tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post606853387730460782..comments2023-10-17T04:51:08.765-10:00Comments on KauaiEclectic: Musings: Thoroughly TrickedJoan Conrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-53492060123682371602014-11-07T21:09:32.877-10:002014-11-07T21:09:32.877-10:00Here's my story...I came to kauai with my husb...Here's my story...I came to kauai with my husband and 3 kids almost 2 years ago. He has family here so we thought we were leaving the big city life for a better one here, boy was I wrong. Within the 1st month, my husband found an old girlfriend and did not come home. We were staying with his cousin in Lihue and he moved in with the ex. I felt degraded, embarrassed, and so alone here on an island where I only knew his relatives. His cousin was sweet and told me we could stay as long as we needed, but you could tell she didn't really want me there. I didn't have money, no job, and I had 3 hungry kids to feed. Luckily the bastard left me our car and while I was driving one day I saw the Independent Food bank and decided to stop. I was so ashamed to walk inside and it took everything I had to finally walk in. I meet this lady in the front office and ask her if I could get some food for my kids. She says that they aren't giving out any food. I try to tell her my situation but she was busy talking to some other guy (big local) I think was her boss and they pretty much ignored me. I try my best not to cry in front of them and the guy finally tells me to go to the other food bank in Puhi because they don't give out food here. I leave holding back the tears and take the longest walk ever back to the car. I see my kids looking at me and start crying. I get in the car and my kids ask if I got any food and I tell them they didn't have any. I felt like such a failure in life and did not know what to do. I felt so humiliated and I really wished I were dead. I drive around a bit and make my way to Puhi and find the Hawaii Foodbank. I park and wait about 1/2 hour in the car trying to convince myself that I need to go and ask these other strangers for some food and could not bear to think of going through the same thing again. Finally after my son told me to just try and ask for a little bit, I walk in. I'm met by this guy but i can't remember his name. He said he ran the warehouse. He asked me if I needed some help and I told him I needed food for my kids. He said sure no problem. I could not believe what I just heard. It was like all the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. He asked how many kids I had, their ages, and if they were allergic to anything. I answered all of his questions and he started to get some food together for me. I broke down in tears because I was so ashamed that I was there and he told me that there was no need to feel ashamed. The food bank was there for folks who find themselves in need. He asked if my kids could have some ice cream and brought some out to my kids and they were so happy. I cried some more. I told him I went to the other food bank and they didn't give me anything. He couldn't say why they didn't give anything but not to worry because I could get food here. He then referred me to a shelter and a number of churches that he said could help with clothing and a place to stay. He loaded my car with milk, cereal, bread, eggs, apples and all kinds of other food that I could not believe he was giving me. I told him it was too much and he said he wanted to make sure the kids had enough food. I cried so much and gave him a hug. As I drove out, my kids were singing and eating while I tried to stop crying. It was the 1st time I ever asked anyone for help and it was the most humbling experience of my life. I received help from a couple of churches and my sister paid for us to return to Cali. Since then, I am divorced and I found a good job. My kids are doing well and although I still receive assistance, we are on our way to a better life. I am so thankful for the Hawaii Food Bank for being there when I needed some help. And most especially for not making me feel like I felt when I went to the Independent Food Bank. I still cry when I think about that day. Thanks also to Joan for writing this blog and shedding some light about that food bank. It's true. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-9505859400831249742014-11-07T12:21:20.913-10:002014-11-07T12:21:20.913-10:00I saw the newly branded Independent Foodbank with ...I saw the newly branded Independent Foodbank with a new logo and supposed new direction with another plug from TGI. Most of the BOD are the same from before so I don't think there any real changes happening and certainly not in the integrity department. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-32298915666105389962014-11-02T09:44:46.636-10:002014-11-02T09:44:46.636-10:00Does the county fund KIFB in any way? I sure hope ...Does the county fund KIFB in any way? I sure hope not because the that would mean the administration and council had to approve it. <br /><br />Let me know so I can vote appropriatelyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-1264222724896765742014-11-02T09:40:52.365-10:002014-11-02T09:40:52.365-10:00I know Chief Westerman and he's a great man, I...I know Chief Westerman and he's a great man, I refuse to believe that he had any knowledge of KIFB being what it is. But Chief if you're reading this remove them from your fire stations now! Your department does need any more embarrassing distractions.<br /><br />And to anyone else who has been supporting KIFB like the articles in the newspaper reference, please stop too. ASIDE from the First Hawaiian Bank article, there's Kauai Marriott, all the credit unions including Kauai Govt Employees and Kauai Community FCU. Making me feel shame for them but if they know all this and still support them shame, shame, shame!<br /><br />I sure hope all the schools don't support KIFB too because you're teaching kids to support a dishonest food bank. Principals and Kauai Superintendent Arakaki please do the right thing for once. You already have the school lunch issue, don't let KIFB bring you some bad vibes too<br /><br />Peace Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-36689453271303859312014-11-02T08:55:15.968-10:002014-11-02T08:55:15.968-10:00We wouldn't need any food banks if the current...We wouldn't need any food banks if the current "Rulers" of the government would allow business to thrive and jobs to be created but they are on a mission to create a permanent "underclass" of dependent voters. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-58997845531648881402014-11-02T06:55:38.646-10:002014-11-02T06:55:38.646-10:00Yes, all food left at the fire stations goes to KI...Yes, all food left at the fire stations goes to KIFB. <br /><br />You can donate non-perishable food items to the legit Hawaii Foodbank Kauai branch at their warehouse, 4241-A Hanahao Place, just up the block from Mark's Place in the Puhi Industrial Park. Or call them at 482-2224 M-F to schedule a pick up or conduct a food drive.Joan Conrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-74114341348184592332014-11-02T06:17:49.484-10:002014-11-02T06:17:49.484-10:00So the island-wide "leave your non-perishable...So the island-wide "leave your non-perishable food donations at any fire station" program, sends all those donations to KIFB?<br /><br />Egad...shame on our County!!<br /><br />How can we make donations of non-perishable food to KFB instead?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-85618608989820531312014-11-02T05:31:39.774-10:002014-11-02T05:31:39.774-10:006:19 -- I know denial runs deep, but the documents...6:19 -- I know denial runs deep, but the documents aren't fabricated. I have many more, and the repayment letter from the state is a public record.<br /><br />Irk, thanks for the links. I'd forgotten about the Bob Jones columns.<br /><br />And 9:29, in defense of Justin Kollar, he actually did get the Lihue Rotary Club to donate to the HFB-Kauai branch for the first time.Joan Conrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-85644493061366522092014-11-01T23:14:06.596-10:002014-11-01T23:14:06.596-10:00i remember way back when bob jones was a tv news a...i remember way back when bob jones was a tv news anchor with kgmb<br />saw this when i was wrapping up the fish guts three summers ago<br /> http://archives.midweek.com/content/columns/justthoughts_article/kauai_food_bank_misuses_779000/<br /><br />http://archives.midweek.com/content/columns/justthoughts_article/it_gets_worse_at_kauai_food_bank/<br /><br />http://www.midweek.com/political-views-hawaii/kauai-food-bank-troubles-and-more/irknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-19106879414133725772014-11-01T21:29:09.239-10:002014-11-01T21:29:09.239-10:00Rotary Club - I sure hope you read this. As stron...Rotary Club - I sure hope you read this. As strong supporters of KIFB for many years because Judy was a member, here's your chance to save face. And to the Prosecutor Justin Kollar, I hope this gets your attention and you don't fall victim to the political purgatory they call the Lihue Rotary Club. Grow a pair and tell them what's up Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-7437482769043445602014-11-01T18:19:59.957-10:002014-11-01T18:19:59.957-10:00There is no way that Judy lied or Kelvin continues...There is no way that Judy lied or Kelvin continues to lie, your documents are fabricated and your blog sucksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-56075972223833552792014-11-01T15:27:58.228-10:002014-11-01T15:27:58.228-10:00Yes, they most certainly do!
