Sunday, May 22, 2016

Musings: No Takers

Could it be that the rose is off the bloom? The dream of self-sufficiency is fading? The fantasy of feeding the world has smacked up against the reality of hard fricking work and weekend play time?


Gosh, you mean that guilt and shame aren't sufficient motivators? It sounded so good when they held the SHAME banner at the Lege. But hey, if all else fails, Dustin can always resort to intimidation and threats.
Sad indeed. Especially when these folk are claiming they're the ones gonna heal the aina and feed the planet, and they don't need no help from the stinking farmers or GMOs. Also sad are their piss-poor writing skills. The contraction of "you are" is "you're," Katie, not "your."

Equally sad are the misinformed folks who wasted a couple of hours waving anti-GMO signs in front of Safeway when they could have been helping Dustin plant mauka. 

They used to irritate me, but now I mostly just feel sorry for them, because it's clear they're missing a few screws. Like nurse Marghee Maupin, who has spread so much fear on the westside. (Thankfully, she is no longer working at KVMH.) Yet she still believes she's out there "raising awareness," even though it's clear from comments like this that she doesn't know WTF she's talking about:

“I used to work at the hospital over there on the Westside, where they’re testing between 70 and 90 pesticides every day,” Maupin said. “I got Guillain-Barre syndrome and I had to leave. When you look at the list of causes, the only one that fit with me was the pesticides.”

First, they aren't testing any pesticides, much less 70 to 90 per day. Where in the world do they come up with this stuff? As for G-B syndrome, a quick browse of the Mayo Clinic site turned up this:

Guillain-Barre syndrome may be triggered by:
  • Most commonly, infection with campylobacter, a type of bacteria often found in undercooked poultry
  • Influenza virus
  • Epstein-Barr virus
  • HIV, the virus that causes AIDS
  • Mycoplasma pneumonia
  • Surgery
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Rarely, influenza vaccinations or childhood vaccinations
There ain't nothing about pesticides — until you go to an autism-vaccine site. And this deluded woman is in charge of people's health?

Joanna Wheeler, another anti-GMO ignoramus, chimed in:

"Kauai is called GMO ground zero because they’re testing here and it affects us more than anywhere else. They’re testing chemicals here on Kauai that are banned in their own countries, where the companies are headquartered.” 
Again, they aren't testing anything. But this is what happens when Councilman Gary Hooser, Center for Food Safety, Hawaii SEED and GMO Free Kauai tell a lie loud enough and often enough: People who aren't too bright believe it, and crappy newspapers like The Garden Island reprint it.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joan, instead of relying on Facebook as a news source, how about joining Dustin some weekend? Help grow some food, maybe learn a bit. Dustin is growing food, good for him. If all of us were doing so, then we would be on the real road to self-sufficiency. I question the motives of anyone who belittles individual people and community groups who grow food and educate others on how to do so. How does such talk benefit our community? Wouldnʻt it be more beneficial to everyone if we actually support and encourage everyone to grow healthy food? So I send big mahaloʻs to Dustin and everyone else on island who are growing food for themselves, their families and for their friends and neighbors. These people set good examples for us all to follow.

Anonymous said...

Where are all the people that Barca said would follow him and "Malama Da Aina"? How do these fools stand there and claim only "Organic" farming will sustain the entire island and not do a damn thing about trying to prove it? Yesterday it looked like the anti-GMO/anti-pesticide bubble is bursting due to the lack of Monsanto protesters in Kapaa yesterday. They are finally figuring out that the crap they put out there are lies. The Anti's are loosing ground and I love it.

Anonymous said...

Barca continues to prove he's an illiterate uneducated fool who thinks threats and violence is the answer to all things.

Anonymous said...

