As the old saying goes, the more things
change, the more they stay the same.
Which is why the Kauai County Council
is revisiting two previously decided issues — Council term limits
and the barking dog ordinance — and police Sgt. Darla Abbatiello
has won yet another settlement against KPD.
As I reported on June 7, and the
Star-Advertiser reports today, Darla will get $100,000 to settle her
claim that KPD retaliated against her after she filed a harassment
complaint. Under the settlement, KPD also has to undergo EEOC
training in anti-discrimination laws and expunge all the dreck from
Darla's personnel file.
But the Star-Advertiser is incorrect when it reports that it stemmed from a sexual harassment complaint. As I previously reported, it began as a relatively innocuous initial complaint — Darla wanted to transfer to a different division, Assistant Chief Roy Asher said no, Darla pushed and Roy made his index fingers into a X, and Assistant Chief Ale Quibilan said one of Darla's Explorer Scouts looked a little momona (fat).
The handling of that complaint was flawed, due in part to the county's own policy errors and lack of a human resources department.
And in typical Kauai over-the-top style, it spiraled out of control, ending in a bitter political battle between Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Chief Darryl Perry, a lawsuit, three EEOC complaints and numerous damaged careers.
But the Star-Advertiser is incorrect when it reports that it stemmed from a sexual harassment complaint. As I previously reported, it began as a relatively innocuous initial complaint — Darla wanted to transfer to a different division, Assistant Chief Roy Asher said no, Darla pushed and Roy made his index fingers into a X, and Assistant Chief Ale Quibilan said one of Darla's Explorer Scouts looked a little momona (fat).
The handling of that complaint was flawed, due in part to the county's own policy errors and lack of a human resources department.
And in typical Kauai over-the-top style, it spiraled out of control, ending in a bitter political battle between Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Chief Darryl Perry, a lawsuit, three EEOC complaints and numerous damaged careers.
God knows what the full financial tab is for this fiasco, not to mention the human cost in terms of drama, stress, bad blood and wasted time.
Meanwhile, Councilman Ross Kagawa is
flexing his political muscle on the new Council, seeking to do away
with both Council term limits and an ordinance that imposes regulates
barking dogs.
Back in 2006, voters overwhelmingly
approved a charter amendment that limited Councilmembers to four
consecutive two year-terms, effective in 2008. If Ross's resolution
passes on Wednesday, voters would be asked to reconsider that
decision in 2016. No one currently on the Council is ready to term out,
though both JoAnn Yukimura and Mel Rapozo can serve only one more
term.
Has the electorate shifted sufficiently
to believe voters would be inclined to rescind the term limit
amendment? And who — besides career politicians — would really
benefit from such a change?
Also returning for an encore
performance is the barking dog ordinance, which the previous Council
passed in February 2014. Ross cast the sole dissenting vote, and now
he's introduced an ordinance repealing it. His reasoning is
reasonable, and reflects my own initial reservations about the law: It doesn't solve the problem, and it creates bad blood between
neighbors, since folks must document the disturbance.
I checked with County Prosecutor Justin
Kollar, who said he believes eight citations have been issued under
the law. Two went to trial, and the dog owners were found not guilty.
Others were resolved before trial and some are still pending.
The law imposes penalties ranging from
$50 for a first offense to $500 for subsequent violations if a person
is found guilty of allowing a dog to bark, whine, cry, bay or howl
for 10 minutes straight, or intermittently for 20 minutes in a
half-hour. The law has a number of flaws, including this giant gray
area:
A dog shall not be deemed a barking dog
for purposes of this section if, at the time the dog is barking or
making any other noise, a person is trespassing or threatening to
trespass upon private property in or upon which the dog is situated
or for any other reasonable or apparent cause which teased or
provoked the dog.
How can a human — especially a judge
or prosecutor — determine what is reasonable provocation for a dog?
A banging gate? A stray cat? Another dog? Loud conversations? Sirens? Squeaky UPS truck? One of those things that only a dog seems to hear?
Another flaw is language that allows a
judge to require the owner and dog to successfully complete a dog
behavioral course, which is no guarantee that certain yippy breeds
like terriers will ever stop barking. They can also be ordered to
hire a dog trainer, which are few and far between on Kauai.
