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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!
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Publisher's note;
An edited version of this blog was also published in the Kaua'i Garden Island news on 11-10-18. 'Derek a well-respected figure in Hawaii'
http://www.thegardenisland.com/2018/11/10/opinion/letter-for-saturday-november-10-2018/
Congratulations to all the winners in this years elections. There are 3 new county council people on Kauai. (Felicia Cowden, Luke Evslin, and KipuKai Kuali‘i.)
"Felicia Cowden came from behind to win the seventh and final council seat in Tuesday’s general election. She’ll join incumbents Mason Chock, Arryl Kaneshiro, Ross Kagawa and Authur Brun on the council, along with challenger Luke Evslin and former councilman, KipuKai Kuali‘i." TGI
Derek Kawakami beat Mel Rapozo in a blowout election. The people on Kauai have spoken.
(See election results at bottom of page.)
James "Kimo" Rosen
Publisher/Blogger-n-chief,dakinetalk blog
Just Imagine, Governor Kawakami and Mayor Rapozo
I can always pick the winner of any reality show by going to the final contestant's Facebook page and looking at their likes and how many followers they have. Every year I
pick 'America's got talent,' 'The voice' and 'American Idol' by this method. This same concept can be applied to predicting political races.
When I frequented Mel Rapozo's Facebook page he would have many likes for a sign waiving or special event, maybe 50-60. Derek Kawakami for the same type event could have 300-500 likes. Believe it or not Derek once posted a photo of himself eating a cheeseburger
at In-n-out burger in California and got over 300 likes without saying a word.
Derek could post a photo of himself picking his nose and he would get 500 likes. Kawakami is the most charismatic politician the state of Hawaii has ever manufactured. The people love him and he loves the people.
Mel Rapozo put up one heck of a fight for Mayor. Rapozo, a humble man, a true mensch and a man who loves Kauai more than any person I have ever met. It's heartbreaking not seeing
Mel win after all the hard work. They say the Lord works in mysterious ways and there is a reason for everything. Although I supported Mel, Derek Kawakami is a great guy and Kauai really cannot go wrong.
I have heard through the coconut wireless and even at one of the mayoral debates that Derek could possibly have higher aspirations to make a run for Governor in 2022 when Governor Ige's term limits expire. I believe Kawakami is one of the most popular politicians in the state and a run for Governor is not out of the question. Mel Rapozo will then hopefully be given his due right and time to run again for mayor, the position he so rightly deserves. They say, "the third times a charm!"
Just Imagine, 2022, Governor Kawakami and Mayor Rapozo! Talk about winning!
Omedetōgozaimasu, Mau hoohiwahiwa, (Congratulations) Derek!
When I frequented Mel Rapozo's Facebook page he would have many likes for a sign waiving or special event, maybe 50-60. Derek Kawakami for the same type event could have 300-500 likes. Believe it or not Derek once posted a photo of himself eating a cheeseburger
Mel Rapozo put up one heck of a fight for Mayor. Rapozo, a humble man, a true mensch and a man who loves Kauai more than any person I have ever met. It's heartbreaking not seeing
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| Mel Rapozo will be sorely missed as the Council chair when his term limits expire next month. I look forward to Mel running again for either Council, Mayor or both! (Whose that guy with the MAGA hat?) |
I have heard through the coconut wireless and even at one of the mayoral debates that Derek could possibly have higher aspirations to make a run for Governor in 2022 when Governor Ige's term limits expire. I believe Kawakami is one of the most popular politicians in the state and a run for Governor is not out of the question. Mel Rapozo will then hopefully be given his due right and time to run again for mayor, the position he so rightly deserves. They say, "the third times a charm!"
Just Imagine, 2022, Governor Kawakami and Mayor Rapozo! Talk about winning!
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| Congratulations to Mayor Derek Kawakami and First lady Monica |
Omedetōgozaimasu, Mau hoohiwahiwa, (Congratulations) Derek!
Kaua'i Island Election Results
P.S.
If you are interested in working in Mayor Kawakami's administration and would like to be part of his cabinet you must fill out the online URL application below as a starting point! Good luck!
Hana Hou, (Encore)
27 comments:
Kona November 10, 2018 8:52 am Reply
Kimo: Just goes to show you that it’s just a popularity race, not about who is more qualified. We were left with the two men who : one just didn’t get the job done in his old position, and one who is really a Republican pretending to be a Democrat.
Joe Public November 10, 2018 2:46 pm Reply
Too funny! If these two are the only names on the ballot, I will leave it blank again.
KauaiGirl November 10, 2018 11:59 pm Reply
It was a name recognition and a racial race for the mayors position. If people had watched all of the debates, they voted for the person. One a hard working family man the other was given everything on a silver platter. One worked for fourteen years to keep our cost of living on Kauai affordable, the other raised your taxes. One wanted the county accountable the other relieved only on his family history which is no longer around but name only. We shall see the next four years.
Manawai November 11, 2018 11:04 am Reply
Kona – Centrists run as Democrats because this is effectively a one party state. Few people here vote for the other party. So centrists and progressives all run as Democrats. So the majority of voters vote party first, then popularity before capability and logical thinking.
My personal opinion, and I've said it many times. It's a popularity contest, and WE the people ain't winning.
It's too bad Mel wasn't more vocal in all his 14 years on council about traffic amd affordable housing and took tens of thousands of dollars from A&B. He would have been a more viable candidate.
