Happy Passover~Next Year at Taco Bell..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Happy Passover everyone!

 "Obama Da Dog a recent convert to Judaism celebrates Passover, the Jewish holiday celebrating freedom from Egyptian bondage and slavery..." This blog was published as an opinion article on 04-07-12 in the   Kaua'i Garden Island news; "Next year at Taco bell..." http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-saturday-april/article_7269225a-8071-11e1-8efb-0019bb2963f4.html

This blog originally ran on 04-24-11, Dakinetalk Blog #268 & on 04-06-12 Dakinetalk Blog #626

and again on 04-14-14 Blog #1268

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2011/04/next-year-at-taco-bell.html

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-passover-next-year-at-taco-bell.html

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2014/04/next-year-at-taco-bell-james-kimo-rosen.html

 Happy Passover~Next Year at Taco Bell
 Special Classic annual Passover blog

Everyday of the year is someone's birthday, and with all the religious and secular holidays, it gets hard  deciding which ones to celebrate.

Michelle Obama lights candles at a White house
Passover Seder.

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, since it is an American holiday, and not a Christian or Jewish holiday.

The rules of holidays are what I question.  For the  Jewish holiday of Passover, Jews (my people) are not suppose to eat leaven (bread or anything with yeast for 8 days.) This tradition started with the Jews escape from Egyptian bondage and slavery. While on the run they had limited time, only time to make a quick flat bread, that didn't have time to rise. therefore we eat Matzo as a remembrance of hard times. (Matzo is  a bland  cracker with very little taste consumed  during the  8 day long holiday of Passover.

We celebrate Passover with humbleness by abstaining from  bread, however we prepare huge holiday meals of a roasted brisket with pan fried potatoes, matzo ball soup with chicken,  elaborate salads and special cookies made from matzo meal instead of flour. I don't believe the Jews had time to make those items either if they didn't even have the time to bake bread? The basic rule, if it rises don't eat it during Passover. Noodles, pasta rice, beans etc, are all off the menu.

Eggs are on the menu even though they are a leavening agent in many baked goods. Whipped egg whites are a a leaven agent. Egg whites trap air bubbles in the batter, so when whisked, egg whites are folded into a batter, they hold the air in and help the baked goods attain a light, puffy rise. (added in 2015 edition)
http://www.craftsy.com/article/purpose-of-eggs-in-baking

The other irony is when you mix flour and water in a warm environment it creates sourdough, which is a sour yeast. I therefore believe that the matzo cracker would had risen in many cases.

The Jewish people  eat matzo and have elaborate gourmet meals to remember the days of slavery.

Why not just enjoy a nice spontaneous meal on the move, as most probably did during the exodus?

How about going through the drive through at Taco Bell, after all tortilla's are unleavened. This would sure make one humble and  an appropriate way to remember hard times.

Next year at Taco Bell! 

Happy Passover, Happy Easter and Happy April showers.

(Editor's note,  the last words at every Passover Seder are, "Next year in Jerusalem," next year at Taco bell is a play on words and my attempt at humor.)    ;-)

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher

Sunrise over Kapaa
James "Kimo" Rosen photo

Hana Hou, Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Sacred Dog..." 'Bettejo Dux' (In Memory of Ari)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden
 Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.
Our  heartfelt condolences go out to
Bettejo on the loss of her Best friend,
 Ari the horse. RIP Ari...

www.bettejodux.com

www.amazon.com

Sacred Dog

American Indians called the horse  ‘sacred dog’ and acquired him  in the mid-1500s when De Soto and Coronado brought it to our shores. The Indians took to the animal like brilliance takes to  rainbows. The horsemen of the plains were considered by many in the American cavalry,”The finest light horse cavalry in the world.” They were never defeated in combat.

The Horse Culture on the plains  lived with their animals, and like the riders in the Spanish School in Vienna today,  came to call them ‘friends’. They lived with their horses. They knew them with their heart.

Lives of the nomadic Plains tribe, especially the Comanches,  were revolutionized by the horse and they became  skilled thieves perfecting the art of  rustling.  They were the best of horsemen and we treated them badly. In 1874 thousands of animals, considered by the southern Commanche to be their best, were senselessly slaughtered.  Ari often reminded me. Horses have a different sense of history and time. All of them recall what earth was like when the world was young and no grunting four-spinning upstarts jammed the roads and fouled the air.