In doing a little a research on this
issue, I saw that Kauai has been trying to develop a barking dog
ordinance since about 2002. Invariably, the discussions hinge around
locals vs haole newcomers, with the latter perceived as being all the
time complaining while the former are more tolerant of their neighbors.
Just recently, someone left a comment
on a blog post questioning why hunting dogs are still allowed in
residential neighborhoods. I immediately flashed on Hanalei, where a
few of the remaining locals have hunting dogs that do that
baying/howling chorus when it comes time to pick which ones are
going out on a weekend morning. No doubt it irritates the hell out of
some. But, heck, the hunters were there first.
Ross is also right when he says the
bill doesn't solve the problem. A lot of Kauai households have
multiple dogs, in part because there are so many on the island that
there's constant pressure to adopt. And when there's
more than one dog, they often set each other off. Furthermore, so
many people are working multiple jobs trying to afford the Kauai
lifestyle that they don't have time to stay home with their pets,
which get lonely when left for hours at stretch.
How is dinging a person with a $50
fine, and dragging their ass through court, really going to fix anything? Will it make the annoyed neighbor happier, give
them a good night's sleep?
Time to repeal this bill and then think
carefully before going down this road again. Yes, people have a right
to live quietly, but what about mowers, blowers, weed-eaters, rooster
farms, loud mini-bikes and all the other aggravating, but perfectly
legal, big noise-makers?
The best cure for annoyance about a barking dog is to adopt one yourself, and then see how challenging it can be to control every aspect of its behavior — especially when you're not there.
And finally, though the cops have arrested a 20-year-old man in the May 30 Hanalei pier incident, it turns out that the supposed victim — a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect, who was sitting in a car with his girlfriend, minding his own business.
But due to all the one-sided reporting in the local paper, it was turned into bad boy locals jumping innocent school children and their teachers, without provocation or cause.
And finally, though the cops have arrested a 20-year-old man in the May 30 Hanalei pier incident, it turns out that the supposed victim — a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect, who was sitting in a car with his girlfriend, minding his own business.
But due to all the one-sided reporting in the local paper, it was turned into bad boy locals jumping innocent school children and their teachers, without provocation or cause.
Posts
59 comments:
Most issues on island can be tyed to local verses newcomer. Locals have dogs/ newcomers only want pets, no working dogs. Locals fish, newcomers say you can go to costco and buy fish, no need fish. Locals eat beef, newcomers want all to be vegans. Locals want homes, newcomers want to make that home a resort to share the aloha with other newcomers.If you really look at Kauai, newcomers like the beauty and opportunity to make money here, locals tryin just to still live here.
In 2006 we never had Hooser and the redshirts. We had people like Bynum, Furfaro, Yukimura, Kaneshiro, and Rapozo all looking unbeatable with limited challengers. Last year, holy moly Furfaro and Bynum got term limited by the voters. First time candidates Brun and Perry almost knocked off Yukimura, Chock, and Hooser. Things are way different today, I think Kagawa is right on this one. The voters can term limit anyone at any time. Things have changed, I think Hooser and Yukimura are out the next one.
Ross Kagawa is the man. He has shown through the last election he is the most popular politician on Kauai. If we stick with Ross we can take our island back to those golden plantation years, and yes we can get our Friday night football back too!
Hey, are you planning to cover the vindication of Jake Delaplane and the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office? It's only fair that you cover that with as much enthusiasm that you had when you covered it initially. Thank you.
We have an incompetent human resources department. Darla is laughing all the way to the bank. This is her nth settlement. Yes to term limits. We need new faces and fresh ideas in the council. Yukimura needs to retire, her ideas are obsolete.
I think that the one term break is good. If the public wants them back we can vote them back in. Mounting an island wide campaign is a huge obstacle for new island leaders. The TV coverage of council meetings are a huge advantage for current councilpersons even though it can also be a huge detriment s it was to Furfaro and Bynum. My big problem with the coverage is that it pushes attention to fringe issues. The council's job is to run the County of Kauai. The Mayor's job is to run the County. The Council has the power to reach into my pocket and take my money. They then tell the Mayor how to spend it. Dogs, Seed Companies, Born and raised/transplants and Corporations all pandering to the fringe issues and diverting attention from the real problems of a stagnant tax base and increasing costs built into the budget.
