Protect Kauai's Resources

SUBHEAD: Kekaha shrimp farm is an environmental and economic disaster for the county.From: In Our Opinon on 27 March 2011 in The Garden Island -(http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_63f6adc6-5842-11e0-97fa-001cc4c03286.html)Image above: Sunrise Capital employee adding chemicals to test pit in March 2010. Photo by Juan Wilson.As if flushing up to 20 million gallons a day of

Update on County Rules

SUBHEAD: Rule changes will be the subject of this Wednesday's County Council Meeting in Nawiliwili Harbor.By Ken Taylor and Linda Harmon in Island Breath - Image above: Public participation in "Townhall Meeting" by Norman Rockwell. From (http://www.westboylston.com/Pages/WBoylstonMA_AdminBlog/I0272F677).We think these changes will make Kauai government more democratic and encourage public

If a tyrant developed Kauai

SUBHEAD: This is the first time a developer would be granted a "Special Use Permit" to develop commercially on designated agricultural land.On 23 March 2011 by way of Keep Kauai Country - (http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=nphezafab&v=0018iMS5L3VR6N0_ig1Neau394Rw3j6Kjnm1mMEQdoLDnCG03R_eOXSZeJEZjUG9K5_O7D49MxwZ8k3LJ8nmhj_gOKSFMH-Dv1eeP1CZqtGEcfNQxcB1NVdsxxMqIvYF2HI)Image above:

Winter Begins and Ends

SUBHEAD: A challenging winter bookended by two special moons. Let's hope this spring ends like a lamb.By Juan Wilson on 21 March 2011 for Island Breath - (http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2011/03/winter-begins-and-ends.html)Image above: Full moon with rainbow halo similar to moon observed in the wee hours of 3/20/19. From (http://www.angelvillanueva.com/en/photography/index.htm). The winter of

Kauai Council Rule Changes

SUBHEAD: Consider the following Kauai County Council meeting rule changes.By Ken Taylor and Linda Harmon on 18 March 2011 - Image above: The seal of Kauai County hangs on the wall behinf Jay Furfaro as he chairs a County Council public meeting. From (http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3769fc9a-04d2-11e0-b96d-001cc4c002e0.html).Consider the following Kauai County rule

Tsunami reaches Hawaii

SUBHEAD: Kauai westsiders ride out tsunami with ohana. In Port Allen marina the water was five feet above the catwalk.By Dennis Fujimoto on 11 March 2011 for he Garden Island News - (http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/article_cb639e72-4c87-11e0-9c1c-001cc4c002e0.html)Image above: This high, said Chad Kubo, skipper of ‘Que Sera,’ indicating the level of water above the Port Allen, Kauai, marina

Vote for KIUC Board

SUBHEAD: Something worth voting for this time? Perhaps a turning point for KIUC.By Susan Dixon on 5 March 2011 in The Garden Island - (http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_784673ca-46f3-11e0-9f6c-001cc4c03286.html)Image above: Detail of cover of February issue of KIUC Current showing new solar photovoltaic array in Kapaa that recently went online and that KIUC is buying power

County quits anti-marijuana rally

SUBHEAD: To use the weather as an excuse is unacceptable. The reason for the cancellation wasn’t the weather. It was the ACLU’s concerns.By Jessica Musicar on 18 February 2011 for the Garden Island - (http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_4ed87e18-3bf7-11e0-9012-001cc4c002e0.html)Image above: Mel Rapozo talks with proponents of controlled distribution of medical

An Offer You Can't Refuse

SUBHEAD: Musings on the county government rally against decriminalization of marijuana.By Andy Parx on 16 February 2011 for Parx Daily News -(http://parxnewsdaily.blogspot.com/2011/02/offer-you-cant-refuse.html)[Editor's Note: For background information, see "Kauai Officials to Rally against Pot Legislation" by Jessica Musicar on 15 February in The Garden Island - (http://thegardenisland.com/

Paradise Ranch Rationalization

SUBHEAD: It would seem lessee Bruce Laymon is the perfect stooge for owner plans for high end development at a later date.By Leo Azambuja on 14 February 2011 for The Garden Island - (http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/article_acd6849e-38c6-11e0-84a9-001cc4c002e0.html)[Editor's note: This whole dance of the absurd is not about Bruce Laymon's shyness regards nudity or need for cow pastures -

