9th Life Hawai‘i
Kitty Of The Week

BLAZE

Blaze (pictured with Leo, an adult orange cat who is our goodwill ambassador and helps settle in new arrivals) is about six months old. He was born feral, but is almost completely tamed. He’s still shy, but like all kittens, he is quite lovable. Blaze needs a special, quiet, understanding home. Someone who has previously tamed kitties or worked with very shy kitties would be the perfect match.

9th Life Hawai‘i is a non-profit, non-kill 501C3 organization dedicated to the protection of homeless cats on Maui. To adopt a cat, donate, or volunteer please call Phyllis Tavares at 572-3499 or visit online at www.9thlifehawaii.org.

Did Tavares Set Up Other Councilmembers?

A recent Maui News on-line poll ask readers what they think about A&B, Inc., having dinner with “five” councilmembers. Not surprisingly, over fifty-percent of those responding think the Maui News has tried to make something of nothing. Barely seventeen-percent believe there’s a sunshine law violation.
The real question is – who called Valerie Monson and told her to be at Mama’s restaurant to report on this Front Page event. Let’s do the math: Six councilmembers were allegedly invited. Three were not, and probably didn’t even know of the dinner. Of the six invited, only Charmaine Tavares – who’s running for mayor – doesn’t show up.
So, did Ms. Tavares set up the other five councilmembers for her own political gain? Sounds like a set-up to me.

David “Kimo” T.
Upcountry

The fact that Dain (rhymes with pain) Kane has declared he is running for the office of mayor comes as no surprise. However, the possibility that he might be elected should strike unlimited terror in the heart of any citizen who cares about Maui or integrity.
In twenty-five years of being active in Maui politics, I have never seen a mayoral candidate more arrogant or more disinterested in Maui, the environment, the quality of life of the citizens or our concerns. In the eight years that Kane has been in office, I don’t believe I have seen him at more than two public or community functions outside of council meetings.
Kane is a fanatical non-volunteer. He does not believe in volunteering or volunteers. He has no heart or compassion. If you want to get his attention or support in council matters, cross his palm with cash.
However, in the next six months you will see a new Dain Kane – dedicated, kind, sweet, considerate, voracious volunteer, lover of children, protector of the elderly, environmental hero, advocate of animals, champion of the common citizen, everybody’s best friend. You will find him at every community meeting, praising all the hard-working volunteers, attesting to how much he values their dedication and opinions.
Sadly, many people will be fooled by this remarkable transformation and unfortunately, in this country, we have a tendency to elect the cutest liar.
If Kane’s relationship with Alan Arakawa over the past four years is any measure, this election is going to be nasty. Please make sure your voter registration is accurate. Call the county clerk at 270-7749 to check.

Buck Joiner
Kihei

Upcountry Water Situation Likened To Plane Crash

“The waterborne-disease outbreak that occurred in Milwaukee, Wis., in spring 1993 made national news because of the number of people who got sick — about 400,000 — and because of the number of deaths — about 100. The organism that cause the problem is called Cryptosporidium, an intestinal protozoa. One investigator likened the Milwaukee situation to a plane crash, an accident in an otherwise safe industry caused by a combination of unlikely events. Just as something can go wrong with an airplane, something went wrong in Milwaukee" This excerpt is from Plain Talk about Drinking Water by Dr. James M. Symons published by the AWWA 1997.
Usually what goes wrong in aviation is attributed to pilot error, and the Air Ambulance seemed to circle three times over Kahului in confusion, probably looking for a place to set down the evidently disabled craft, but in the dark this was difficult. In our present water challenge on Maui, especially in the upcountry, we have experienced much confusion and really still do, as Marc Edwards pointed out that we are on the cutting edge of science and medicine here, and may not understand all. When the experts disagree we have entered into what the Chinese call 'interesting times'. Though I have problems with some of the analysis and some of the recommendations, I do believe that we are at least on the same page, and hope that our leadership are as well. For example it is not the ingestion of bacteria that makes one ill but the toxins they secrete which may still be around even after their death, as in the case of salmonella at picnics which illustrates my feelings about the slime, the biofilm still present in parts of the system. Toma Craig keeps reminding us that there are other methods of disinfection, beyond the chlorine and its powerful lobby. Why do the Europeans dislike it, you must ask yourself. I am also concerned that disinfection may not reach all the nooks and crannies, and further if chlorine is used it will create the unfortunate disinfection byproducts, triggering an EPA action level. Plant filtration would seem to be the first obvious step to eliminate the dirt we call organic carbon, and if the Council and Mayor are motivated, it could be implemented sooner rather than later. Meanwhile we have all learned valuable information and must take our job seriously, which is to communicate and educate the people. That we get their attention would seem to be essential, and perhaps our coincidental timing with the crash of the Air Ambulance, literally a warning from above. It is the exception that proves the rule.

Richard Brush
Kula