"it was turned into bad boy locals jumping innocent school children and their teachers, without provocation or cause. "
I must have missed it, but what was the "provocation or cause" for Mr Loi to assault two men and a teen and to spit on another woman? So what if someone "approached his car"? You try walking around Black Pot and not "approaching" anyone's car. It can't be done.
Joan, I'm curious where you got your information: "it turns out that the supposed victim — a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect" -Do you have any other details? Like if the visitor was harassing the suspect, or was he just asking a question? Either way, an assault is NOT the correct response. About 2 weeks after this incident I was at the pier and watched a fight nearly break out between a group a local 20-somethings and a younger local kid. It was complete mob/macho mentality. Luckily adults were around to intervene and break it up. Although the incident didn't involve tourists, I wondered if that was the same group involved in the altercation with visitors. I grew up here and sadly, Hanalei isn't what it used to be... black pot is a mess. Both incidents are a poor reflection on our island. I'm afraid the aloha spirit is disappearing.
From your blog post: "it turns out that the supposed victim — a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect, who was sitting in a car with his girlfriend, minding his own business."
Joan, I take issue with you referring to this kid as a "supposed victim." So what if he walked up to a truck? How did that justify this guy getting out of the vehicle and punching him in the face? And punching an old man in the face? And spitting in a woman's face?
Talk about victim blaming!
You made a lot of comments recently about people online bullying. Maybe you should re-read some of your old posts. You are one of the biggest bullies on this island!
You are way off on this one Joan. That is utterly ridiculous what you said.
The police don't consider this kid a "supposed victim." They said he is a victim. They said that a 20-year-old man punched a kid in the face. They said a 20-year-old man punched a teacher in the face for trying to protect his student. And they said this 20-year-old man spit in the face of a woman who was trying to break up the fight.
And you are defending the 20-year-old!
If you think those actions were okay or justified, there is something seriously wrong with your moral compass.
"And finally, though the cops have arrested a 20-year-old man in the May 30 Hanalei pier incident, it turns out that the supposed victim — a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect, who was sitting in a car with his girlfriend, minding his own business.
But due to all the one-sided reporting in the local paper, it was turned into bad boy locals jumping innocent school children and their teachers, without provocation or cause."
You usually include more detail when you make statements like this. Please elaborate.
Thank you!
If someone wants to complain because their neighbors hunting dogs make noise once in awhile, or even a couple of times a day, I totally agree with you. Hunters and their dogs were here first! And good luck to the malihini that thinks he'll find sympathy in court...
But I think the intent of the barking dog ordinance is aimed at those non-stop barkers that deprive people of their ability to enjoy their own home. You can't appreciate how unbearable it can be to live next to someone who won't seek remedies for their dog's incessant barking. The yip, yip, yip, that goes on at set intervals for hours and hours on end, every single day. We've had two sets of these come and go from our neighborhood over the past couple of decades. (By the way, both times they were haole families.) This type of barking is often the result of boredom and the amount of time the dog indulges in the behavior can be reduced by leaving it with a long lasting chew, increasing the amount of exercise it gets, buying an interactive toy that makes the dog use his brain to get the treats out of it, etc. Sometimes this type of 'chinese water torture' barking is from separation anxiety. And the behavior can be modified with a treatment plan that addresses that underlying issue. Whatever the reason the dog is doing it, one thing is certain; the dog is unhappy and everyone within earshot is unhappy too.
There is a wide array of bark collars on the market. Some spray a harmless citronella compound that many dogs find unpleasant. Some use a small battery that administers a mild electric shock triggered by the vibration of the bark. And there are more elaborate models of E-collars that enable you to increase or decrease the 'level of stimulation' for the more committed barkers. Most dogs quickly become 'collar-wise' and are NOT repeatedly sprayed or shocked if the collar is on. (The boredom barkers just go quietly dig holes in their owners yard, or chew on the house siding.)
I agree with you that the ordinance is unwieldy and some of the language is flawed. But it doesn't create the bad blood between the neighbors. The hard feelings are already there. The neighbor with the dog either doesn't care how much its bothering everyone else, or they don't know what to do to stop it. Dinging them with a fine makes it their problem to seek a solution to. Removing the only avenue to force a resolution, won't fix it.
I agree TGI isn't the best when it comes to reporting but I disagree with the implication of your comment "a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect" -So what next? After approaching the vehicle, a group of 20 some locals had to assault the tourists? I don't see how what transpired was warranted or necessary.
