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LETTERS for November 24 issue

By Staff | Nov 24, 2011

MAHALO FOR HELPING PADDLER IN DISTRESS

At Polynesian Shores on Nov. 15, a group – Joe, Mary, Ben I and II, Mom Helen, Lou, Sue, Johnny V. and others – were all viewing the sunset on the deck when we spotted out in the Pailolo Channel a paddle boarder lying down, resting (?), then sitting up. He was sitting up – but not standing up – and paddling, a warning sign to us all.

We all were in observation mode now, and finally the party, from one-quarter to three-quarters-of-a-mile out now, started slowly paddling into the trade winds (a common mistake) and not going southeast, using the trades and currents to sail back to any shoreline.

We figured that it was time to call someone.

Being a weekend fisherman at times, invited on buddy’s boats in West Maui, I just had my Red Duck Bass Pro Shop hip pack with my hand held vhs.

I called to the sailboats in general, and most of them were already Lahaina side. However, in the distance we viewed a weekend trailer boat coming in from the north, and I called out thinking it was Capt. Johnny on the Opaka-lips boat. During lunch at home, I viewed him motoring north.

The boat called back on emergency channel 16 VHS, and the captain said he knew Johnny and that Johnny was still fishing up north.

His boat was called, I think, Keawe. In any event, he came in, found the paddler and drove the Maui visitor back a mile or so to S-Turns, so the visitor could get back to the Sands of Kahana where he was staying. I am proud of everybody.

I then radioed the charter sailboat, Shangri La, and thanked him for standing by and monitoring the situation; that the rescue team of the trailer boat Keawe had made the rescue; and all was even better for our evening sunset observations.

Big hugs go out to all, especially the rescue team.

ERIN A. WHATTAM, Kahana

BE NICE TO EACH OTHER

I have been noticing that the economy and other problems we are facing are starting to affect the way we treat each other.

We have to remember that as important as they seem, they are not!

Mauians, we are here in this tiny island in the middle of the ocean. Don’t become like the Mainland: cold and rude.

Be nice to each other…

RUBEN ISOLA, Via E-mail

NO RECOURSE FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE?

I find it interesting that I can enter a complaint about barking dogs that keep me up at night, or disturb an otherwise peaceful day, but a herd of motorcycles can circle Lahaina over and over on Sundays?

My pastor very patiently stops his sermon until they pass by. We run to pat the baby’s po po and hope he goes back to sleep. People stop their conversations and wait… and wait some more. Tutu gives up on her afternoon nap, and overworked night nurses can’t get their eight before going back to work again.

A caravan of huge pickups can cruise down Front Street from one end to the other raising hell and annoying everyone. A car with “music” so loud I hear it coming for two minutes before it rattles my plates, and two minutes after. And the scooters with the cores out of the mufflers so they are louder? Doesn’t make them more impressive; doesn’t make you more cool. So what is the point?

“Nothing we can do,” I’m told. No form I can fill out; no one I can call who cares at all. Why is this okay?

I bet if one kid was cited for $500 – like the owners of barking dogs can be – the word would get out, and it would stop. I don’t care if motorcyclists ride, but how about not on Front Street – where all the churches are – until after 11 a.m.?

Law or not, enforcement or not, it’s inconsiderate for so few to annoy so many. It just ain’t pono, folks. People get away with what they are allowed to get away with. And since our lawmakers and law enforcers don’t see the importance of peace and quiet on health and eardrums (and Sunday services), it will most likely continue to get worse.

I had an officer tell me once, “We have to warn them three times before we can cite them.” OKAY – so do it! His implication was that it was therefore impossible. Same kids, small town – you only have to get a few, and isn’t that your job?

If you agree, how about you just pop your senator or Police Department. It takes more than one voice. One voice cannot be heard with all the racket around here all the time.

BUTCH FOWLER, Lahaina

CHURCH MUST RESPECT ITS NEIGHBORS

About 200 people live within a two-block radius of the church at Front and Baker Street in Lahaina. Most of us grew up believing a church is always respectful of its neighbors and promoted community values, one of them being peace. This church apparently does not.

The Friday night of Oct. 28, under a big tent pitched on church grounds to the rear, a group played music and yelled through a sound system so loud that neighbors two blocks away had to shut their windows and create white noise if they wanted to sleep before the noise stopped at 1 a.m.

Although the noise ran on unusually late, that it was allowed at that decibel was not. Sometimes it goes on all day; other times it occurs on random evenings, so loud neighbors have to turn up their TVs or shut windows on a hot night to get some peace.

The church may say the noise is not its doing, that it only allows use of its grounds by a certain group, but it is responsible for what goes on there and should set rules for the sake of its neighbors.

It has not done so despite numerous calls by neighbors to the church, and even calls to the police to have the noise stopped.

The singing and preaching inside the church is tolerable. The noise outside on its grounds – and with its permission – is not and needs to be stopped.

NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST

LAHAINA KNIGHTS

This is a “poem” for the homeless.

Lahaina’s streets come alive at night, with those who know no lee; when a shadowed perch on Front Street becomes a mansion by the sea.

An early dawn, up and at ’em. Is that a cop? Oh, it’s that new guy, Adam. Where’s the head? I need relief! It’s locked again – oh Lord, good grief!

We used to crash ‘neath the Banyan Tree before they lit ‘er up, and for years some dined at Longhi’s – from its dumpster they would sup.

Sometimes hustle, sometimes creep; oops, it’s time for Feed My Sheep! Sally Ann’s, if you’re up for a stroll. Food for the body – food for the soul.

In August, street folks really swelter when shade is the only cool; they could surely use a drop-in shelter – nothin’ fancy, no swimming pool.

Simple and clean – no bugs, no thugs. No place for violence, no place for drugs. Let the Lahaina Knights police their own, and maintain their drop-in home.

Praise His name, instead of wishin’, and thanks to Victor and the Light Bringers’ mission.

BRIGGS