I ‘d tell Ari stories like a silly human–dates and names and stuff like that–and he’d look me in the eye the way a good horse does–and  snort,  reminding me his roots on our home planet went back 40 to 60 million years. His earliest  ancestor, little eohippus, the Dawn Horse showed up a lot earlier in the game than we did. “How long you been around skinny two legs?”

He had me there.

He loved  me to tell him stories.

Flowers are now planted where
 Ari once lived.
Photo by Bettejo Dux
(Bettejo's first  photo
with her new iPhone!)

An incurable romantic,  he loved  fiction best.   Hidalgo, the mustang,  and Frank Hopkins who raced him’cross the Ocean of Fire were his favorites. When Ari was recovering from  surgery,  I constructed a paddock at my end of the barn and rigged  a projector and white sheet sharing the Disney movie with him. He watched it over and over.  For a horse who’d been free as a  feral hen, to be corralled in a 20×20 foot  area for three months–the recovery was long–was an ordeal. I  had to relieve his boredom. Mine, too.

I mean, how many organic carrots can we munch?   He  loved  dearly cornflake butter crunch cookies.

For over forty years I’ve lived with  a horse like the Indian lived with his.  He was a friend.  My best.  He slept in the bedroom next to mine.  I couldn’t ask for a sweeter neighbor. I met him first on Oahu in 1993. We looked each other in the eye and immediately bonded.  Born on Kauai in  1987, he was 29 years old.

The night he died, peacefully in his sleep, he said, “What you skinny two legs need  is another Seabiscuit.” He loved that film best.  (Check out the YouTube trailer of Seabiscuit below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DjeJ37my3g

His death left a hole in my heart the size of Diamond Head Crater, and a chunk out of my life the magnitude of Mount Kalihi.

But this he gave me: the joy of having known him.

 Ari and Bettejo talking story...

Editors note;

This blog also appeared the following day as a guest column in The Garden Island News

with a different title;

‘Ari’ brought great joy to this life

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/ari-brought-great-joy-to-this-life/article_1a3b0699-88c6-5dec-8360-04ec62576516.html

Bettejo provided the quote on 

the enclosed Kauai sunrise meme!

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...

Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Hana Hou, (Encore) 

The late Veterinarian Dr, Scott Sims was Ari's vet
and told Bettejo," horses don't eat oranges?"
Ari didn't know that, he loved oranges.

Above image  of  Dr.Scott Sims
and Pegasus created
by Malia Coleman

"An Eye of A Good Time..." 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Source)

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

"Unc"  is really passionate about creating a national Caregivers day.

'Unc' currently resides on the Hawai'ian Island of Oahu. 

He is a retired cinematographer,

 and  enjoys giving the politicians a bad time...

An Eye of A Good Time

A man is dining in a fancy restaurant and there is a gorgeous redhead sitting at the next table. He has been checking her out since he sat down, but lacks the nerve to talk to her. 

Suddenly she sneezes, and her glass eye comes flying out of its socket towards the man. He reflexively reaches out, grabs it out of the air, and hands it back.

Oh my, I am so sorry, "the woman says as she pops her eye back in place. "Let me buy your dinner to make it up to you," she says.

They enjoy a wonderful dinner together, and afterwards, they go to the theater followed by drinks. They talk, they laugh, she shares her deepest dreams and he shares his. She listens. After paying for everything, she asks him if he would like to come to her place for a nightcap and stay for breakfast. They had a wonderful, wonderful time. 

The next morning, she cooks a gourmet meal with all the trimmings. The guy is amazed! Everything had been SO incredible! "You know, "he said, "you are the perfect woman. Are you this nice to every guy you meet? " 

"No," she replies. "You just happened to catch my eye."

L'oncle Ammusant  AKA~ Chester "Unc" Lau

 Hana Hou, (Encore)  Shared From Facebook...

"My Bucket List, not what you think..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #123)

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 Obama Da Dog!