We should pursue districting for the council plus at-large berths. 5 districts seats plus 2 at-large seats without term limits. If the Council can pass this then no need to worry about term limits at all. Divide the registered voters by 5 to get the districts. Each District with one council member and the 2 at-large = 7 council members. Those interested will either move districts or run at-large.
Paid Administrative leave for some. It is like a paid vacation forever. Now days you can get cited for farting. If it smells, worser consequences. As long as you feel threatened...
JUDGE: Having been charged for a violent assault Mr. Defendant what do you have to say."
DEFENDANT, "But he had approached me."
JUDGE: Well in that case, Not guilty.
?
Gosh, there are an awful lot of people who are ready to be prosecutor, judge and jury, and convict this guy based totally on what they read in The Garden Island, which was an account given by the school group. But they left out the part about how one of their students approached Loi, and caused some sort of provocation, which I learned from police. So what else did they leave out, or embellish?
We don't know how many people were involved, but since just one person was arrested, based on witness accounts, it seems highly unlikely that there was a gang of 20, as claimed. Nor do we yet know if anyone was actually punched or spat upon. Since the charges were misdemeanor third degree assault, the level of violence was relatively low and/or there was a question about whether harm was intended.
Obviously, it's not OK to respond with violence, even when provoked, which is why the guy is facing charges.
But it's quite different to have someone start a beef, and then respond, then to engage in a totally unprovoked act of aggression against a group of tourists casually walking on the pier. The newspaper accounts have painted a picture of the former. My sources in KPD tell me it's the former.
In any case, best not to be jumping to any conclusions about Loi until the case actually goes to a plea or trial. Because even though it's a "fake state," it's still America, and people are innocent until proven guilty.
Oh, and 10:57 AM, I appreciate your thoughtful comment, and do understand how annoying unwanted noise can be. Perhaps the best approach would be to start with a neighborhood intervention, facilitated by KPD or KHS if need be, that tries to get at the root of the barking and see if it can be resolved with a collar, chew toy, moving the dog to a less stimulating area, etc.
"But they left out the part about how one of their students approached Loi, and caused some sort of provocation, which I learned from police. So what else did they leave out, or embellish?"
More to the point, what do you think they embellished? You seem to have information that no one else has. How did the teen "provoke" Mr Loi by approaching his truck? I just re-read the TGI account and it says the police had multiple witnesses come forward.
Will you be applying this same "not to be jumping to any conclusions until the case actually goes to a plea or trial" to people you accuse of breaking the law too?
Have to disagree with you on the barking ordinance. It's not for dogs that bark because they are excited to go out hunting, or the yappy dog that is in the house or the dog that barks at the UPS truck. It's for the people who put kennels right next to their neighbor's house and let their dogs bark and whine all day and night. This is for the extreme cases and I can assure you by the time the ordinance comes in the neighbors aren't speaking anyway. Mowing, weed eating, talking loud are all things that have a finite time and don't go on all day and all night every day. If someone were to blast music into the night the cops would come and tell them to turn it down. The same needs to happen with dogs that bark all night. Dog owners need to take some responsibility. There are materials for kennels that can help mitigate noise from dogs. Dogs will be dogs is like saying boys will be boys. I don't blame the dogs I blame the owners. If they were a good person they would not want to keep their neighbors up all night or have bored, unhappy dogs. The ordinance needs some work yes, but to repeal it is not the answer. Mediation should be used when possible and people should be educated that there are things they can do to be a responsible dog owner.
"And finally, though the cops have arrested a 20-year-old man in the May 30 Hanalei pier incident, it turns out that the supposed victim — a juvenile visitor traveling with a school group — started the whole mess by approaching the suspect, who was sitting in a car with his girlfriend, minding his own business.
But due to all the one-sided reporting in the local paper, it was turned into bad boy locals jumping innocent school children and their teachers, without provocation or cause."
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I like you. I really do. but.......
Your arguments and logic on the Hanalei Pier incident Joan, unlike other topics, seems to be biased towards your hatred of tourists, people form the north shore, "new locals" and in my sole opinion your insatiable desire to appease, and "be one of", the non white locals.
Your a smart, beautiful woman who has kindness and some hatred in her heart.
Of course the GI reporting was one sided, because the other party was obviously hiding.