Aloha Joan. Long-time reader, first-time comment. Born and raised on Kaua'i; family came from Germany, Portugal and Philippines to build then work on the plantations; grew up in Pua Loke and am still nostalgic for the smell of raw sugar, bagasse and the lunch whistle. I live and work on Oahu now, visit family on the island regularly and try to keep up with news - TGI and your blog mostly. Anyway, appreciate your detailed and insightful posts. Reading TGI, especially the letters section has become an exercise in astonishment at the range of anti-rational zealots commandeering the public stage to distort for their pet causes whether they be pesticides, GMOs, being zapped by radio waves, dirty ditches or creating mini-hotels out of their properties. Kaua'i has an interesting history of social action (labor and land, the Nukoli'i chapter in Cooper and Daws' Land and Power in Hawaii is a favorite) but this new stuff is fringe. Thanks for keeping a light shining on it.

Anonymous said...

I was at the Hyatt last Saturday and Sunday. Guess who else was there, relaxing with his family? Dustin Barca. Maybe that's where God told him he needed to be.

Anonymous said...

Then there's Barca playing the Hawaiian card.
"planting huli in the mauka..." like he's an indigenous person.
Brah, most people plant huli in the lo`i.

Anonymous said...

I know the huli lepo for the kalo in the lo'i. But how do you plant one huli?

Anonymous said...

What Barca is doing is honorable but the blind cannot lead the blind.

He sees the writing on the wall because the economy is already showing signs of collapsing. Food has doubled its prices since 2006 and 90% of food is shipped to Hawaii.

The Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese use to have gardens all over the island back in the plantation days.

These gardens were community shared and cared for. This was when life was simplier than it is today.

People have to wake up because our politicians on island and in the state don't care. They're only in it to push pimping ideas/agendas.

Why is housing so expensive? Why are the roads in bad shape? Why aren't there new roads? Why do they raise taxes and county employment when they can't even build all the bus shelters they said they were going to build 8 years ago? The council, Mayor and the administration is like a bunch of teenage girls going to the mall with credit cards each and every day at the expense of pilfering from the laborers who pay taxes.

There's no one to work on farms or gardens because people have to take care of their own first and who wants to work in the hot sun and humid weather? It takes special kinds of people to do that. It's like watching tourist and locals at the beach; who is sitting in the sun and who is sitting in the shade?

If Dustin can inspire just one person in each community on island and they start growing gardens and mini farms then he has accomplished what none of you people have.

The Mayors gardens in front of the convention hall and the friendship house are in bad shape but no one calls him out for failing.

Dustin still has a chance to realize his dream. All he has to do is surround himself with smart people who have experience in farming and gardening. His coctail drinking friends that only want their 15 minutes of fame because it's cute and in the fad are like used condoms (they're no good and of no use).

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why he expects others to plant his crop. I must be missing something.

Anonymous said...

Hey 12:04, no try ack local - what you talking about Hulu lepo? Also, what, you thik plural for huli is hulis? Lolo!

Anonymous said...

Joan, it is a bewilderment to me how you come up with ideas for your blog. Impressive is the range of your articles, your humor, sarcasm and point on social commentary. Extremely Insightful and intellectually oblique. Plus you write real good. Brilliant.
Them Fistees hate it when they have a person who doesn't agree with them and they can't pull the "Oh You are stupid and uneducated" card. Or the "You no love da aina" card. They have tried the "Oh Joan is a jilted wanna be paramour of Da Hoos, that why she no like him. She got dumped". Pretty funny stuff.
Anyway, Kauai Eclectic continues to grow in popularity and several people discuss KE regularly. Da Hoos, JoAnn and The Council/Mayor and others that live in the incestuous
cubbyhole of Kauai Power, all know that KE is read by many..the question is, they wonder, "how many?"

