"2018 elections- Let's make Kauai Great again..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' ,(Kimo's world #217)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer

 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.

Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i

with his best friend and spiritual adviser Ivanka-Obama Da Dog!

Above photo, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.
consulting with Ivanka Obama Da Dog

Blog #1970~Kimo's world's #217


 2018 elections- Let's make Kauai Great again

The 2018  elections are one year away. This will be an exciting time for the Cosmic Garden island.

Mayor Carvalho with
unidentified fan!  ;-)

After a 10 year tenure as Kauai's leader Mayor Carvalho is leaving because of term limit requirements and is going on to pursue his goal to run for Lt. Governor.

Kaua'i will elect a new Mayor and at least 3 new County council members with Mel Rapozo and Derek Kawakami relinquishing their Council seats to run for Mayor , while JoAnn Yukimura's  term limit's expire.  
There is much speculation as to whom might  run for Council, maybe another run for chief

County Council chairman
Mel Rapozo is running
in a cliffhanger race for Kauai Mayor
against Derek Kawakami.

of police, Darryl Perry--from previous council members, Gary Hooser, Kipu Kai Kuulili, to last election newcomers who did quite well, Juno Ann Appalla and Norma "Doctor" Sparks to frequent council testifier, who also ran for council in 2016,   Matt Bernabe? Plus maybe you?

I consider myself somewhat of a  local political nerd and this is what I would like to see happen and change

Former State representative
 and current
Kaua'i councilman
 Derek Kawakami
one of the state's most popular
 politicians is running for
the position of Kaua'i Mayor
 in what is said
to be the most exciting Mayor's
race ever, unless
something changes?

before the election takes place.   Many including myself believe Mr. Kawakami is the most popular politician in the whole state of Hawaii. I believe he is ready to run for Governor.  He could easily defeat Governor Ige and his opponent Colleen Hanabusa, and with Derek's friend, Mayor Bernard Carvalho  Jr. already in contention for Lt. Governor--- I believe this is the perfect political marriage awaiting a blessing.

Mr. Kawakami running for Governor would secure the Mayor's race between the two Rapozo's, Mel Rapozo vs. Lenny Rapozo, although I believe that race would be a landslide in favor of Mel Rapozo.

Lenny Rapozo Director of parks
and recreation announces his  bid
to run for Kaua'i mayor

I highly recommend Mr. Lenny Rapozo change his game plan and run for County council, an almost slam dunk for the Director of parks and recreation. This would leave County chair, Mel Rapozo unopposed against an announced republican candidate yet to announce their candidacy.  (Maybe me?) Had you worried, not really, nobody can win against Mel!

Everyone who reads the Garden Island forum page and especially all those being critical in the comments section now's your time to shine. There's never been a better time to run for politics, anything is possible, look what happened last presidential election! Now's the time to do something!   If not now when? If not you, who?

We are hoping our friend
Norma "Doctor" Sparks
a first time contender
in the 2016 County council
race decides to take a shot
at it again. We feel her chances
are that much greater this time
around, who knows?

Candidates filing for the 2018 election runs from February 1, 2018 through June 5, 2018. The candidate filing process allows qualified individuals to have their names appear on the ballot. A nomination paper must be signed by a minimum number of 15 registered voters for both Council member and Mayor of properly registered voters.It is recommended you get 20 or more signatures  because some people will say they are registered and are not. 

The age requirements for County council are as follows; According to the County charter, a person must be a citizen of the United States and must have been a duly qualified elector of the county for at least two years immediately preceding such person’s election or appointment." (Which means voting age is 18, so if you are registered to vote at 18 years and stay a county and US citizen for two more years,you are eligible to run for county council at age 20.)

The current 2016-2018 Kauai county council;
Mason Chock, Arthur Brun,  Chair-Mel Rapozo, JoAnn Yukimura,
Ross Kagawa, Derek Kawakami and Arryl Kanashiro

 The age requirement for Mayor are as follows; 
Any citizen of the United States not less than thirty
years of age who has been a duly qualified resident elector of the county for at least three years immediately prior to the citizen’s election shall be eligible for election to the office of mayor. 

