I hadn't planned to blog today, because I'm in a hurry, but while doing a quick browse of The Garden Island, two stories caught my eye.
One, of course, was the cryptic piece about Councilwoman Lani Kawahara requesting time to talk about sexual harassment in the county. Then she went on to use it as a forum to levy her own public claim that she feels she's been harassed on the Council.
The article brought to mind two questions: first, if this happened at Wednesday morning’s Council meeting, couldn’t the paper have managed to file a full report in today’s paper, rather than print a teaser that then starts the rumor mill pumping? It’s not like they had any breaking news to cover or anything.
And second, if Lani filed a police report back in JULY, why is she waiting until three weeks before the election — an election in which the alleged perp is running hard to keep his seat — to make her complaints known? Why not mention it when she announced she would not be seeking re-election? Or was she waiting until she had access to the TV camera? And how fascinating that she’s dragged Tim Bynum into it as her champion.
Update: Here's what reportedly happened. It was in July 2009 — that's right, 2009 — during heated discussions over the "open government" debate and Tim and Lani's website. Tempers were starting to flare. The Council took a recess, and Lani claimed that Council Chairman Kaipo Asing looked at her, pointed at her and ran his index finger across his throat, which she interpreted as a threat to slash her throat. She freaked out and called the cops, who came and took a report and calmed her down.
Anyway, it looks like Lani and Tim are finally getting in some public cracks at Kaipo. Or as the old saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold…..
The other piece was on the excessive police heat at last weekend's Homegrown Music Festival.
A friend happened upon the festival while out riding his motorcycle on Saturday evening and said he was stunned, upon leaving the event a few hours later, to see six police cars there, with the cops hassling people and asking for the names of those who were entering the event. He couldn’t see any reason why they were there, as there was no violence, no traffic jam, nothing. And since it was only 9:30 p.m., he didn’t see why it would register a noise complaint.
Then the next day, when he rode his motorcycle past the event, he saw six cop cars there again.
“They were the ones blocking traffic, putting tickets on cars,” he said. “I couldn’t see any reason for the tickets. The cars were all off the road and going the right way. It just seemed pretty heavy-handed."
And apparently it was, with organizer Dove Liddle arrested for disorderly conduct because he didn’t snap to when the cops told him to turn off the sound and some 60 traffic citations issues for super petty stuff.
Maybe the real reason why the cops showed in such force and stayed there is the same reason why they swarmed the Damian Marley concert a few years back and ticket cars belonging to people attending reggae concerts at the Taro Patch in Anahola.
It’s got nothing to do with “ensuring the safety of the concert-goers, those traveling through the Moloa‘a area, and the surrounding property owners,” as Chief Perry claimed in the paper.
Let’s face it. It’s an anti-marijuana thing.
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20 comments:
This is a smear campaign against Kaipo by Lani and Tim. Shame on them. Add this to Tim's recent postcard mailer with "endorsements" by many residents of Kauai, including at least two very prominent people that did not authorize the use of their photos. Unbelievable. Is this the kind of people we want to represent us?
Mr Anonymous said, "shame on them"
Where did you crawl out of the woodwork? Have you watched the county council meetings at all?
The disrespect and disdain from the "good ole boys" tearing into Tim and especially Lani is the REAL SHAME man or mame!
We need to break up the "cartel" and get new people in.....RE ELECT NO ONE!
Dr. Shibai
Revenge is a dish best served cold. I think Lani's timing is great.
If you were at the Council meeting you would know that the discussion was about the nonexistent County policy, lack of enforcement of sexual harassment and violence in the workplace in County government, and about how much this inept management has cost taxpayers and how Kauai is in the dark ages with regards to this issue. Council-member Kawahara's personal experience was just one personal example and was not the focus of the discussion. She and Bynum should be commended for being willing to bring into the light such an important issue...Anyone who thinks that it is ok for the Chair of the Kauai County Council to make a "throat cutting gesture" at a fellow member of the Council following a heated and angry discussion...should realize that it is not ok...it is within the definition of harassment and sounds like bordering on workplace violence to me.