Lihue Lutheran Chur...Yes, they most certainly do! <br /><br />Lihue Lutheran Church and The Salvation Army are among about 30 certified agencies that get food from Hawaii Foodbank - Kauai Branch. The agencies then distribute it to to the needy through pantries, hot meals and other service programs of their choosing.<br /><br />The HFB-Kauai certified agencies do a tremendous job of serving the hungry.Joan Conrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-46533214092532204692014-11-01T15:12:06.816-10:002014-11-01T15:12:06.816-10:00Regarding church pantries and heavy lifting, I wou...Regarding church pantries and heavy lifting, I would like to add to your summary that when it comes to providing prepared meals, Lihue Lutheran Church and The Salvation Army do a bit of heavy lifting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-56889217914357661442014-11-01T14:58:26.857-10:002014-11-01T14:58:26.857-10:00I tried to told you all back in 2010 on this blog ...I tried to told you all back in 2010 on this blog that KFB (KIFB) was another non profit gone bad on Kauai. Greed has destroyed many and it's the same things that's going on in our county government that's made te county of Kauai go bankrupt. The administration and council finding ways to nickel and dime the citizens through outrageous tax schemes.<br /><br />Yeah so go vote and cheer for your high school friends and family so they can give you non educated county welfare recipients jobs that you sloths are not qualified for.<br /><br />Non profit hahaha all of you Kauai hoohz are Tricks! especially the syndicate slaves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-46837471980956117012014-11-01T14:50:00.369-10:002014-11-01T14:50:00.369-10:00interesting to see Peter Yukimura listed as an Adv...interesting to see Peter Yukimura listed as an Advisory Board member for KFB in 1994 and now he's with HFB. He obviously knows something we don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-41707103401781467812014-11-01T14:18:56.859-10:002014-11-01T14:18:56.859-10:00I sure hope that Mayor Carvalho and the council ar...I sure hope that Mayor Carvalho and the council aren't backing this makeshift bunch of crooks at KIFB. This should be an eye-opener to the voters on Kauai. Thank you Joan for uncovering the truth once again. You've been the only light in the darkness surrounding Kauai and it's dirty laundry. My kid came home with a flyer from the A+ program asking for food donations to benefit KIFB just this week. You can bet that we won't be sending any their way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-46756703974547740742014-11-01T13:37:43.310-10:002014-11-01T13:37:43.310-10:00Yes, it was repaid.Yes, it was repaid.Joan Conrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-84118241649081504822014-11-01T12:55:16.957-10:002014-11-01T12:55:16.957-10:00So what happened with the $779,393? Was it repaid...So what happened with the $779,393? Was it repaid?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-89630385275768709272014-11-01T12:50:33.308-10:002014-11-01T12:50:33.308-10:00I'm guilty, did a food/fund drive at my job fo...I'm guilty, did a food/fund drive at my job for KIFB. Wasn't much but we all felt good thinking they were "Kauai's" foodbank and the bad guys were the other foodbank from Oahu. We fell for the rhetoric being blabbed by Kelvin, and I left after dropping off the donations thinking that the other foodbank was muscling itself into their territory for no good reason other than it could. I even believed that if I had donated to HFB, my money would be used on Oahu instead of Kauai. I asked around and everyone I knew believed the same thing.<br /><br />How f***ing dumb could I have been??? I feel absolutely nauseous now thanks to this post cause I wonder about where my donations went as well as my co-workers. But I'm trying not to beat myself up knowing I've been had but it's kinda hard to swallow thinking that I was advocating for KIFB and i most certainly look like a total idiot to my co-workers and boss now. I feel dirty. In reading Joan's post, I can't believe that politician's like Tokioka were also snowed. You'd think they would have more insight into putting their name/face on an embarrassing entity. Even the county and how their food drive is going to KIFB and not HFB. Pretty disgusting all the way around.