Musings: False Claims

So the state Department of Health says Hawaii Dairy Farms didn't cause the high enterococci bacteria counts at Waiopili ditch in Mahaulepu:

Currently, there is no significant impact to the Waiopili Ditch from any activity that can be attributed to the proposed dairy.

But we've heard no apology from Bridget Hammerquist or Carl Berg for smearing the dairy all these months with false accusations, or intentionally mischaracterizing a ditch as a natural stream:

What some call Waiopili Stream is actually a man-made drainage ditch at the terminus of the Mahaulepu Valley irrigation system which was constructed to drain the former Kapunakea Pond and connects to the Mahaulepu Drain. No sewer lines, injection wells or cesspools discharge directly into Waiopili Ditch; however, a healthy population of feral pigs, chickens, ducks, and sheep were observed in the area. Waiopili Ditch is on private land with limited public access and there was no evidence of recreational activity occurring within the Waiopili Ditch.

In other words, no keiki are playing there, as Bridget and Carl have claimed. The DOH report also pisses on Carl's contention that Kauai waters are constantly polluted with sewage, offering a very interesting review of the problems associated with using enterococci alone as an indicator (see page 9). 

But then, there's no money or publicity to be had in rational discussions, only hysterical fear-mongering.

Curiously, it turns out the real problem may be the doo doo produced by Bridget, the Hyatt and its guests and other anti-ag agitators on the southshore:

DOH is concerned that the large number of injection wells and cesspools in the adjacent Poipu/Koloa watershed may adversely impact the waters of the Waiopili Ditch. The geological and hydrological composition of the watershed indicate that these facilities may contribute to the high levels of enterococci detected in the Waiopili Ditch via the groundwater.

A portion of the injection wells and cesspools in the Poipu/Koloa watershed are located very close to the ocean, further leading to concerns that the beach fronting the Mahaulepu watershed may also be adversely impacted by the adjacent watershed.

In other words, tourists themselves may be polluting what Councilman Gary Hooser termed the “crown jewel of our visitor industry” while blasting the dairy. Oh, the irony. But hey, let's blame the dairy, even though it has yet to bring in a single cow.

Moving on to other news (and resisting the snarky segue), anti-GMO activist Fern Anuenue Rosenstiel pulled papers to run for the 14th District House seat now held by Derek Kawakami.

Fern's legislative experience is thus far limited to holding a SHAME banner at the state Capitol. But she's boning up as a student in the supposedly non-partisan Kuleana Academy candidate training program sponsored by Hooser's anti-GMO group, HAPA. Oh, what a surprise, that they're graduating one of their own.

Fern, a bartender and waitress at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, also boasts that she directs the anti-GMO 'Ohana O Kaua'i, along with Dustin Barca, who two years ago made a failed bid for mayor. Hey, maybe he can connect her with the New York developers and Hawaii Life Realtors who financed his campaign. He might even have some surf swag left for handouts.

I'm hearing reports that Council Chair Mel Rapozo and mayoral assistant Nadine Nakamura may also be eying the 14^th District seat, since Derek plans to run for Council instead. 

Now let's see, who should we vote for? Nadine, a thoughtful, intelligent, experienced lawmaker who seeks to bring people together, or Fern, a loudmouthed bully and serial liar who has ripped our community apart?

No contest. Literally and figuratively.