West Maui keiki can still play multiple sports

This is in response to the letter written to the editor, “Keiki coach, players now forced to pick a sport,” printed in the Oct. 15, 2015 issue of the Lahaina News.

My name is Elsa Kim and I am “FOR” the change of the baseball season for West Maui. The season which ran from April-June will now run January-March. Yes, unfortunately, it will now run during the West Maui Youth Basketball program, but that doesn’t mean, as you stated, “children, who used to be able to play both sports, will now have to pick which one to play.”

That is not the case at all – the children can still choose to play both sports, but the fact is the parents of the children will have to work it out with the coaches. I speak from my own personal experience being a mother of three boys that indeed plays multiple sports at the same time. My son wrestled and played baseball, as their seasons overlapped with each other. I, along with my husband, made it work because my son chose to play both sports.

The board is not trying to get the children to play baseball year-round; they are simply opening up the opportunity for the children to have the choice to play competitive baseball with other little leagues around the island, instead of just being confined to the West Side. If the children decide to play year-round baseball, that would not put blame on the West Maui Little League Baseball Board of Directors.

What I find most puzzling is that you used the excuse of the children having to choose one sport to play. In fact, the issue is that you’re the one having to choose, putting that fault on to the change of the baseball season.

I do thank you and appreciate your support for the 15 years that you’ve been volunteering your time for your two “favorite” sports. Hopefully, you’re able to make a choice, and if you don’t work it out to volunteer for one or both of your “favorite” sports, I’m sure there are lots of sports organizations out there seeking devoted volunteers. You never know – you might find another sport that you can call your “favorite!”

ELSA KIM, Lahaina

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County should act on bus complaints

Last year, I detailed a three-year collection of frequent rider bus complaints in the Lahaina News. I forwarded these problems to the mayor in a letter and in dozens of phone calls to Maui Bus supreme director JoAnne Johnson-Winer, as well as the Roberts Hawaii bus company she supervises at the Department of Transportation.

The reaction from management has been total apathy. They refuse to fire or warn and discipline certain drivers who frequently cause behavior complaints from riders; who are rude; exhibit local racism; yell at riders for things they are not guilty of; slam the door on people waiting outside the bus, refusing to let them board; reckless driving; leaving before the scheduled time, causing work and appointment commuters to miss the bus; take excessively long cigarette or gossip breaks – causing late buses – and a lot more.

One driver who angrily scolded me loudly for eating on the bus (I was not) was seen eating on the bus twice. The driver also yelled loudly at me for talking on my cell phone like hundreds of other riders. The driver also scolded me for taking too long to put my heavy bike on the bus with a severe, painful, bandaged injury in one hand, as I did it fast as even possible. This driver also slams doors on riders (outside trying to board) and leaves, and slams on the brakes downhill at full speed in a jerk when no vehicle is in front!

Johnson-Winer has repeatedly heard all these complaints but refuses to discipline the bus company or drivers. There needs to be a meeting she supervises with all bus drivers and Roberts management to explain rules, policies and ethics.

The huge, three-year, massive complaints and problems about the Kahului to Lahaina bus – so overcrowded that commuters either stand up all the way, both ways, or get rejected from boarding the bus due to cruise ship tourists taking over – continue. People needing to commute to work or appointments cannot board. Meanwhile, the expensive, two-story-high bus sits in the baseyard unused most days, because it cannot drive under the low branches of Lahaina trees to The Wharf Cinema Center transit center. The easy solution is to send it to the Downtown Post Office stop, where those huge Japanese tour buses stop no problem, and they already have a stop anyway for their local bus.

STEVE OMAR, Lahaina

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Thanks for supporting Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

Women Helping Women and the West Maui Task Force would like to sincerely thank all those who helped to make our fourth annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes held on Oct. 3 the most successful event in its history. Thank you to our sponsors – Whalers Village, Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, 5A Rent-A-Space, KONI 104.7 FM and Fred’s Garage – for making it all happen!

Additionally, mahalo to the following:

Our prize donors, Aloha Training 2, Castaway Cafe, Dollie’s Pub & Cafe, The Fish Market, Hawaiian Village Coffee, Head to Toe Salon, Iron Imu BBQ Restaurant, Island Press Coffee, Island Vintage Coffee, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Kahana Nails & Spa, Maui Brewing Company, Napa Auto Parts, Napili Florist, Paradise Grill, Pineapple Grill Restaurant, Pizza Paradiso, Plantation House Restaurant, Roy’s Restaurant, Salon Bella Maui, Sangrita, Sea House Restaurant, The Snorkel Store, Spa Montage at Kapalua Bay, Sunshine Helicopters, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, Whalers Village, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas and Zensations Spa.

Special contributors CJ’s Deli & Diner, Honolulu Cookie Company, P. Denise La Costa, La Costa Realty Hawaii LLC, Renee Ward/Reflecting You Interiors, Maui Party Store, and Heidi Dollinger.

Our special guests, Emcee Joe Hawkins, “Burn’n Love’s” Darren Lee, Sandra Florence (joint coordinator of United Way and the Shelter Care & Maintenance Fund), Mrs. Hawaii (Caroline Absalom), State Sen. Rosalyn Baker with Rotary of Lahaina Sunrise making a $1,500 donation, and Martin Roush of Hawaii Water Service Co. making a $1,000 donation.

All participants, including special mention to the walker teams of the Maui Fire Department, Maui Police Department, coaches and members of the Lahainaluna High School football team (cheered on by the Lahainaluna cheerleaders), Maui Search & Rescue Unit, Department of Management Director Keith Regan, Chris Haigh of Sakamoto Properties and Jeff Cocker of Moku Builders.

Congratulations to our award recipients: Largest Onsite Donation (two deluxe sunset sail tickets from Trilogy Excursions) to Rainbow Glass; Most Sponsor Dollars (two-night stay at The Mauian Hotel) to Dave Ward; Best Costume (two rounds of golf at the Kaanapali Golf Course) to Skeeter Stebbins; and Largest Team (individual gift bags of coffee certificates and cookies) to the Napili Fire Department.

Lastly, this event would not have been possible without the assistance of Lahaina 5A Rent-A-Space, who was recognized at the walk this year by the State Legislature for its generous and continued support of WHW!!!!

We hope to see you all again next year!

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN WEST MAUI TASK FORCE