Sounds like you have dogs in the fight. Biased maybe? Just a little? Maybe? Know some of the players maybe?
I reiterate, that I was there that day with my family prior to the incident occurring and the vibe there was worse than ever before. Lots of young testosterone filled underage drinking. So much so I took my family out of there because it was abundantly clear that it was not safe. (I did not see the incident because we left) I doubt those young local men, who have chips on their shoulders against tourists and Haole, were minding their own business as you laughably claim.
Having said that: keep up the good work, shut down the Illegal TVRs and Bnb's and please focus occasionally on the beauty that exists on Kauai.
Be Pono
No worry we get Judge Valenciano in our pocket-Syndicates
We run this island-Kauai Mafia
Boy is a drug addict drug dealer just showing who's boss on this territory
The worms ain't got nothing better to do but put in the wash, rinse, and spin cycle.
I disagree with you on this one, but I respect that you allow comments that are critical of your blog post.
Sorry to disappoint you, 1:15, but I don't have any dogs in any fights — even the thought is abhorrent — and I've even never heard of Loi. Nor have I been able to identify any other players. I feel no hatred toward anyone, including tourists and people from the north shore — sorry, but there's no such thing as "new locals" — so please don't mischaracterize me or my views.
As for my heart, yes, I have a whole lot of kindness in there, and I'll confess to a mean streak. But hatred? No.
I was just asking for more information. I don't have a clue what really happened and I haven't convicted anyone, especially not based on the Garden Island stories. It is difficult to get accurate information about things that happen on the island, and I often turn to this blog to get that information. And then sometimes I think I'm just too niele and it doesn't really concern me, I'm rarely up there at that time of day. But sunset at Black Pot used to be a sweet family time, not a time when you might need to be careful who you greet. I don't want to lose that.
My comment wasn't directed at you, Peggy, and I appreciated your civil way of requesting more info. I don't think any of us know exactly what happened, but hopefully the truth will come out. I've felt uncomfortable at Hanalei Bay for a long time, for many reasons, and it is sad how it's changed.
What is the PA doing with changing the "business as usual mentality"?
Where is the Mendonca-Galas murder trial? It's been over 2 years since they arrested her former husband so what's going on KPD/PA? Why all the hush like the 19 yr old kid that got ran over twice, it takes them over 7 months to investigate and still no answers.
How do you know, Joan, that the 14-year old "started a mess"? Maybe he was innocently asking a question. It seems like you want to focus on the fact that the 14-year old was responsible for the initial conversation, and hold him responsible for everything that followed. I suppose according to your logic, if he had been severely injured or killed, it would still be his fault. Many things start with a simply conversation. It's almost unheard of for a 14-year old to pick a fight with with a 20-year old who is probably much bigger and stronger, and its equally unusual for a 20-year old to feel so provoked by a 14-year old that he can't just say to the kid, "take a hike, you're bothering me." Sure, the 20-year old may have been minding his own business. But minding your own business doesn't justify everything that followed. As for the "sources" you use, it seems you favor the sources that will support the conclusion you long for - obnoxious haole tourist provokes peaceful local minding his own business." You could have also cited the source - the female teacher who wrote a lengthy letter to TGI in which she gave her version of events - even though that particular source doesn't support the conclusion you seem to favor. Why isn't she a source for you? She was there, unlike the source you cite. Where is your journalistic ethic and responsibility of objectively - not selectively - gathering and reporting information?
With all this home burglaries going on silent alarms don't cut it. Dogs can protect you home. Our dog barks at the loose chickens, cats, and other loose dogs. Once in awhile you yell shut up. If they no listen, get out and threaten them. The dogs never asked to be your pet. Take care of them. Food and water and some love is all they want...attention. Cannot handle the dog, bring it to the KHS and say adious. Before doing that, let it loose to take care of all the loose chickens and cats. After that is done maybe no need to take it to KHS. No distractions = good doggie. Before the leash law never have barking dogs. They knew their boundaries even though they were loose. Even the hunting dogs were loose. The hunter would get rid of any of his dogs that bit people. That's how it was.
People need attention too. Hanalei Pier is always busy... can get maximum attention there. Get trouble, now deal with it. Let the process begin. Which "law" will be used for this case?