Plantation mentality is ruining Kaua'i and turning it into maui with all the pro development politicians.
James maybe you can explain why "locals" complain about traffic, unaffordable housing and transplants and then vote for politicians that push and those things.
I just don't understand why people vote against their own self interest. I'm not born and raised so maybe a little insight from someone who is would be greatly appreciated.
Congrats KipuKai Kualii! I was praying for you!
Kauai people do not vote on the issues, they vote on name recognition and ethnicity.
The Japanese surname on Kauai counts quite a bit. If Mel was Japanese this election would had been a real cliff hangar. I wish people would vote on the issues. This election was decided well before the campaigning ever began.
commenting to Makoto Lane;
I don't know a more vocal council member than Mel. he constantly fought for the common people.
(along with a photo of Kaipo sign waiving)
Mel Rapozo’s , mentor-Kaipo Asing use to sign wave all alone and would win elections BIG!
He neglected to voice many his recent platform talking points though and even voted for high-end un-affordable development projects and did not address the affordable housing crisis. He voted for the general plan which doesn't hold developers responsible for infrastructure upgrades like roads and sewage. He used the excuse of the limited capabilities on council for not being vocal about these issues.
Mel Rapozo was the only council member to not approve an increase in the general excise tax. Mel said "It’s not the money that’s causing the problems with road conditions, it’s our accountability, our efficiency and our ability to do it,” he said. “The money has been allocated; the jobs haven’t been done.Mel kn grew up poor and knows that even a .05% increase can be hard on those with fixed incomes. Mel would've been a great mayor!
http://www.thegardenisland.com/2017/12/07/hawaii-news/council-oks-tax-hike/
Do you understand the frustration with the plantation mentality now? Ridiculous.
I'm just so glad the voters voted for term limits. This will get Kagawa and Kaneshiro out before they do any more damage to this island. Lord o mercy help us all. The traffic is gonna be horrendous. WTF is wrong with the county council now. So many people in Waipouli are going to lose housing because of the greed in the council and all over the island.
The bigger question is what's wrong the voters voting against their sef interst? Kaneshiro will probably run for mayor after Derek. The name. In six years Kaneshiro will take Tokioka spot as rep. Then go for mayor just like Derek did.
Jesus H Christ. What the fuck are they doing playing musical chairs on a sinking ship? I'm all for Mason Chock becoming mayor. Oh no...term limits will affect the best players on the team. I hope Mason goes for mayor. This could end badly or good. Interesting how high Kagawa and Kaneshiro scored. He has nothing on Mason Chock tho. Mason would win for sure. But you're definitely well informed.
Thanks, Mason on the same timeline as Kaneshiro and I think lives in the same district.
Mason scored the highest in the primary and the finals. He's got a good chance of winning.
Super stoked on Mason getting the most votes. He's the only one who's not funded by developers and chemical companies which the plantation mentality and north shore votes for.
Put on the brakes guys... Relax! Derek has not even begun his tenure as mayor which will last at least 4 if not 8 years. Much can change in that time. Anything can happen, an unknown we don't even have on the radar may be our next mayor, Bernard Carvalho Jr. was not even a politician or council person before becoming Mayor. Like my blog states, I still believe Derek will run for Governor in 2022 and Mel Rapozo will run for mayor and WIN!
Unless Mel starts talking mad shit like I do he doesn't have a chance distinctuating himself from the rest of the plantation luna politicians like Arryl. And if Derek stays all 8 years as mayor Mel will be an old geaser by then. How old is he now?
Time will tell? Mel is one of the humblest and most charismatic men (not politicians) I have ever met. Mel Rapozo still conducts a Facebook Live every Wednesday to stay in touch with the People. Mel was the best County chair that ever ran a meeting, he will be sorely missed. Mel can sit out for 2 years and run again in 2020, at this point he says he's not interested, however, I believe he will be missed and he will miss it. Stay tuned! I truly believe Mel Rapozo is one of the best public servants Kauai has ever seen. No "plantation mentality" with Mel, more like a mentality of empathy, caring and love of Kauai who got things done.
Mel's voting record and campaign finances tell a different
Mel Rapozo votes what's right, not necessarily what's popular. He doesn't just vote for something because it will get him votes, he does the right thing. It tells a different story to you because you obviously don't care for Mel. Mel will give any one his cell phone number, and you can call him anytime. Mel is a total open book, very rare.
I like Mel as a person but as a person who wants control over me and make decisions for me about Kaua'i I can't trust his decision making process. Again unless he changes his stance and supoort of over-development by Alexander&Baldwin/Grove Farm.
That's what our elected official do, make decisions for us! We the people do not get to vote on every single issue. Saying you like Mel Rapozo as person says it all, 'basic psychology 101.'
Which is why I support candidates who have a trusted decision making process not linked to campaign finances like Mason Chock!
Mason Chock is a good man, what's your point? your allowed to support 7 candidates on council. I also supported Mason Chock, doesn't mean I cannot also support Mel Rapozo. Mel lost, he's no longer in office, so you can quit griping about Mel for the time being.Find someone else to vent on.
Not venting just disappointed that Mel wasn't more vocal about his capmaign talking points over the last decade while he was on council like my original comment states. I'm impressed with Mel's growth during his bid for mayor and the revelations that he could have been sharing for the last decade.
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