Kimo's world #123

My Bucket List, not what you think

My bucket list may differ considerably from most people.

Did you ever see the movie, "The Bucket List"--with Jack Nicholson
and Morgan Freeman?  They go skydiving, since it's suppose to be the ultimate rush, jumping out of an airplane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RIOFzhufm8
For me, I will start with skydiving too, however  from a different perspective. I will list my top 3 bucket list items below. What are yours?

I had the once in the lifetime opportunity
of photographing the initial eruption
of the active volcano mountain,
Mt. Augustine in August 1985.
No bucket list can top what I have
 already accomplished in my life!
This photo and many others from
this photo shoot  have appeared
in numerous books, magazines and textbooks
all around the world.

1-
 Not to  skydive and just give thanks that I  was not stupid enough to jump out of an airplane-- just to be able to post photos on Facebook and tell people I did it. I would rather have clean underwear and my stomach lining than jumping out of an airplane. Therefore for now, number 1 on my bucket list is to go and watch people prepare for a skydive and count my blessings I am not going with them.
2-
Another popular item on many people's bucket list is a trip to the holy land of Israel. This is  another item I may differ with many.  I prefer to stay right where I am, on the beautiful "Cosmic Garden Island" of Kaua'i rather than have to go through  numerous 'TSA' checkpoints, numerous flight transfers and chances are with numerous kids kicking the back of my seat and probably sitting next to the fattest stinkiest person--- and on top of that arriving in  Israel and having to wonder every time I board a public bus if someone is wearing a suicide bomb.  So again for me, you guys can have your trip to the 'Holy land.' I prefer to stay in my Holy land(Kaua'i) with my best friend Obama Da Dog.   If I were on a trip all I would be thinking would be of coming home anyway.

 Forget any trip, much to stressful.. I prefer to stay put stay on Kauai and ride my bike  on the coastal trail with my best friend Obama Da Dog alongside me as we ponder whether to eat at McDonald's or Burger King, we both enjoy fine dining!
3-
Last but not least, many people for their bucket list wish for a million dollars or more to do the things they never could.
Again I differ on this, If I had a million dollars I would be subject to many taxes and friends I did not know I had would be coming out of the closet.  Ironically even as a poor man I already have more material things than I need. I am constantly looking to de-clutter or 'Rogerize'.(Rogerize is a term named after one of my best friends named , you guessed it, 'Roger,' who keeps an immaculate clean and uncluttered home)  Therefore I prefer to keep my income low, not have the worries that monies bring and the less you have the more free you feel.

I have learned  to enjoy what I have and know that I have it made compared to so many others and know that I should treat each day as it's my last, that's why after writing this I am heading over to the farmers market for some fresh papayas, zucchini and to talk story with my friends. 

Hana Hou, (Encore)  A blast from the past...

My business card from the days I was a
Professional Photographer in Homer Alaska!

My ex Fiance and my self dressed
in Western gear. They called me the Sheriff
before Peyton Manning was even born!  ;-)

"Travel is not for the Faint of Heart..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst New York

( A suburb of Buffalo, N.Y.)

 and has worked in the ophthalmology

 field of medicine for over 30 years

Travel is not for the Faint of Heart

My husband and I do a fair amount of travel, mostly out to the west coast to visit with family. We usually stay at the same place and fly the same airlines. 

Judy waiting for her
ride to the airport. 

This year we began to repeat the same process with a much different result. We started our travel with Southwest who announced our first delay from Vegas to L.A.- the plane was taken out of service, “mechanical problems”. We arrived late in California and encored problems right away with the overbooked hotel who could not give us our desired room and was woken by a “drunk” in the room next to us. That night I came down with the cold/flu and was not happy.

The hotel decided to make themselves available to the residents in the area who were having a gas leak, funded by the state of  California and had loads of kids running in the rooms and down the halls for our “entertainment”...not. 

After a long sick week the rain started 3 days before we were to leave and the airline delays started. Weather delays along with Air Traffic Control (ATC) delays kept us another night only to re-check into a hotel and rent a car again. More inconveniences and expenses to incur. I felt like I was stuck in a time warp...