My friend was at the pier and said the kid was giving Loi the stink eye or checking out his chick or something like that. Loi told the kid "what you looking at you f***ing haole". The kid didn't understand what Loi was saying and approached the truck. That's when Loi blasted him.
I wish Joan would scrutinize the current Prosecutor's Office as she did the last one. Excessive travel, numerous cases being thrown out and declined, the increased number of major cases being plea bargained to minor offenses, the mass exodus from the office of seasoned attorneys and staff, etc. I'm sure she won't look into this because she likes Justin. At least Shaylene went to court. Just asking her to be fair and balanced. That's all. The people deserve to know what's really going on in that office.
3:32pm. Ah the old "he was looking at me funny," the excuse of mean drunks everywhere.
Sounds like your friend could be a good witness for the prosecution.
Hanalei Incident should be prosecuted under federal HATE CRIME! Nothing Less PA! Yah heard me
Hey 3:32, since your friend was at the pier and was close enough to the action to see that the 14-year old gave the 20-year old the stink eye - (wow that is really close, isn't it - close enough, even in the dim light...miraculous, even...not that I'm at all skeptical....after all, your nameless friend is an impeachable source...) - well, since your friend was THAT CLOSE, it sure sounds like he should come forward and tell KPD all about it. Let the truth come out!
Then gonna have to prosocute half the braddas in the island starting with Kagawa.
I guess the Garden Island headline that some people would be very happy with would go something like this:
"14-year old boy provokes peace-loving local man minding his own business using lethal combination of stink eye and leering, lecherous gazes, inciting melee at Hanelei Pier."
Yes, there are always two sides to every story. No unprovoked assaults ever occur, do they?
2:50 pm. Oh ya 14 year old boys are never smart ass punks, just Angels. A lot of people seem stuck on the haole hater version of the story jumping to conclusions about what went down when they don't know shit.
What's with all this who said what to blah blah blah .....Bottom line nothing, I repeat nothing, is deserving of the response that was handed out. The locals were angry and took it out in violence. Period. The barking dog law was needed and as a previous contributor mentioned the kennels in residential areas have to go and the person who brought up pets vs working animals is correct. The kennels are commercial and as such should NOT be allowed in residential areas. No matter how you cut it. They totally destroy and sense of peace and quiet to the point of health issues. That still needs to be addressed. Oh, when I moved here in 1970 there were no large kennels of dogs. The came about when the locals figured out they could be trained to find human scent and find pot in the mountains. It has morphed into a disgrace and these kennels should be made illegal in residential areas. Kauai is the only island without a noise ordinance for dogs. And who said they wanted to go back tot he plantation days? Jeez are you kidding. You're out there in the ozone. That is the attitude that is really at the root of a lot of these backwards decisions. L:et the voters decide? What have they decided so far? They have elected a bunch of people who still want the plantation days. So tell us what about he people who live next to dog kennels and people who could care less? What about them? Go back to the mainland? Yeah thats about as intelligent as trying to go back to plantation days.
Joan,
Something is beginning to stink about this story......... not beginning, but from the start....... WHY in the world would you even begin to have sympathy for the psychopath who jumped out of his vehicle and started randomly punching people??? Because he was approached???? Simmer down girl.... You have SOME intelligent blogs but you missed the mark on this one..... I know you love to stir it up, But let it go on this one... Your KPD informants???? OMG R U being taken 4 a ride.......... Let it slide.......
So were the 20 people really a 20 year old? And I do find it amusing the person who is charged is not from the north shore.The girl teacher is the camp cook, not a teacher at all.
6:35 get your facts straight, there is no other county in the state that enforces a barking dog law with any success. Just because they have laws on the books doesn't mean the cops are issuing citations and violators are found guilty in court. You are the blah blah blah! Prove it, what no can?
yank the dog ordinance. what a useless law. you go ROSS !
I made an error in my 12:01 Tuesday post when I wrote: But it's quite different to have someone start a beef, and then respond, then to engage in a totally unprovoked act of aggression against a group of tourists casually walking on the pier. The newspaper accounts have painted a picture of the former. My sources in KPD tell me it's the former.
What I meant to say was, The newspaper accounts have painted a picture of the latter. My sources in KPD tell me it's the former.