Many are expecting
former councilman
Kipu Kai Kuulii
to run again for
county council,
stay tuned? There's
never been a
better
time for newcomers
to get involved!

You must live and be properly registered to vote in the district from which you seek office.
The filing fee for councilmember is $25.00 and $50.00 for Mayor.
The deadline to file a nomination paper is June 5, 2018, 4:30 pm.

For further Questions contact  the office of elections at  toll free 1-800-442-VOTE (8683) or email at; www.elections@hawaii.gov

The county charter can be read at; 
http://www.kauai.gov/Portals/0/Boards_Commissions/Charter/Kauai%20Charter%20Codified%202016%20(Final).pdf?ver=2016-12-30-090727-520
Good luck. You can make a difference, that's right you, quit making all those hateful comments in the Garden island news  online edition comments section and Facebook and do something, there's never been a better time!  Let's Make Kaua'i great again and then some!

Councilman Arthur Brun
James "Kimo" Rosen
and Hawaii's future Lt. Governor
Bernard Carvalho Jr.

Hana Hou, (Encore)

Are we blessed to live in Kaua'i or what?

"Colin Kaepernick, Caitlyn Jenner , Blake Shelton and Donald Trump, OY..!" 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #216)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer

 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.

Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i

with his best friend and spiritual adviser Ivanka-Obama Da Dog!

Blog #1969~Kimo's world's #216


 Colin Kaepernick,   Caitlyn Jenner , Blake Shelton and Donald Trump, OY!

 I  read  Colin Kaepernick is man of the year according to GQ magazine.

https://www.gq.com/story/colin-kaepernick-will-not-be-silenced/amp

Wow, anything is possible, then I remembered a few years back Bruce "Caitlyn" Jenner was

Vanity Fair woman of the year. 

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-cover-annie-leibovitz/amp

And this year features country and western star and reality TV personality Blake Shelton as  the sexiest

man alive according to People magazine.  

https://www.aol.com/amp/2017/11/15/blake-shelton-people-sexiest-man-alive-negative-reaction/

This goes to show anything is possible--This leaves Donald Trump open  to be the world's

smartest man award.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/politics/wp/2017/10/10/a-brief-history-of-trump-challenging-people-to-iq-tests/

This is  why I love America! 

What people would you like nominated next year for these awards and other awards not mentioned?

Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers and contributors of dakinetalk blog. Although we all do not agree on all issues, I hope we all agree that America is the greatest, and are all blessed to live here.

Remember to keep peace at the Thanksgiving table. No politics on Thanksgiving. I vote Turkey!  ;-)

Hana Hou, (Encore)

May everyone have a Great Thanksgiving!

"The Angel at the Bus stop arrested and back within 48 hours..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen (Kimo's world #215)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer

 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.

Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i

with his best friend and spiritual adviser Ivanka-Obama Da Dog!

Above photo;
 ElAina Danine occupying the  bus stop fronting the Kapaa neighborhood center
where she has resided the last year... 
Photo copyright, James "Kimo" Rosen, all rights reserved

ElAina  Danine with James "Kimo" Rosen
Rosen hopes his friend gets the help she so
desperately needs....

Blog #1968~Kimo's world's #215

Publishers note, 
This is part 2, in a series on a house-less friend I call- "The Angel at the Kapaa
bus stop." In this column I come down a little hard because of my spiritual love for my friend in hopes she finds the help she so desperately needs.
Part 1, can be read at the link below;  "The Angel at the Kapaa Bus Stop"
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-angel-at-kapaa-bus-stop-james-kimo.html

This blog also ran as guest column in the Garden Island news on November 10, 2017
Let’s get help for angel at bus stop
http://www.thegardenisland.com/2017/11/10/opinion/lets-get-help-for-angel-at-bus-stop/

This is part 2 of a series; part 1 can be read at;
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-angel-at-kapaa-bus-stop-james-kimo.html

 The Angel at the Bus stop  arrested and back within 48 hours

My Angel at the Bus stop fronting the Kapaa neighborhood center  was arrested  Thursday November 2nd for open lewdness for being exposed while cleansing her body under a tarp that had blown away.   ElAina  has lived

at that bus stop the last 11 months. She eats there, bathes there and discreetly performs her bodily functions there. After being arrested a water truck was there spraying and disinfecting  the area at county expense.