Sometimes, I feel sorry for Dustin and others of his challenged intellectual ilk, but then I remember the tumult and the collection of hateful Fistees, Bynum, Da Hoos and others who pushed the Anti-Ag fiasco. The social divide, the Local vs. Haole divide this posse exploited, that lives to this day.
Da Hoos says that his manipulation of the system merely reflects desires of his constituents, perhaps it does, but the turmoil and distemper in Da Hoos' methods are a disgrace. He is correct. There is a yuge Anti-Ag segment on the island. This year's election may show that the island will be changed forever. And Hooser, JoAnn, Mason, Felicia etc. will control our destiny. Holy Round-up, chemtrail and autistic magnetic waves and wealthy hi-nosed rambutan/goat ag-estate eternity.
Civil discourse is gone. Dustin Barca's political career is pau. But there are many who will come forward to replace him. The Fistee brigade of Kuleana Academy and the silent but moneyed big shot Realaters like Hawaii Life, Bali Hai, John Ferry, Neal Norman, Matt Beall and others who will shovel dough into the Da Hoos and Barca doppelganger enterprises.
But, please be nice to Dustin. He is the little engine that couldn't.
There are substantial people in Kauai government that do very bad things to the citizens, that perhaps could use some examination.
A prosecutor who goes after the weak easy crimes and leaves the big boy criminals alone.
A Mayor who hires every Portagee/Hawaiyawn that walks into his office, plus 700 more workers and there is no improved service.
A Council that does nothing except for spend. And doubles the budget every few years.
And then there are the Kauai people. Good hardworking open minded people, who just want to be left alone to raise their kids and live their lives...Great Hordes of Harmony Batman, those Kauai folks sure seem to be happy. Why doesn't their government and the NS elitists just leave them alone?


Unknown said...

Oh dear GOD Joan, please don't take farming lessons from Dustin. The guy thinks rotor tilling makes healthy soil. You seem well versed in many aspects of farming. However, you ever make it to Nebraska, I formally extend an offer to visit a working farm, ranch, feedlot, open garden and greenhouse operation. I grow yellow corn, silage corn, popcorn, food grade white corn, alfalfa, brome, and soybeans. We also plant diverse cover crops for pheasant, qual, and wildlife habitat. In addition, we're experimenting with intercropping either vetch, or brassicas, (maybe both) into standing corn.

Anonymous said...

Just saw this online blog and place for comment!
Dustin you should plant the taro in the loi.

kimo said...

Dustin is not doing anything useful.

Anonymous said...

Hey @ 1:05

You sound like you wanna do a hula with the lepo. Oh and plural for huli is huli huli. And lolo, if your cranial cavity is too small to comprehend. Go ask one kanaka to explain, and if you ask nicely he might help you with your deficiencies.

Anonymous said...

Instead of chastising another person maybe show that person how it's done. Help others with your knowledge and pass on your accomplishments. Inspire people and lead them instead of just focusing on people's faults. Use their strengths and improve their weaknesses to help grow food for friends, families and neighbors.

Anonymous said...

For the record, taro is called "kalo " in Hawaiian. Dustin not being Hawaiian can call it whatever he want's, but not huli. Huli is a verb for you none Kanaka's, like 1:05. Too funny!

Anonymous said...

Dustin Barca and Bulaia are from the same ahupuaa.

Anonymous said...

Ok I didn't want to this but..all you guys wrong. Full disclosure I don't need to crack a dictionary cuz its common knowledge. Huli is the top bit of kalo and the ahaha that is replanted. To make any noun plural you place the word "na" before it. If your lo'i patches are located mauka then that is where you go. Kalo is terraced far into the mauka places. Not all kalo is grown flat or in water. So all you guys stop trying to Olelo wen a'ole hiki no!. An ya I wrote the old way cuz never had before. You dictionary jockies crack me up.

Anonymous said...

Once you have prepared the Kalo for planting, it is called Huli

Anonymous said...

To 4:14, thanks; needed that laugh!
💜

Unknown said...

@3:38 https://www.facebook.com/dustin.barca/posts/1021086711260857?pnref=story Joan would be one of the last person Dustin would take advice from, and there is only one person that knows it all in Dustin's mind: that is himself. He's a legend in his own mind.
I shared advice with Hawaii seed, in an effort to improve their Out Grow Monsanto project, (like using mulch hay to suppress weeds and provide nutrients for the plants); however, their aim is to show the world how every other none organic farmer is doing his job incorrectly. Everybody came out to the planting party, but hardly anybody showed up for the down and dirty work of weeding the plants. Farmers don't plant a crop and sit at the bar drinking beer till harvest. A good crop takes an abundance of TLC (tender loving care). IT's a 24/7 job, which is why it is easier for the other 98% to buy their food at the grocery store. Ninety-nine percent of the time, results speak loader than words, and the Out Grow Monsanto Experiment isn't an exception to that rule.

