My Dreams for Kauai

"Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love." - Grandmaster Morihei Ueshiba

I understand that people will have their opinions regarding what I have to say. The variables and contributing factors that make my dreams a reality may be too complex and in some way unrealistically attainable. It may seem unattainable for many reasons but to me, one of mankind's diminishing commodities which is sincerity and love is the key reason. To sincerely have love for your fellow man brings with it the thoughts of doing things that are conducive to their health and well-being in front of the needs and desires of ones self. A task that many unfortunately aren't willing to do. It also tests ones levels of tolerance for differences of opinions and often calls upon one to turn a blind eye to our human errors. This is the true essence of "aloha", a concept and not just a word that has been frivolously tossed about and used as a selling tool for commercial and materialistic gain. It belittles the true intention of the term in its deepest form.

So how does this relate to "My Dream for Kauai"? Because in understanding and doing all things in the truest sense of aloha, I believe that many of the issues we face today as a society but more so as residents of our unique island home can be resolved. I don't claim to have all of the answers to the problems we face here on Kauai, but I do offer my opinions with an open mind willing to adjust said opinions based on contributing facts and input from those who share our island home.

I hear it every election year, people who want change and politicians who want to make a difference. However, very few communicate their opinions on the changes they want to see or come up with plausible solutions. I for one believe in the words of Grandmaster Ueshiba that in order for us to balance the spiritual (not the religious) and material, we need to move forward and trade within our island community, in sincerity and love.

Dom Acain

Ele'ele Nani Stop for East Bound Kauai Bus Service

To concerned residents of Eleele Nani. On September 22, 2014 I sent the following letter to the Kauai County Council including Mayor Bernard Carvalho:

"Aloha Mayor and esteemed County Council Members,

I hope that this email finds you all in the best of health. Condolences to Mel for the loss that you've suffered I pray that God be with you and your ohana. I am writing to you all because of what happened while leaving Eleele Ace en route to Kalaheo last week. I picked up an older woman with her grandkids walking on the side of the road Lihue bound right across from the Eleele Ace Hardware store. She told me that she had just gotten off the bus on Okupu St. in Eleele. I dropped them off on the Kalaheo side of Eleele Nani which is quite a distance to walk uphill, especially on such a hot day. Today I found out that kids who live in the Eleele Nani area who are in sports or other school activities also have to walk the distance regardless of how bad the weather is. Some of my daughters friends walk the overpass bridge and through the neighborhood in order to avoid the traffic on the main highway. I am writing in hopes that someone would consider doing something to at the lease modifying the afternoon bus schedule to have a drop off somewhere closer to the upper Eleele Nani subdivision.

Council Member Mason Chock replied immediately along with CM Yukimura who sits as Chair of the Transportation and Housing Committee and CM Jay Furfaro all of whom took immediate action in addressing my inquiry. Nadine Nakamura and Cyndi Ayonon, Administrative Aide at the Mayor's Office also responded saying that she would forward my letter to the Manager of the Transportation Department Celia Makikoa for her to respond and to look into the matter more closely.

Today (11/10/14) I received a response from Wilma "Pua" Akiona (Secretarial Assistant - Office of the County Clerk) with the below attachment from Celia Mahikoa:

My response follows:





If you look at the photo below you'll notice a red and green square. The red square represents the only crosswalk on Kaumuali'i Hwy between the top of Laulea Rd. and the bottom of Laulea Rd. The green square is where the school bus shelter is. I was a bit concerned about the feedback which stated Federal and State Guidelines but took a curb to providing a more convenient bus stop location in that area. I am hoping that something can be worked out where we can have bus service through the area. To me, it doesn't have to be full time service, but I would imagine that having the bus run through during key times would be beneficial for the community.

Ele'ele Park bus shelter on Laulea Road. Is there sufficient room for an area to be paved for a convenient and safe stop for the Kauai Bus?

The route that the Kupuna and her Mo'opuna has to walk from the only bus stop in Ele'ele east bound.

We have several County Council members following up on this and I am hoping that our State Reps will chime in. Will have updates as it becomes available but I would love any feedback or suggestions that the community may have.

My Dream for the House-less

The Honolulu County Council earlier in 2014 approved $47 million for low cost housing to help the island's war against the homeless. While it is one step in addressing an ever growing problem it still falls short of fixing the cause at the source. Emphasis has been made for years on the need to get a good education, a good job and be able to be a contributing member of society. However, what about those who cannot for one reason or another conform to those standards? Those for a myriad of reasons fall through the cracks of society and end up with bottom paying jobs and unable to afford the simple, basic necessities of life? What options are made for these people so that instead of being a money pit on government funding, have the ability to live simple and humble lives by being given the tools necessary to exist? There are many who have not chosen to be in their situation but through some chain of unfortunate events been cast into it.