After returning home two days late and in the middle of the night at 3 A.M. I was ready to sleep for the next 24 hours. Not a relaxing time that I so looked forward to.

Southwest, I will rethink my next travel choice, even free partial vouchers don't make up the plan for a precious vacation I get from work which comes far and not often.

"Judy, Judy, Judy!"

P.S.

Check out Dakine blog, "Flying sure  ain't what it used to be."

http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/10/flying-sure-aint-what-it-used-to-be.html

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"Trump and the race for President, a nasty one fueled by the media..."'Carrie Kneubuhl-Eckert' (Guest-blogger)

Welcome dakinetalk's newest guest-blogger
Carrie Kneubuhl-Eckert  whom currently 
resides in  La Quinta, California.
Formerly  a resident of Kapa'a Kaua'i for 5 years.
Carrie is an artist and animal rights activist.
 Carrie prides herself with being friends to people that are friendly to others.
 She is Republican and proud of it.
Her family has served for the United States in many capacities over the years.
Many of her friends work for the U.S.government as well.

Trump and the race for President, a nasty one fueled by the media

The race for president of the United States is not a volleyball game against the republican and democrats. Everyone should want to work together so everyone wins. Everyone wants a nominee that they think is best for the country.

These people who criticize others who don’t like the same candidate as them, are no better than the man they dislike, Trump. The only
difference is, it came out of their mouth and not Trumps. You people that say because you support Trump you are
a racist, a misogynist, and a person that does not tolerate religions. (See my letter to the editor April 6th and 7th). 
Trump supporters not the ones in the wrong
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-april/article_a4d5a1c5-7aa5-56a4-ab8d-bad29805208e.html#.VwawH4h2fp0.facebook
That is BS. You cannot make assumptions like that. That is a weak analogy. I have friends that are not exactly like me and
do not believe in everything I do. I don’t eat pork, veal or lamb. Does that mean I only hang out with people of the same?

You say well, " I am not running for president. He should have higher standards". But why can't we support a person that speaks like we do? We are voting for whom we want to. Some of you say, Trump is not a politician. (Thank God!). 

Our founding fathers were not career politicians. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were true entrepreneurs before the word was in use. The men, who wrote the Declaration of Independence and were Presidents, ran their own businesses. They were lawyers, writers, inventors, soldiers, schoolteachers, tailors and doctors. John Hancock was a " gentleman of good birth" who inherited
significant fortunes and became an entrepreneur.

Those of you readers who say unkind words to Trump supporters like Kimo in his blog or letter's to the editor. Your words of intimidation are a sad reflection of yourself. He chooses to exercise his right to support the candidate he wishes. That is HIS and everyones right, and that is called democracy.

I want to share a letter from a friend of mine who has more national security information than any of you professional letter writers and has worked in the government all their lives. I respect these people and their intelligence. This comes from their friend that has known Donald Trump since his military days.
The letter reads as follows;

"As a business, we do not like to get involved in politics. As soon as we endorse one side, we risk alienating everyone on the other side. Also, our employees and staff are, themselves, on both sides.
 Politics is not our game. However, Justice is!

If you saw a guy get publicly smeared, and you knew him well from the days you were friends and seniors together in high school, if you knew him to be a decent and honest man, would you want to say something? This is why I need to share what I know.

I was aghast at watching last night's debate. It was a set-up. The moderators, Cruz, and Rubio were all like little alligators trying to take a bite out of Trump. Yes, Donald Trump has had some failures, but he has been exceedingly successful. None of this came out. Instead, there was a general attack. Rubio simply makes up lies. He 
pretends that Trump has small hands and makes fun of him for something, which isn't even real. He pretends that Donald wets his pants, and makes fun of him, as though it was true, and then he calls Donald Trump a "Bully."

I am not suggesting that you should vote or not vote for anyone. I just need to defend a former friend who is being smeared.
Like Donald Trump, I attended New York Military Academy ("NYMA") for high school. In fact, in our senior year, together, Donald was my captain, and I was his 1st Platoon Sergeant. I sometimes joke that I ran his first company for him, Company
"A."People don't really change much from the ages of 17 and 18, and I know this guy. I know him to be a good decent guy. We lived and breathed an Honor Code in those years. It wasn't just a rule. It was our way of life. Neither Donald, nor any other cadet who graduated with us would ever lie, cheat, or steal from a fellow cadet.