<br /><br />Worst yet is KONG Radio and hearing Ron Wiley going on and on about KIFB. He always claims to be honest as can be, but come on, his backing of KIFB makes me think Ron has a screw loose. But like me and most people I know, it wouldn't be far fetched that he believed the lies too. So Ron if you read this, please do the right thing have KONG radio pull all of their ads for KIFB and run some positive stuff about HFB. This would be a start to righting the wrong in this community.<br /><br />So people of Kauai, let's start doing the right thing by supporting Kauai's legitimate food bank. I know I will. But first I must email this blog to all of my co-workers and boss so that they know the truth too. And hopefully I won't be the office idiot cause I didn't know. <br /><br />SO SORRY HFB AND SHAME ON YOU KIFB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-68040990719605347922014-11-01T09:58:26.661-10:002014-11-01T09:58:26.661-10:00DO NOT USE FOR STAFFING OR OVERHEAD COST! That’s n...DO NOT USE FOR STAFFING OR OVERHEAD COST! That’s not confusing!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-70910215919791648432014-10-31T16:40:45.447-10:002014-10-31T16:40:45.447-10:00Were KIFB discrepancies intentional?
Sometimes, re...Were KIFB discrepancies intentional?<br />Sometimes, regulations are confusing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-22740015376115938992014-10-31T14:36:51.943-10:002014-10-31T14:36:51.943-10:00As a former worker for the FB in a pilot program, ...As a former worker for the FB in a pilot program, that took grant funds, I was coerced into leaving said position in favor of someone connected to the then directors political affiliation.<br /><br /> I was also privy to other documents that you don't have and will never see. Mostly, because those went into the lovely shredder that was always constantly humming along upstairs in the Nawiliwili Warehouse.<br /><br />I also remember the rotten food days as well. This time, Joan I have nothing to rag on you for. This time, you are spot on. Took guts to write this post, and will cause lots of huhu. I never wanted to think the director was doing anything wrong. <br /><br />I am pretty shocked at what has happened, and feel embarrassed for my association, and feel used.<br /><br />How about a full expose on the director? Or former director? Or has that one been ad nauseum already? <br /><br />Anyway, this time, no complaints, and I do agree with you. it is great to see you doing these kinds of articles. This reminds me of the kind of reporting you used to do way back in 97 and 98. Absolutely love it.<br /><br />Please write more of these articles! This is the kind of history we need to be educating newcomers about.<br /><br />Costco should donate, and not throw out all of that food!<br /><br />I believe if the county is going with KIFB it is because of political affiliations, I believe it is the Republican wing of the administration. <br /><br />I do know that since the director was a Republican, that most connections were conservative Republicans, and that may be why , or maybe because of the name, Kauai independent Foodbank. I also recall, that Jimmy was also a Republican at that time, I am unsure if he still is, or if he switched to democrat.<br /><br />I would much rather see people getting fresh food, that is healthy for them!<br /><br />I hope to read more about this issue!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-41744973409569997502014-10-31T11:39:18.140-10:002014-10-31T11:39:18.140-10:00Doesn't the County food drive go to KIFB? Do ...Doesn't the County food drive go to KIFB? Do they give to both or only to KIFB? Why?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-44384272747406061402014-10-31T10:09:59.688-10:002014-10-31T10:09:59.688-10:00Thanks for the report today on KIFB. I too am comp...Thanks for the report today on KIFB. I too am completely frustrated at the waste, duplication and bullshit perpetrated by this rogue outfit.<br /><br />Once again people are too gutless to withhold public support.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-48458418928456356992014-10-31T10:01:49.133-10:002014-10-31T10:01:49.133-10:00According to the July 24, 2007 letter from the sta...According to the July 24, 2007 letter from the state Office of Community Services, demanding repayment, the misuse of grant funds was associated with the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. KIFB improperly charged for administrative costs, when only food costs were allowed under the grant, and also marked up its food costs.<br /><br />KIFB was dinged for doing this because it had agreed to comply with all state and federal laws relating to the grant, and it did not.Joan Conrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.com