In addition, I applaud their effort, and I hope they learned the value of the hard work farmers apply to their job. I hope they come to appreciate the cheap and abundant food we tirelessly supply for them. Yet, sometimes it's easier to be ungrateful and complain about nonexistent problems.

Finally, I'd like to apologize to Joan for sharing Dustin's cruel opinions of her. Those views are share by very few people. Keep up the good work and I throughly enjoy your insights.

Anonymous said...

We all got schooled by 4:24. The ahaha is the replanted stem and the huli is the leaf of the kalo.

Anonymous said...

smh.

Dawson said...

10:21 AM wrote:
Barca continues to prove he's an illiterate uneducated fool who thinks threats and violence is the answer to all things.

Donald Trump's Secretary of Agriculture.

Anonymous said...

Good one, Dawson!

@7:09. No, the leaf is the lau. Huli is the very top part of the corm and the bottom part of the stem, with the lau removed.

Anonymous said...

Omg "fungesses"

Anonymous said...

Dustin clearly has his head in the ground ... I'm just fearful that it might start to grow.

Anonymous said...

hey dummy I am the one that wrote that you cant read or spell the leaf is lu'au or lau and not hui. the one or 2 inches of corm (not corn) is called huli. This is why if you don't know its best to not type. BTW I spent plenty time in the ko'i. Edumacate before you pontificate.

Joan Conrow said...

@7:37 -- Time in the ko'i? Maybe the problem is auto correct and not ignorance?

In any case, here is an informative graphic on the taro plant from Bishop Museum that should resolve this once and for all. (Fyi, the leaf is called both lau and luau)

http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/botany/taro/key/HawaiianKalo/Media/Images/entire-plant-diagram.jpg

Anonymous said...


Verb-Subject-Object
SOV "She him loves." 45% of all languages spoken Latin -Japanaese
SVO "She loves him." 42% English-Mandarin
VSO "Loves she him." 9% Hawaiian- Arabic -Hebrew Celtic
VOS "Loves him she." 3%-

Hawaiian is a VSO language.
Lots of words have changed over the years. And there are some Hawaiian speakers that say that the Niihau people who are the last authentic Hawaiian language speakers..speak Niihauan. What a world. But then again, most of those Niihauans live in Kekaha, so what do they know?
A rose any other name would...............

Anonymous said...

Where is Barca planting? Is he just randomly going into the forest (or somebody's land) planting stuff that might grow to feed someone some day when the island's population must be hunter/gatherers again?

Dawson said...

8:16 AM wrote:

Verb-Subject-Object
SOV "She him loves." 45% of all languages spoken Latin -Japanaese
SVO "She loves him." 42% English-Mandarin
VSO "Loves she him." 9% Hawaiian- Arabic -Hebrew Celtic
VOS "Loves him she." 3%-


You left out:

SVS "Me loves me." 1% - Gary Hooser, Dustin Barca, Ashley Lukens

Anonymous said...



Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where is Barca planting? Is he just randomly going into the forest (or somebody's land) planting stuff that might grow to feed someone some day when the island's population must be hunter/gatherers again?

May 23, 2016 at 12:11 PM

Simple editing mistake. But then I learned at the knee of real Kanaka not a book. For the rest of it Niihau was not a populated island much and was called mokupuni o uala or yam island planted by women during famine from na pali moku. The dialect on Niihau came from there. Learn history. Hawaiians were not hunter gatherers Everything was collected and contained including pigs dogs food plants fish guord and lauhala and wauke and kalo. Harvesting was strictly regulated-the rest were harvested where they grew based on who malama that spot. Hawaiians had an orderly civilization. Learn before commenting. And don't give me any of that savage crap. The Romans were pretty savage too buddy.

Anonymous said...

4:35 - HILARIOUS!! LOL!