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Saturday, April 23, 2022

"Let's challenge our Mayor..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #329)




James "Kimo" Rosen back in 2015 at the 'Taste of Hawaii'
with Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami and Kauai's first lady
Monica Kawakami. At that time Derek was still a Kauai
councilman. 
James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer  
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 "Costco" Obama, The Bipartisan Dog!
                            Sunrise/Weather Photos, April- 2022
                                 These photos appeared on Hawaii News Now!


                            
              
                  Councilman  Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Mayor Derek Kawakami 
              boogied the day away at the 2015 'Taste of Hawaii' when ironically
 their roles were reversed; Derek was a councilman and Bernard was the Mayor.

     Blog #2083~Kimo's world #329

  Let's challenge our Mayor


Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy. Elections give 'we the

people' a voice in our government in the most fundamental way: by deciding who governs. Democracy is what our country, state, cities, and counties base their elections on. I would be surprised if anybody likes to see a candidate run for a political office with little to no challenge.

The coconut wireless rumor control central office had heard Mayor Kawakami was running unopposed in the 2022 mayoral primary and general election?

That has proven to be an untruth like so many of the coconut wireless scuttle bugs. The election bureau has informed me as of this writing Kawakami has challengers in the primary. However, there still needs to be more contenders to make this as competitive as possible. Nobody likes a blowout, besides maybe the winner.

I hope there are multiple people

out there that will challenge Derek. Most of the major high-end big-name candidates won’t waste their time or money since they feel Kawakami is a slam dunk with his charismatic personality and cannot be beaten. I cannot argue that.

He may not be the most qualified person to ever run for Kauai mayor, however,

he is by far the most popular.  We all know that in our tiny hamlet qualifications mean very little and name recognition is almost everything.

If you wish to file nomination papers for the job as Garden Island Mayor you will need; 
1-15 valid signatures of registered voters on Kauai.
2-You must be at least 30 years old.
3-You need to have lived on Kauai for a minimum of three years.
4- The filing fee is

technically $500.00, however, there is a discounted fee of $50.00 which most everybody pays as long as they agree to abide by the state’s voluntary campaign expenditure limits by submitting an affidavit to the Campaign Spending Commission prior to filing their nomination papers.
5-The deadline is rapidly approaching and is Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 4:30 PM.
You can find all the information and download nomination papers at the website listed below

Derek will win a second

term unless of course there is some sort of scandal that comes out of the closet and cancels him? The odds of that are almost zero.

Therefore I am pleading

with the younger generation or anyone interested in starting a career in politics to challenge Mayor Kawakami. This can be a resume builder for the future. It may be vanity politics but that's how the game of politics is played.

Vanity politics is

getting your name out there, and establishing a platform. The news stations, newspapers, and radio stations will cover what you stand for. You will establish yourself for future office.

You won’t defeat Derek,

he has name recognition and the people love him, however, for the sake of democracy let’s challenge our Mayor with multiple candidates for mayor! Who knows, I just may jump into the mayors' race myself.

Just imagine, Mayor James” Kimo” Rosen?
Talk about making America great again! (LOL)
This blog appeared as an Op-ed opinion column in the 
04-27-22 edition of the Garden Island news!
There is a paywall, therefore I copied the print edition for those without 
a subscription...

Hana Hou (Encore)






Monday, April 4, 2022

"COVID masks and going commando..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen' (Kimo's world #328)

 

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer  
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 "Costco" Obama, The Bipartisan Dog!
                  
                             Sunrise/Weather Photos, April- 2022
                              These photos appeared on Hawaii News Now!


                                 

                 
                            
              Blog #2082~Kimo's world #328
COVID masks and going commando

We can now go into retail stores,

restaurants, and even banks for the first time in well over two years without wearing masks. Noticing folks without their masks is almost like seeing someone in their birthday suit. 

I actually want to turn my

head in embarrassment when I run into friends inside business establishments without their masks. I actually saw my bank teller's face for the first time in 26 months, I told her I must have hit the jackpot!

I try leaving my home without my mask and upon leaving get that uneasy feeling like one does

when embarking on a trip and you know you forgot something and can’t quite put your finger on what it is and nine out of ten times it’s usually your toothbrush- however this time it’s your COVID mask.

COVID masks have become

our security blankets, they are the Teddy bears for adults. They bring us security and the feeling of comfort, justified or not. The mask has become the underwear for the face.

Masks have become part

of everyday attire and like anybody's undergarments, some will choose to use them and others will prefer to go commando, and presto the masks are off!