Some years ago I met this man named Mike. A part-Hawaiian man with kids who had lost his wife through illness. Healthcare cost on top of having to be there for his children took a toll on him physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. He lost his job on Maui and was promised a job on Kauai. He sold all that he could and flew his family over to Kauai, bought an SUV and had enough money for rental of an apartment. Not long after he started the job, the business that he was working for went bankrupt and shut down. He tried looking for other jobs but was unable to find it and eventually he and his family had to move out of the apartment and lived on the beach. Months went by and his search for a job was fruitless. Money he had was gone and if not for the kindness of a sovereignty group camping nearby who took it upon themselves to feed the homeless in the area, his kids would not have been able to have decent meals. Newly made friends eventually took in his kids as he went back to Maui and eventually got a job. Soon thereafter he was able to bring his kids home and though it has been almost ten years he once again became a contributing member of society.

In this case, this Hawaiian sovereignty group who many mocked and scorned had enough traditional values and compassion to take in many of the homeless in the area. They all contributed in one way or another whether it was to clean, cook or gather food from the nearby sea. They had responsibilities that would keep them in the good grace of the village setting that instilled in them a sense of belonging. Sure there were people who were drug or alcohol dependent, but rules were put in place that would put their acceptance in jeopardy. People were accepted, rejected, counseled and warned. A few were also banned for non-compliance but this had to be done to promote some level of order. It was a safe haven for many and it didn't matter how young or old you were, what your racial makeup was, or even if you were new to the island or not. The main thing was that you were expected to follow basic rules in order to enjoy a seat (or bed) within their compound. It would have lasted a lot longer if not for Kauai's laws and regulations. It was within a county park to be fair, but what it showed, was the ability for people to come together and care for each other responsibly in a village setting. A community within a community. It proved that it is possible for people to take care of themselves without the governments "handouts" through welfare or any other governmental programs. It cost the government nothing for them to exist. They even cleaned and provided restroom supplies and saved the county money!!! Just imagine how doable this would be on a larger scale in every ahupua'a. Just imagine how far that $47 million would go if you let people take care of each other without governmental regulations or restrictive laws.

This is where my dream for some of the house-less begins. I believe that we need to have a pu'uhonua for people... Villages set up where some people can go for temporary housing in a cooperative sustenance setting. They can live in the village as long as rules are followed and they contribute to the community in some capacity. Whether it is farming, building, repairing, etc... They also need to go through counseling/rehabilitation and a training/educational program to get them mainstreamed into society. After years of indoctrination through inculcation of Hawaiians, a reintroduction to cultural values and mores to boost their self identity is also in order. I may be way off base here but that one example above have proved to me that it is a possibility and should seriously be considered.

As mentioned earlier, this was the dream for "some" of the house-less. You can't fix anything that doesn't want to be fixed. There are always exceptions to the rule. People make choices that are self-destructive. Some have mental issues, substance abuse issues and others just choose to find their own sense of normalcy. There is no "cure-all" solution, but there needs to be options available to those in search of a way out. A way that is more nurturing and natural as opposed to stringent governmental programs with poor oversight. The oversight in a village setting is that everyone is the eyes, ears and voice of the community to keep things in order that would jeopardize their ability to remain a member of it.

We have productive lands available and the only thing that stands in the way are some of the laws and regulations. If politicians want to help society, our communities, the economy and the many other issues that they face today then they have to take a look at fixing the root of our problems with a proactive and not a reactive approach. Personally, before we can think about fixing the economy of our island, we need to look at the causes and the reason for the holes in local governmental budget that keeps draining it. Band-aid fixes isn't a solution, cures are. I've offered it in the past and I offer it now. Anyone willing to sit down and talk stories, contact me and we can look at the possible processes and obstacles of such a concept. If we don't find a starting point, we will never see the end.

My Strangest Job Interview

Many years ago I applied for a job with a non-profit organization as a Camp Manager. At the interview I was surprised to find that I had to face a Board of Directors. On the board were several people from very prestigious families which made me feel as if I was out of my league and most unlikely to be considered. The questions from one member to the next were pretty straightforward and easy ones which made me go into a mode of answering without putting much thought into it until they hit me with one that stopped the flow abruptly. The question was, "how do you feel about people of different races?" A bit stunned at the switch in direction from experience, personal likes and family history I finally was at a loss for words. Thinking that this one question would have ended all hopes of my getting the job I had no choice but to give the only answer that I could and that was the truth. I told the interviewer that "I really can't answer that sir" and he asked me why. I told him that I was raised in the Waimea Sugar Mill Camp. We had kids of Portuguese, Japanese, Caucasian, Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese and a combination of many other races and truthfully, none of us gave it much thought. We were all raised by each others parents in a village setting that made us as close as family. I was upset with myself for not being able to answer that one question. Because even as an adult (I was 30 years old at the time) I still couldn't understand the differences between races. However to my surprise, a week later, I found myself as the new Camp Manager in an environment that could not be beat.