Reminiscing about a close call in 2009....

 This happened to me  On Apr 12, 2009, I just wanted it in my blog as a reminder that life is precious and we can't take it for granted. 

I had a close call today(April 12, 2009). Today was the first time in 3 years I went to my favorite beach(Secret Beach), A few reasons I stayed away was , since my spinal surgery I have only swam in the public pool out of fear that my strength was not what it used to be and I get infections easy from the saltwater because of my diabetes if the water is dirty or cut myself on coral, plus I did not own a car until last week and it's hard to get there without a car, it's a hard hike up and down hill and a long walk to get the part I like.

I saw whales and decided to go in the water, I started swimming parallel with the shore but drifted out, I drifted so far out, on a day I should never had gone in the water, rough surf and white caps everywhere. I figured I could body surf in. I was gaining no ground and waves were covering me making it hard to breathe, I swam on my back and tried to relax but kept getting overpowered and drenched with more waves, this went on for over 20 minutes and I was loosing strength and my thought was I was going to die, I was exhausted and could not handle the situation much longer. I said the  Jewish signature prayer called the shema and thought this is it.

I know they say swim parallel with the shore, I tried doing that and wedged in a little at a time, no gain, so I again tried body surfing in, I was getting exhausted and with no lifeguard and only one other person within my eyesight, I thought this was it. I was going to die at my favorite beach.

Miraculously, I gained ground and could feel bottom, but then got sucked out again, finally a large wave rode me in, I managed to walk to shore in exhaustion and fell to the ground thanking the Lord for giving yet another chance at this thing we call life.

Mother nature is a powerful source, and life is short and precious. Just needed to share this with friends for a second time...

G-d Bless & Aloha, JR

The irony is, the sign says, No camping... This actually happened today!

Aloha, this is an actual incident that happened this morning, which had my blood glucose higher than a kite, and stressing to the point, I couldn't eat, and I love to eat.


This morning Friday July 2, 2010, three police officers in three different squad cars are knocking on my door with a video camera filming the delivery of a warning about trespassing on the DLNR property that was recently cleared. They said it was issued by Lt. Contrades. The irony is, the land was cleared because the Department of Land & Natural resources ordered the police department to clear the blockage of brush at the  trail-head I complained about last week and the sign in question says no camping, not no trespassing (photo enclosed)

I felt harassed why do they need three officers and three squad cars and a video camera to deliver a warning to a peaceful senior citizen with many medical problems who relies on using the safe trail that is now certified "no trespassing but in essence is no camping?" They said I would be arrested if I use the trail again.

Three squad cars and three offficers, harassing a senior citizen when they could be out arresting drug dealers and murderer's, to send three squad cars and three officers taking almost an hour of everyone's time was overkill to say the least.

I asked the officers to quit filming me, since I felt harassed, they quit for a minute, then starting filming again, that's when I started filming also.

I am asking permission to please use the trail once every morning and once every evening.

Enclosed are the still; photos of officer Basuel badge #472
officer Murita-badge #470
officer Baumung-badge # 428

I know police chief Perry is an understanding man and an avid bicyclist himself and realizes that Kawaihau Rd, is not safe to bike or walk on.

For safety's sake this trail has been in use for over 30 years and to close it now, makes absolutely no sense, HELP!

I have video's of the whole event , that I will be posting soon.

Please, grant me permission to use the trail for safety alone, not to mention, common use and grandfathered.

Respectfully,
James "Kimo" Rosen

p.s. this was sent to the chief of police and a few others...

"For now I'll let you go..."

You often hear people say while conversing on the phone, "I'll let you go." I hate that expression.

It's so controlling without the person talking even realizing how controlling it is. Like they are in charge of my life and my life centers around them, "I'll let you go." Gee that's mighty kind of you to let me go, now are you sure you want to let me go? Maybe you need someone to listen to your dull life and problems, or you want someone to talk to while driving because you are bored.

I know I take up alot of your time on this blog of mine, so for now I'll let you go, until I think of my next blog... :D)

"Time to grow up!.."

People seem to be afraid of anything new on Kaua'i. The Super-ferry boats, a new theatre in Kilauea, new roads and new shopping centers and anything from the mainland is bad, especially the people.

If the current attitude existed 50-100 years ago, we would not have cars, telephones, trains , airplanes, cruise ships, Big and small box department and grocery stores.

No place on earth is like it was 100 years ago, People grow, we look different and think different than we did 50-100 years ago. We are no longer babies, our island is no longer a baby, it's time to grow up.

"You can go back to the mainland...."

For those of you who don't read The Garden Island newspaper online you are missing out on one of the finest features, "The comments section."

Comments can be made on any article, but the best, meanest and fun comments can be viewed on the "Letters" page."

Most commenter's use an alias and screen name protecting themselves from slander, libel and even death threats.

The comments section is somewhat like group therapy, usually one person is really disturbed, another person person takes on a moderator, leadership role and everyone else chips in.

The most common negative remark goes something like this , " go back to the mainland," if you don't like barking dogs, cockfights, and keiki running wild in restaurants, or anything else that is disturbing that could be changed for the better.

I recommend checking out the comments page, in fact you can even start commenting yourself and become a member of a group therapy session, it's cheaper than Prozac.

According to my culture if you disagree with my thoughts you can go back to the mainland or anywhere else you may be from.

"The weather people in Hawaii..."‏

The easiest job on local Hawaiian news is that of the weather-person. Unlike the east coast with 4 seasons, Hawaii has year round warm weather. Every-night the weather report is either partly cloudy or partly sunny? It's a pretty safe way to predict the weather.

For some reason every local network has decided to use a geeky Japanese American male for the weather, which for me makes the weather unbearable to watch.

There is Guy Hagi on Hawaii News now,(local NBC & CBS) Justin Cruz on KHON(Local FOX) and Justin Fujioka of KITV(Local ABC)

What is it with Geeky Japanese men reporting the weather on every major local news in the state of Hawaii? Maybe it's the stereotype of Japanese being good students, smart and good with numbers, to make weather reports more justified?

I would prefer going back to the weather reports with the stereotypical "Hot chick", at least the weather would be enjoyable to watch.

The Weather-man, weather women is a question of 'whether' you like good looking woman or Geeky looking Japanese men reporting the weather in your lving room.

My vote is for for the good looking women weather, whether you like it or not. What's yours?

"Everyone looks like a 'Secret Agent'..."

The recent driving and talking on your cell phone ban has created an island of 'secret agents.'

When I look into the drivers side of cars I now see people chatting with their hands free 'Secret Service' looking gizmo that is attached to one's ear.

Now that driver's have use of their hands they can now eat their Whoppers and Big Macs while talking and driving, or the ladies can now put on their makeup since their hands are free. I guess some guys can also put on their makeup.

People that talk while driving are obsessive and leaving their hands free will only induce them to use them for yet something else.

I hate to say this but feel we have created a monster leaving people to add one more thing to their list of obsessive compulsiveness's. At least everyone can look like a 'Secret Agent...'