These values became irreversibly intertwined in the fabric of our personalities, of who we are.

Of the 99 guys (no girls in those days) in our class, there is not one who I know who has a bad word to say about Donald Trump. Think of it. With all the jealousies, which arise in high school and thereafter, with all the potential envy, not one of us has
anything other than positive memories of this man. How could we?

 He was an "A" student, a top athlete, and as a leader, he was highly respected. We never feared
him, yet we never wanted to disappoint him. He had our respect. He was never abigot in any way, shape or form. He only hates those who hate. Of course hedenounces the KKK.

As to the discussion with the New York Times, it is his choice to release the 'off the record' remarks. However, if he does, it opens the door for all political opposition to make that demand for everyone, and that means that our press will never get those
'off the record' remarks which help them to understand the realities of the campaign.

Moreover, the idea that Donald Trump confessed some alternate theory of his position is preposterous. Can anyone believe that all those NY Times reporters are walking around knowing some deep dark nasty secret about a guy who is seeking an endorsement?

The Republican establishment is afraid of Donald Trump. Why? They are afraid that he will lose to Hillary. They don't hate Donald. They hate her. They are so fearful that they fail to see that by expanding the base of voters for Trump, he is more likely
to win.

Watching the chorus of whiners, decriers, denigrators, and self-righteous put-down experts from so many directions, from Mitt Romney, to Megyn Kelly, Little Mario, it has to make you wonder. Why? Why are so many people so angry with Donald Trump, that they are lying, name calling, ridiculing, and demeaning him as they do?

Either they are afraid, or they know him to be evil.
This is why I feel the need to speak out at this time. I know this man. He is a lot of things, but he is not evil. He is a decent honest guy who loves this country, and who is willing to sacrifice so much of what is left of his life, because he knows that this country needs to be fixed, and that it is going to require someone who can do the
job. He just doesn't see anything around him other than political hacks, so he is willing to take this huge responsibility.

I'm not saying that he is the only one who can do the job. My point is simply as tohis motivation and his goodness.
This next decade is going to be one of major changes. We all see the climate changing, and the world food supply is getting lower. Our fish stock around the world is running low. Oil prices will cause countries to fail. The Middle East is beyond repair,
and we have become weak and ineffective around the world. Donald Trump sees the issues and knows that he can assemble leaders who would have the best chance of  fixing things. This is why he is running. He does not need it for his own aggrandizement. He doesn't need another big jet or to take up residence in the
White House. He just wants things to be fixed, and he knows that the politicians won't fix anything.

I knew Donald Trump and was close to him in our senior year in high school. I just want you to know that there is nothing to fear from him. His character is as good as
it gets. He is a patriot, taking on a heroic task, and being thanked by massive abuse. If you want to see a true reflection of a man, look at his children. Need I say more?"

Just trying to be funny here!
Is that Hillary?  ;-)

So to all you nasty letter writers. Unless you have accomplished and done as much for this country. Maybe you should keep you “Maha shut. Get out and do something
productive instead of writing hate letters to your fellow Kaua'ians. Leave the nasty
politics to the politicians.

Carrie Eckert is an artist
and currently resides in
La Quinta, California.

More dakinetalk reading on Donald Trump;
1-Trump supporters must come out of the closet! (Kimo's world #118)
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/03/trump-supporters-must-come-out-of.html
2-Trump, the election and the Jewish connection...(Kimo's world #119)
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/03/trump-election-and-jewish-connection.html
3-Trump-fulling... (Kimo's world #120)
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/03/trump-fulling-james-kimo-rosen-kimos.html
4-A poem about Donald J. Trump...
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-poem-about-donald-j-trump-james-kimo.html


P.S.
Check out Trump hiring a black woman veteran right on the spot, this is remarkable;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY_SclGgKWI

The Garden News published Trump-Fulling under a different title on on March 29, 2016!