I was happy for my friend after she was arrested, I finally thought  she would get the help she so desperately needs--however now she is back at the bus stop  after the minimum  48 hour incarceration period. 

 ElAina was sent to the hospital and medical professionals found nothing wrong with her besides  diarrhea.

 You can physically look at my friend and see her legs and feet are inflated like balloons, 4-5 times

their normal size.  She cannot even walk across the street to the  Chinese restaurant on her own since her legs are in such pain. Plus anyone living at a bus stop needs help, in my opinion. This does not take a medical degree to diagnose her. These doctors  should have their licenses revoked as far as I'm concerned. The judge released her without prejudice. 

Political correctness will not improve the situation for this lovely angel.

If every homeless person decided to take residence at a bus stop what would happen? Would the county still do nothing and say their hands are tied? That's what they say when you call and talk with them. 

I  also guarantee that an attorney could find a technicality in the law to get her off the street and find her the help she so desperately needs.

An attorney could also pursue a case against the County of Kauai should something happen to El Aina while occupying county property.  

I rest my case.

"The Angel at the Kapaa Bus Stop" is a must read to have further knoeledge of this story
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-angel-at-kapaa-bus-stop-james-kimo.html

This blog also ran as guest column in the Garden Island news on November 10, 2017
Let’s get help for angel at bus stop

http://www.thegardenisland.com/2017/11/10/opinion/lets-get-help-for-angel-at-bus-stop/

Bus stop ‘angel’ arrested- by Jessica Else, they finally removed the bench(updates with quotes by James "Kimo" Rosen)
http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/03/30/hawaii-news/bus-stop-angel-arrested/

Hana Hou, (Encore)

P.S.
November 8, 2017 marked the 1 year anniversary since Donald J. Trump was elected president of the free world.  My editorial  appeared that day in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser...        "Liberals should show respect for presidency"

The November 10, 2017 edition of the Honolulu Staradvertiser  complimented  my above  letter form November 8th. This is a nice change from the usual getting my chops busted. Check it out! 
Mahalo Ms. Lundberg

Mahalo Kauai!

"Da Bus-"If it ain't broke, don't fix it..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #213)

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer
 and amongst other things lived in a tent outdoors for 7 years.
Rosen currently resides on the tropical island of Kaua'i
with his best friend and spiritual adviser Ivanka-Obama Da Dog!

Blog #1967~Kimo's world's #214

Da Bus-"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

When I started riding the Kauai bus 16 years ago a monthly pass for unlimited travel  any where on the  island was $15.00, it is now $40.00. It is still one of the best deals anywhere on the island except for maybe for the $1.50 hot-dog and refillable drink at a popular big box store on our cosmic island.

The Kauai Bus picking up passengers at
Kukui Grove shopping center

Now into the winter of my life I qualify for para transit. My para transit  service has never been more than 10 minutes late, in fact more times than not they are right on time and sometimes even early. The drivers are always friendly and know all the passengers on a first name basis. I have seen para transit drivers help those in wheelchairs get their goods on and off the bus, even  helping those with walkers and canes navigate their positions on the bus. Kauai bus drivers are filled with the aloha spirit in so many ways, too numerous to mention them all.

Para transit driver, Lucy along with Ivanka
await my arrival on the bus...

I once asked the director of the bus if the drivers had special training on how to treat passengers because they are all so friendly, she replied, "Oh Kimo, they're just being nice because you are so charming." Yea right!  I almost believed her for a second, but I knew that I wasn't that delightful all the time.

So why all the talk of changes to the bus? I have been on buses in many cities around the world and I have never been more impressed than with  the Kauai bus. There's that old expression that applies to the Kauai bus, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Para transit bus  at Costco,
Costco and Kauai bus, my two
favorite things about Kauai

 
To my friends on the Kauai county council;
The Bus needs annual cost of living increases for things like their experienced and aloha spirited staff  that all deserve raises, with these minimum budget increases I propose the county budget be used  for more roads, affordable housing, and to help the homeless situation.  If I had to rate the Kauai bus service on a scale of 1-10, I would give it 11! 

Hana Hou, (Encore)