injustice. But I know this is a very important service you provide with great pride. I'm sure you will take the higher road and be hope they give you a reprieve. Hold your head high for it could happen to anybody. Many people support your gasoline comment, we all have said the same thing. I'm sure the comment are servicing support for you and bitch slapping them. they might have a change of heart. Keep your love of writing alive." Brother Rick
Haven't read the story because I would have to have a pay account but saw part of the lead paragraph. They just announced at the paper that the column would not be running and I was thinking how hard it is to lose your voice in the column. I agree that the more friends you have the more chances are that someone who doesn't know you well enough to just reply on your post will forward it with ill intent to someone else and these things happen. If not TGI then another publication will host your column again. Sorry you have to go through this. We all have our crosses to carry but yours is especially painful with the timing of the piece. Had you written it a year ago then it would have meant nothing today.
maybe "crosses to carry" is more fit for non-Jewish — whoops!
Thanks for the kind words Tom!
your parent company doesn't comp you an account? I will forward it to your personal Facebook.
via Facebook,
Jimbo.. they'er all about money and control. Moral values, integrity, empathy is gone it left with Elvis. Maybe Elvis and OPI will meet up, But that would be impossible OPI is digging their own destructive tunnel. OPI is the "Department of Division" for Kauai.
via email, concerning Kit Ellison's letter to the editor,
"My pleasure. I always believe in punishment for the guilty but leaving the innocent alone. I hope the editor understood I directed that to him. News papers are supposed to be neutral, not dumping columnist at the first hint of impropriety. May the Bird of Paradise give him a bad case of writers block!!!"
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-july/article_82b0b2e0-0594-11e4-a100-0019bb2963f4.html
A song by Blue Dux,
How many people thought as they drove by CoCo Palms
The best thing to be done was raze it to the ground
And on the 4th of July 2014
The collective thoughts of people created such a scene.
Little do we understand the power of our words
If we focus on the positive we’d build castles in the sand
I’m as guilty as the next guy ‘cuz my Kamakazee thoughts
Helped to burn down CoCo Palms but please don’t tell the cops.
Invasion of the thought police is coming down the line
Because what you’re thinking it might appear on line
Suspended, reprehended and turned in
Invasion of the thought police is really creeping in.
Bettejo's daughter Blue Dux wrote this song... Come hear it live at Birdies in Kalaheo for Bettejo's 84th birthday and book signing bash in Kalaheo Kauai Hawaii on Sunday, August 16, 3-6PM. It'll be fun. Birdies is a great place. CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION is a good read. .Hope to see you there. Bettejo
The above post(song) was written by Bettejo's daughter Blue Dux...Come hear it live at Birdies in Kalaheo for Bettejo's 84th birthday and book signing bash in Kalaheo Kaua'i Hawai'i on Sunday, August 16, 3-6PM. It'll be fun. Birdies is a great place. CHILDREN OF THE EXTINCTION is a good read. .Hope to see you there.
From a my friend Chuck, The story is not accurate regarding James Kimo Rosen's post. He posted his comment to a personal Facebook timeline on July 1st in response to that person's anti-development post. After the fire began, Bob Jasper posted a screen shot of the comment on the resort's Facebook group. Kimo did NOT post on the resort's group on Facebook at all, and the screenshot did NOT get posted on that group the day before the fire, as you stated.
You would think TGI would have enough loyalty to an unpaid columnist to at least investigate the truth instead of copy and pasting from your parent company's website. Kimo is a good man who made a sarcastic comment on a friend's Facebook timeline. And it's a comment that gets thrown around on Kauai on a regular basis - "just burn it down." Who among us could withstand full scrutiny of every comment we post on Facebook? Who among us would be happy if a single off-hand comment was pulled from a friend's timeline and featured in a TGI article with incorrect details?
via Facebook,
"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. Sorry Kimo.
Some excellent, and informative, comments from Chuck Lasker. Maybe Chuck would be the right person to write a real story.
Now that Kimo's name has been splattered all over Hawaii, in the 1st story released about the Coco Palms fire, and Kimo being accused of possible arson...where is all the clamor and noise, now that this provocative story did its thing like a prostitute turning a 2 minute trick?
No more mention whatsoever to any update to an investigation of this fire. All the finger pointing by the newpapers, and now silence. Please, finish your dirty work.
definitely agree anonymous...
via Facebook,
"Kimo, by now iʻm thinking you need to get a real job, one that does not include the garden island newspaper. That you are incapable of having been party to the coco palms burn may be factual, but then again iʻm thinking whomever stole the koa doors (an inside job) also should be suspect for this occurance. Otherwise, Kimo your obtaining a regular space in the GIN rag is as assbackward as is USA running these islands as corruptly and fraudulently as they do. I just add you to that side of the fence along with OHA, DHHL, Jaded and Robinsky Dannerites, Fake state, county or bigger yet feds, DOI ploy towards Akaka tribal status. God Help Us. The scale is 99.9% against this and 1% rule that unfortunately is geared to prevail. Evil HEWA!!! This is your new seat, curbside underthebus waiting for my free airport ride through the canefields we go..."
Now some healthy rebirthing. You are not a writer that cares to support a wrath from "Kimo" but a great writer that allows people to think. your articles hold truth primary and humor as satire secondary but always with community and respect. Time to sleep better and dream of that next community service piece. Heart wrenching after thoughts will continue just as in a divorce. Time heals the heart, but keep going to work. Keep your eyes on the goal and never turn the sink eye on another unless they break the golden rule. And amen is shouted from the top of the mountain. We move forward with caution and a watchful eye...we should know who the players are and where they stand.
Former Garden island newspaper employee Steven McMacken has an interesting opinion article in the 07-13-14 edition of the Garden island news,
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-july/article_f6662540-0a61-11e4-bf3f-001a4bcf887a.html
Not the right time to build resort
Last Friday morning, my wife and I were heading to Kapaa to do some shopping. We had arrived on-island only a few days earlier after an extended stay on the Mainland. As we drove by the dilapidated Coco Palms Resort, I turned to her and made the somewhat flippant remark, “You know, the best thing that could happen to this place is that somebody burns it down.” Two hours later, as we passed back through Wailua, I saw, apparently, that my wish had been granted. Afterwards, I heard that Kimo Rosen had accepted the blame— even though, as I have just revealed, it was really my fault, not his.
A couple of days before the fire The Garden Island newspaper published an editorial titled “Coco Palms project needs to happen.” It didn’t say anything we hadn’t already heard many times before. But the attempt to rationalize building a new hotel because to not do so would hurt the economy, was absurd. Further on in the editorial, I read that no overpass was even planned by the developers (Coco Palms Hui, LLC) to allow patrons of the proposed hotel access to the beach.
This only illustrates how ill-conceived this plan really is. The time for replacing Coco Palms with another hotel is long past. It’s the wrong idea at the wrong time. In case anyone hasn’t noticed, Kauai has changed over the past 60 years. What was once a sleepy, literally undiscovered, island has become a major tourist destination with major infrastructure issues. And unless those are resolved, no hotel should ever be green-lighted for this or any other location.
Better yet, finish what Iniki started. Some very committed individuals have already put forth a strong argument to tear down the eyesore and convert the sacred grounds into a park. Now, wouldn’t that be wonderful? It’s time to turn the page, people.
Steven McMacken
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