That's good you have sources within KPD but don't lose your common sense. This is a huge black eye for Kauai and KPD. It took too long for them to make an arrest. Even if the kid approached the car, the man (donkey) should have let it go. Who do you expect to be the adult in the situation. Escalating to punching a 60-year-old man, spitting in a woman's face and terrorizing girls is not acceptable behavior under any circumstances. Loi is a serious accident waiting to happen. $450 bail? That tells you how serious KPD / Kollar is taking the case. I think I give a bit more credibility to the visitors. I don't trust words from a drunken, rage-fueled mob and I definitely don't trust an unaccredited police department with a criminal and highly questionable past. KPD wants to wrap this up and sweep the rest under the proverbial rug. Very surprised you have taken the position you have, Joan.
You're surprised that I've taken the position of don't jump to conclusions until you have more than just one side of the story, and maybe things aren't exactly the way TGI with its usual slack reporting has portrayed them?
I predict that within the next 5 years, some incident will result in a Federal Court determining that using the word "haole" during a violent episode is evidence of a hate crime. Who'd have thought the confederate flag would be permanently lowered in front of the South Carolina Capitol Building? Even "wannabe locals" will not be exempt.
I express opinions. I crave facts. Facts seem to be incredibly elusive on Kauai. Weak TGI reporters, the coconut wireless, an unreliable police department and blogs that are inconsistent fuel the frustration of getting the truth. In addition, the information emanating from the county's public information department is often thin, erroneous and/or completely absent. As a reader, I can jump to conclusions and blow off steam. Is that the extent of your blog? You've done some amazing reporting in your days. I would hate to see you tarnish that with partaking too heavily of the cool-aid being disseminated from your KPD sources.
Don't ya love it when people fight each other using your money? "Who cares? The government pays for it!"
in today's GI the teacher said that there was more than one person that participated in the assault maybe 8 people, then he goes on to say that some bystanders tried breaking it up. In his previous statements reported in the newspaper NOT ONCE does he mention bystanders breaking up the altercation he said there were 20 people attacking them. hhhmmmmm, sounds fishy to me like the teach aint got his story lined up. so how can he tell exactly how much people were there fighting vs breaking it up. innocent till proven guilty, i think the kid was provoked. sorry, no support from me for the visitors their story not consistent.
When all is said and done- KPD is just an overpaid security company.
They're not real police officers! Just pretend
8:24 KPD officers are members of the community and are our friends and neighbors. They do a great job of catching criminals including Loi while not harassing the rest of us as we live our lives. Yea KPD!!!!
So now they going to use the word "PROVOKED" yeah everyone who stares at a drunk kid provokes him to a fist fight especially if you are 14 years old or above 60 years old.
Real tough guy
PROVOKE will set him free!!!! He was provoked to attack. He was provoked to assault. He was provoked to spit. He was provoked to drink. He was provoked to do drugs. He was provoked!!!!!!!
Calling someone a haole is not a hate crime, calling someone anything is not a crime, so get off your idiocy. Haole can be good or bad, depends on the person, depends how the word is used, fucking haole may not be a good thing to be called, but it's not a crime either.
When you are calling someone a effing haole then blasted the kid then calling an elder man a haole then blasting him too then that is a HATE CRIME dummy.
It's in the same context as the N word. It's used in good situations and in bad situations but when you hit someone while saying it then that is a given that it is used in a negative connotation.
Hate crime
noun
noun: hate crime; plural noun: hate crimes
a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, typically one involving violence.
so a 14-year old KID was giving "stink-eye" to a 20-year old ADULT, which is the reason the ADULT assaulted the KID.... Maybe it's just me, but I would be so SHAME, and embarrassed that I allowed a KID to provoke me with a "stink eye". Are you serious? Now you're arrested because you had to be macho. Like the old timers would say back in the day, "What? No can handle?" So f'in shame. smh.
@ 8:43 -- Even hitting someone calling him a fn haole is not necessarily a hate crime. The prosecutor would have to prove racism was the motivation for the crime.
I am SO tired of seeing people spout off who don't know WTF they're talking about.
How about we convict the guilty party or parties of a crime? Forget about hate crime, crime of passion, etc. Get to the bottom of what happens, press charges, and if a crime was committed convict the donkey or donkeys responsible for that crime.
That's why there's over 20 unsolved murders on Kauai because you people only want the easy way.
"You people"? Seriously 9:13, might be time for you to check out and go home.
9:05: Born and raised. This is my home and this is Kauai's Opala.
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