Why go commando? “Going commando” used to be a  way of saying that you're not wearing underwear.

The term referred to elite soldiers that were ready to fight at a moment's notice. 
Going commando to me in the new post COVID era means not wearing a mask.

The old debate for guys used

to be boxers or jockeys?  The lack of face masks is like the face going commando! Sure it feels great, but at the same time, it feels like I’m doing something inappropriate?

The mask mandate may have

been lifted however, like it or not masks are here to stay. No matter which way you go the fashion industry has a new product to profit from.

What do you call the President

when he is not wearing his COVID mask?
The commando in chief. LOL!

The one thing I like is the

government letting us make up our own minds.
It’s our call! 

 I like to look at the pandemic

with the old adage, 'heads we win, tails you lose.'
 The You is COVID and at least for now, it looks like we won!



This blog appeared as an Op-ed/opinion article in the
4-11-22 edition of the Garden Island news!
I copied the print edition since the newspaper currently has a paywall...
https://www.thegardenisland.com/2022/04/11/opinion/letters-for-monday-april-11-2022/







Hana Hou (Encore)





Monday, March 14, 2022

"With all the inflation, a few things remain unscathed..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen (Kimo's word #327)

 

James "Kimo" Rosen is a retired professional photographer  
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 "Costco" Obama, The Bipartisan Dog!
                    
                       Sunrise/Weather Photos-March, 2022
                          These photos appeared on Hawaii News Now!
                                 
                 
                            
                            Blog #2081~Kimo's world #327
With all the inflation, 
a few things remain unscathed

 Inflation is so bad a local food truck got rid of their mayonnaise tip jar and replaced it with a 5-gallon water jug! This is a joke I made up to ease the stress of what's happening in the world.

You may blame

it on the supply chain, you may blame it on the shutdown of the XL pipeline,  you may blame it on the pandemic, the Russians, or you could blame it on Joe Biden?  No matter who you blame it on inflation is at an all-time high.

Gas is at an

all-time high. Go to the supermarket and your favorite foods are near double what
 they were a year ago. The Kapaa farmer's market that used to be a deal in the  past selling papayas at $1.00-.1.50 each

is now selling them at three for $10.00. I like to joke with the local vendor and say those are the 'Joe Biden variety' of papayas. I always manage to get a laugh out of him. I imagine it's more a courtesy laugh since I am a customer and he's being polite. I don't believe he understands my humor and sarcasm just as many of you reading this.
What I do find refreshing amongst all the changes and record-high inflation is the few things

that have remained unscathed.
You can still after over

25 years purchase a 1/4 lb all-beef hot dog with a refillable soft drink at Costco for $1.50. You can also purchase in-store their famous rotisserie chicken for $4.99, to boot those chickens are the size of a small turkey.

The other store I'd like to recognize is Safeway. They still feature '$5.00 Fridays' where

you can purchase depending on what's on the circular for that week anything from meatloaf, 8 pieces of fried chicken, 4 pieces of pollack, one lb of chicken tenders, one lb of chicken wings, roasted whole chickens, and my all-time favorite which they have every week, $5.00 sushi.

When you intentionally sell a product below its market cost as part of your pricing strategy, it’s called a loss leader. Loss leader pricing is used to stimulate sales

of more profitable products or services. Therefore by getting customers in the door the store hopes to sell more profitable items. Why do you think Costco has the rotisserie chickens at the very rear end of the store? You must pass through hundreds of tempting items before you get there! I love the loss leader concept, just be careful to not get sucked in.

I am thankful for those things that have not changed, Mahalo Nui to Safeway and Costco for keeping prices down and even selling some of their products below cost to get valued customers in the doors. 

Last but not least many

like to criticize the corporate world, however, the corporate world has managed to make life affordable and they also manage to hire local people. In these days of double-digit inflation and climbing daily It's important to shop for the best deal whether in the  Big box store, Amazon or in the Ma and Pa corner store. 

Covid has taught us many things which can help during this upcoming recession

of inflated prices of everything. Try using telemedicine with your doctor appointments whenever possible to save time on the road and the high cost of transportation and gas. Become an amazon prime member and get free shipping on all your orders on any item you buy delivered right to your door. You don't need to drive to the store for every little item you need.

Finally, let's not forget

our friends at the fast-food franchises, for me, they are the only places I still can afford to eat out at. Did someone say, "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame-seed bun?"
This blog appeared as a Letter to the editor/Op-ed article 
in the March 16, 2022 edition of the Garden Island news!
Hana Hou (Encore)