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/opened-minded-folks-seem-to-be-expressing-lots-of-hate/article_a17cd067-1049-5b82-9704-fab5211afb5f.html

The Garden News also published this column of mine on Trump back on  March 10, 2016

"Trump supporters must come out of the closet."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/trump-supporters-must-come-out-of-the-closet/article_ca4239eb-917e-560d-94d8-c07d0eeebe7b.html

The Garden Island News also published Carrie's opinion article supporting

my column on Donald Trump back April  6th and 7th, 2016;

"Trump supporters not the ones in the wrong."

April 7th Below;

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-april/article_a4d5a1c5-7aa5-56a4-ab8d-bad29805208e.html#.VwawH4h2fp0.facebook

April 6th below;

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-april/article_429f8be8-fbc6-11e5-955f-0307fa9d2206.html

Alice Monaghan also had a  letter of support for Trump in the 04-12-16

edition of The Garden Island news, 

"Trump not the one spreading ill will"

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-april/article_493ef8ea-0075-11e6-ac5a-abbdb05e4b08.html

Carrie has another Letter to the editor published  April  17,2016 in the Garden Island News;
"Let’s do without all the insults"
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-april/article_38ae823c-0455-11e6-974d-c7d92cdb5659.html

 Kimo's blog,"Trump, the election and the Jewish connection," appeared 04-28-16 in the Garden Island News;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-april/article_0fcb8750-89f5-5fac-b032-a2f90f1bff53.html

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook

My all time favorite election meme.
 The camera angle just happened to be in the right angle,
coincidence or what? I can just hear Rod Serling saying,
"Imagine yourself, watching Hillary Clinton and all you see is the word
 'Liar,' your next stop, The Twilight Zone!" 

Over 20 years of meetings with no real results..." 'Glenn Mickens' (County Watchdog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kaua'i give the county manager style of Government a chance.

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs
and Nitpickers...
Mahalos Glenn!

Over 20 years of meetings
 with no real results

I have attended most council and committee meetings for over 20 years;  including many commission meetings---ethics, planning, police and Charter Review Commission; State transportation meetings and those held in our neighborhoods. I have been on ad hoc committees and attended and have testified at work shops regarding our government operations. Along with other government watchdogs we have fought for the betterment of Kauai and its people with no other personal gain to be had. 

There is no way we could have stayed more "involved" but there is little or nothing to show for our efforts.

Councilwoman Yukimura, by her colleagues own words, the hardest working member on the Council hosted a work shop about " How to Have a Voice in County Government." 


A great idea and sound bite if the results from this type of educational process for the people could ever be a reality. 

After attending meeting after meeting and being vocally involved and seeing that your efforts are going nowhere (not even getting a reply) you realize that asking for public involvement is only a gesture to make you believe that your opinion is really going to make a change when, if fact, those in power have already made that decision. Sure, maybe an EIS or EA or a budget restriction will enter into the decision making but that didn't come from public participation. 

For 20 years I factually showed our council and administration how we tax payers were being cheated out of millions of dollars by paying for AC (Asphaltic Concrete) to pave our roads that we were not getting--and who listened or at least investigated--NO ONE. Only when Larry Dill became our Engineer did the system change and we got what we paid for.

But why was there no investigation in the years prior to Mr Dill coming aboard when we were being ripped off? Or why no investigation on the multi-use path to find out why this 10 foot wide 4 inch slab of cement is costing us $5.2 million per mile? Or why no investigation on bridges that cost us millions of dollars more to build than another company would have build them for ? And why are we spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultant and planners to tell us that buses, bikes, shuttles and walking will solve our traffic problem--it will never happen. The vehicle is and will remain a way of life for the mass of the people and it is crazy to waste time and money on anything except wider and alternate roads. 

There is your public involvement, JoAnn, but what good did it do? I and others like Ray Chuan, Walter Lewis, Ken Taylor and Joe Rosa have given you facts of what is wrong with our system but our voices in the wind just disappear. 

As Ken Taylor said in a recent forum letter, "Isn't it way past time that we tried a County Manager style of government and get efficiency, transparency and accountability back into one that is broken?" 

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...

Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens

With all the stress of the world, don't forget to
watch the sunrise or sunset, it's free! 

Photo, James "Kimo" Rosen

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