I voted for lani but have been disappointed in her inability to play w/ the big boys and stand up to the bullies. Politics require a thick skin and the ability to let criticism roll off her back instead of taking it so personally. I don't condone Kaipo's gesture if he in fact did that. This may in fact be the death of his career. Is Tim really supporting her or is it his desire to get rid of Kaipo his real agenda. Let's not forget the years of service that Kaipo gave us long before Tim's arrival to the island. He was a maverick for change and was in the minority on many votes. He never took money and couldn't be bought. He was consistently the top vote getter nonetheless. Tim is a short timer and he hasn't earned that same level of respect. I will not vote for him because of his tvr vote alone. Don't jump on the bandwagon of Lani's complaint to suit your political agenda Tim. If you are truly concerned about this issue which is important why only now?
That is lame. Lame, lame, lame...Tim and Lani have been the only independent voices amidst a sea of silence, indifference and good ole boy hostility...how long does someone have to live here or how long does someone have to serve on the Council until they earn the right to be treated in a civil manner? Kaipo did serve us well for many years but perhaps for 8 years too long...To not support someone because of their vote on one issue...regardless of the rest of their contribution...regardless if they are hardworking, honest...and 90% of the rest of their votes are aligned with you...that is lame, lame, lame...
Wow.
You lament the rumor and then pump it. Then make judgements that diminish another woman. What is your source for an update? Freaked out? How do you know?
You'd have to be freaked out to call the cops about something like that/ manini
Good journalists report the news when they get the news ASAP. Shame on TGI for dragging this story out. Also the article confabulated "sexual harassment" with "harassment". Finally shortly after Chief Perry gets an open ended contract the popos go after citizens they don't like. If noise was the problem why all the traffic tickets! Seems like "harassment" and "selective enforcement." And yes Joan it IS a marijuana thing. The popo's show up with overwhelming force and start fining folks for anything they can. Not enough people making noise? Then illegal parking will do just fine. Take away message - we don't like your "kind" round here. Can you say "abuse of power" starting with an entrenched county council and extending to the paramilitary-like police operations against the citizenry.
lame lame lame, tim and lani that is. If this isn't about politics and trying to slam Kaipo, why do it now, why on tv,why wait from july?she seems like a menopaual woman... this is crap...i'm voting for Kaipo,definately not oh boo hoo timmy
No it's a tribal thing. Tribes will continually cull out the unwanted.
Kaua'i / Hawai'i has always tried to limit the counterculture types while embracing the ones with deep pockets.
If you are to last here you learn to lay low and keep a low profile. Maybe even disguise yourself as a working class stiff with a job and normal clothes..
It’s an anti-marijuana thing.
Its also an anti-haole anti-hippie thing. The cops would not do this at a political fundraiser or a baby luau.
So who in this scenario is the "counterculture" type? Lani the librarian? Tim the, well, whatever he is, he sure ain't counterculture. Kaipo is "big money"? He runs his campaign without donations. Whether it's true or not, the timing makes it suspect. July, 2009 and she waits until now? What compelled her to come forward more than a year later?
it's an anti haole/hippie thing. pakalolo just gives'em an excuse.
lani's beef w/chair asing seems legit. if he was my boss, i'd file a complaint too. he helped to create a hostile work environment; thick skin or not.
tim is just excess baggage. lani aligned herself w/ the losing team and couldn't adjust after 'da'boys' played ball w/da'chair. tim did her a diservice but she asked for it.
principles and politics don't mix
I heard Kaipo told Lani to stop acting like a girl. I heard he also told Tim the same thing.
I heard Tim and Lani told Kaipo to stop acting like his opinion still mattered............
#8 and fading..
someone said that there was marijuana?
Lani's timing is perfect. Push the old bastard over the edge.
As for the Kauai Police, I can see them being unquestioning enforcers of unconstitutional martial law some day. They're a bunch a frickin' idiots.
Daryl Perry the pot-hating cop and Warren his tolerant brother doing criminal defense. Maybe all this heavy handed treatment of 420-loving people is based on a sibling rivalry?
Also should the prosecutor charge Asing? If anyone else did that kind of a gesture .....
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