KIUC Candidates Forum 2011

SUBHEAD: Island Breath recommendations on KIUC board election and details of tomorrow's candidate forum.WHAT:Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board Candidates ForumWHEN:Thursday, February 17th at 6:30 pm (Doors open at 6:00)WHERE:Kauai Community College Campus Center CafeteriaONLINE:A video stream of forum will be available at www.hawaiistream.comImage above: TenBruggencate, Bain and Smith being

KIUC Signs Biomass Deal

SUBHEAD: Critics, like George Monbiot, contend that burning biomass for electricity is not really a form of 'Green Energy'.By Anne Barnes on 25 January 2011 in MSN Money - (http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=PR&Date=20110125&ID=12816383&topic=TOPIC_CONTRACTS&isub=1)Image above: Power plant smoke stack. From original TreeHugger article. Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC)

Gutting the Plastic Bag Ban

SUBHEAD: Rapozo to introduce amendment exempting all food service establishments from plastic ban bill.By Léo Azambuja on 1 February 2011 in The Garden Island - (http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_15d86e84-2e9b-11e0-b7dd-001cc4c002e0.html)Image above: Councilman Mel Repozo (l) and Dickie Chang (r) hard at council business. From TGI article.More than a year apparently

Kauai Hydro Projects Power Up

SOURCE: Kenneth Taylor (taylork021@Hawaii.rr.com)SUBHEAD: Four sites on Kauai would generate 18% of island power needs under a proposal.[Publisher's note: It seems unlikely that financing for such a project can be properly utilized by the debt strapped KIUC. They were unable to even retrofit an existing sugarcane operation into a biofuel power station. Moreover, given the pathetic record of

Ku'oko'a - Transforming Hawaii

SUBHEAD: If the Grid is to be continued Hawaii has two realistic options - geothermal and ocean energy.By Henry Curtis on 16 January 2011 in Disappeared News - (http://www.disappearednews.com/2011/01/kuokoa-transforming-hawaiis-economy.html)Image above: Rebels took out these electrical towers = Medellin, Colombia, leaving the nation's second largest city without electricity. From (http://

Small Ocean in Back Yard

SUBHEAD: Simple to build and easy to operate, aquaculture is becoming popular as small-scale sustainable intensive food production.By Glenn Hontz on 13 January 2011 in the Garden Island - (http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/article_997ecef8-1e1b-11e0-a65e-001cc4c03286.html)Image above: Aquaculture in Pago Pago, Samoa. From (http://www.spc.int/aquaculture/index.php?option=com_countries&view=

Kauai Bus Service Expansion

SUBHEAD: Mayor Carvalho's proposal to expand Kauai Bus coming up for public hearing this Wednesday, January 12.Image above: Bus stop at the Kalaeo Community Center. One of the finest stops on the island. Photo by Juan Wilson.By Joann Yukimura on 11 January 2011 as press release - This coming Wednesday is a concrete opportunity to help make the vision come true. Mayor Carvalho has proposed an

Saved from Paradise Ranch

SOURCE: Hope Kallai (lokahipath2@live.com)SUBHEAD: Paradise Ranch surrenders their permit to fence off access to Lepeuli (Larson's) Beach.Image above: Lepeuli Beach looking northwest. From (http://pixels4paradise.com/free-wallpapers/free-wallpapers-2/).A PDF file of a letter dated yesterday from the lawyers representing the ranch, and mailed to the chairman of the DLNR, is being circulated. The

Power costs jolt military families

SOURCE: Ken Taylor (taylork021@Hawaii.rr.com)SUBHEAD: About 6,400 Navy and Marine Corps households will be charged for "excess" energy use.By William Cole on 26 December 2010 in the Star Advertiser - (http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101226_Paying_for_power_jolts_some_military_families.html)Image above: Jennifer Lunnposing with her children, from left, Andrew, Emily and Kaela, on

What Chemtrails? Here on Kauai?

SUBHEAD: Geoengineering sparks international ban and first-ever congressional report. Meanwhile, recent video footage of chemtrails being laid above Kauai, without 'informed consent.'Picture of chemtrails across southeastern U.S. from (http://www.coffinman.co.uk/aluminium_heavy_metals_and_chemtrails.htm)By Juliet Eilperin on 30 October 2010 for Washington Post - (http://www.washingtonpost.com/