Posts
 |
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, The Bipartisan Dog!
Above photo;Being prepared with the bathtub filled with water and 2-10 gallon buckets of water. Thank God they were not needed!  |
The Hurricane, Price Gouging,The Miracle
~Plus comedy relief memes of Lane~
The worst part was waiting. The hours seemed liked days and the minutes were like hours in the days prior to the media hype, madness and hysteria of hurricane Lane.
For 3 days government offices, schools, and many business were shut down in what the media was making seem like the end of times.
Costco, Walmart and most major retailers sold out of almost all bottled water, batteries, toilet paper and Ramen noodles.
The other worst part for many during the storm was, Hawaii McDonald's turned off their famous discount app that allows you to purchase either a Bic Mac or a Quarter pounder for $1.00. There reason was they were afraid of running out of food with barges being docked at sea until the storm was over. They actually wanted to slow production.
Price gouging is illegal during natural disasters. Marking items up because people are in need does happen. What I say won't be popular with many, however I believe price gouging happens year round on Kauai in this tourist haven.
Food trucks charging $15.00 for a hamburger and not even supplying restrooms or a place to wash your hands and having the audacity to ask for tips in a mayonnaise jar with a rusty lid? I spoke with a visitor that couldn't believe they spent $32.00 plus tax at a local food truck for a burger and a burrito, that was ala carte.
The local farmers market have vendors selling mangoes for $5.00 each with no middle man involved. I can buy a similar mango imported form Mexico at the local Safeway for $1.00 with a middle man, truck driver, barge, farmer and retailer all involved for $4.00 less. If price gouging is illegal during disasters how come it isn't illegal during our everyday lives?
The reality is the big box stores are the only places you can feel comfortable not getting ripped off whether during a disaster or in your day to day life. Americans are capitalists, they are greedy, it's in their blood.
According to a local politician there are consequences if a merchant violates the price gouging law?
"Violation of the price increase prohibition is an unfair method of competition, and an unfair deceptive act or practice under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-2, subject to civil penalties as provided for in Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-3.1. Each item sold in violation of the law is a separate violation. Fines of $500, up to $10,000, per day, per violation, are possible."
Why aren't there laws for everyday price gouging for places like some food trucks and a few vendors of the farmers markets?
All in all they say better safe than sorry! This could’ve been Armageddon, instead we live to tell another story about the one that got away, but this time it's not like the fish that got away. It's great that it got away!
Hawaii dodged a bullet, a category 5 hurricane nicknamed by locals "Hurricane Lane change," downgraded to a tropical storm, downgraded to a tropical depression in the shortest time the meteorologists had ever seen in any
hurricane or storm of this magnitude.
The professionals cannot answer why it changed, all the satellites said the contrary. I believe in prayer and with so many praying for safety, I call it a miracle!
“Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path!”
I am hoping this storm experience has made you a better person, made you appreciate your friends, family and the basic and simple things in life, including the tourists!
High prices, price gouging, who cares, it's paradise, right?
Lesson learned!
For 3 days government offices, schools, and many business were shut down in what the media was making seem like the end of times.
Costco, Walmart and most major retailers sold out of almost all bottled water, batteries, toilet paper and Ramen noodles.
The other worst part for many during the storm was, Hawaii McDonald's turned off their famous discount app that allows you to purchase either a Bic Mac or a Quarter pounder for $1.00. There reason was they were afraid of running out of food with barges being docked at sea until the storm was over. They actually wanted to slow production.
Price gouging is illegal during natural disasters. Marking items up because people are in need does happen. What I say won't be popular with many, however I believe price gouging happens year round on Kauai in this tourist haven.
Food trucks charging $15.00 for a hamburger and not even supplying restrooms or a place to wash your hands and having the audacity to ask for tips in a mayonnaise jar with a rusty lid? I spoke with a visitor that couldn't believe they spent $32.00 plus tax at a local food truck for a burger and a burrito, that was ala carte.
The local farmers market have vendors selling mangoes for $5.00 each with no middle man involved. I can buy a similar mango imported form Mexico at the local Safeway for $1.00 with a middle man, truck driver, barge, farmer and retailer all involved for $4.00 less. If price gouging is illegal during disasters how come it isn't illegal during our everyday lives?
The reality is the big box stores are the only places you can feel comfortable not getting ripped off whether during a disaster or in your day to day life. Americans are capitalists, they are greedy, it's in their blood.
"Violation of the price increase prohibition is an unfair method of competition, and an unfair deceptive act or practice under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-2, subject to civil penalties as provided for in Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480-3.1. Each item sold in violation of the law is a separate violation. Fines of $500, up to $10,000, per day, per violation, are possible."
Why aren't there laws for everyday price gouging for places like some food trucks and a few vendors of the farmers markets?
All in all they say better safe than sorry! This could’ve been Armageddon, instead we live to tell another story about the one that got away, but this time it's not like the fish that got away. It's great that it got away!
Hawaii dodged a bullet, a category 5 hurricane nicknamed by locals "Hurricane Lane change," downgraded to a tropical storm, downgraded to a tropical depression in the shortest time the meteorologists had ever seen in any
hurricane or storm of this magnitude.
The professionals cannot answer why it changed, all the satellites said the contrary. I believe in prayer and with so many praying for safety, I call it a miracle!
“Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path!”
 |
| Drivers fill up with gas with the warning of Hurricane Lane at the Kapaa Texaco station. |
I am hoping this storm experience has made you a better person, made you appreciate your friends, family and the basic and simple things in life, including the tourists!
High prices, price gouging, who cares, it's paradise, right?
Lesson learned!
 |
| Hold onto to your Bottled water, Ramen and Spam Hurricane season is not over until November! OY! |
(Loco Hawaii Humor!)
