AWESOMERON

04-10-2007, 5:47 PM

My problem is not so much the keiki, it is a Society that has spawned a Social Service Ststem, that does not consider Homelessness to be child abuse. A Social Service System that if the keiki are pulled for other reason, when those reasons are resolved or at least appear to be somewhat resolved that the workers for that Social Service System will return those keiki to their parents that live on the Beach. I am dead set against Abortion. Abortion is Murder in the 1st Degree. I am 100% in favor of Birth Control and Education. The U.S. Goverment provides a level of subsistence, Wick, Food Stamps, Classes, Daycare, Help with housing. This provides a level of exsistence, and for many people that appears to be enough. If you want an Education and you want it bad enough you stay in school. If you have an Education at least a 2 year degree then you open doors to a better life. I know of many single mothers that did that through Heald College. In most cases family helped but in some cases not so much. There is always LCC and WCC. For some the structure of Heald made all the difference. Kawamoto's Kahala Homes helped some of the poor. Some people just cannot get over that!!!!You may not be able to help all the people but that does not stop you from helping some.

Po'ohala "To carry on Ohana, Virtues and Skills" "Its not about how often you fall down. Its about how often you get back up." 2007 "Application of your faith will change your life"

Cutchase64

04-09-2007, 2:04 PM

eftienne: overpopulation? I agree. This issue, in my opinion, sidestepped the benefits to the 20 plus kids formerly living as homeless (at one time). Kawamoto as suspect became the issue. As mentioned- getting the kids "out of the burning bldg." NOW is the issue...not whether they are or were "illegal aliens( figure of speech alluding to Bill O'Reilley's irrelevent gaffe).

eftienne

04-07-2007, 12:23 PM

I am amazed at how this discussion has evolved over the past few weeks. After reading all of the post, something has occurred to me. . . maybe we, as a society should just stop multiplying so quickly. That term "it's all about the kids" really bothers me, it's just sooo EASY! Is it really about the kids? I hear so many people say "I want to have kids". I WANT TO HAVE. (sounds a little selfish to me) Think about that one for a moment. And can you elaborate on that? Because I see a lot of parents out there who don't have the time, finances, know how, or desire to really raise their children to be respectable contributors to society.

We are running out of space and time, but what's even scarier is the alarming rate we are running out of natural recourses. We are consuming faster than nature can produce. And why? for the most part because we Americans are greedy. and the other reason. . . I WANNA HAVE KIDS! waaaahhh!! Why? what do you have to offer them? A place that is choked to the gills with people? What happens to wild animals when they're crammed into a small place? they freak out. We're reaching critical mass people, just look outside your door on a weekday morning and look at that traffic. And to get back to the topic of homelessness, just not enough to go around. It's getting worse ya'll. If its 'all about the kids', why would you want to subject them to that kind of future?

take responsibility for your life

AWESOMERON

04-05-2007, 12:31 AM

Cutchase64: The Detractors, will use any excuse to keep progress from being made. They do not want the problem solved. Even those on the side of the Homeless, like to point to what little has been done and rub themselfs all over and feel all good. The Wife, daughter and I went to Plantation for Lunch, I like to go there not so much for the food but for he Special O people that work as servers and other staff. After ward we went out to Camp Edmon and then to the end of the Island. It was strange the ocean being on the right while going west. Very little Homeless action in that area some yes, perhaps enough to keep people from wanting to use the beach but not nearly as much as on the Westside even after the supposed clean up. 7.2 miles from the end of the Island to the nearest Bus Stop. I also saw plenty of open land. Land that can be developed into affordable housing if the will to build it was there. However the will to build or put in place trailer parks etc, is not there. The Military seems to be able to build affordable housing. I see it being built. I saw where my daughter and her E3 husband (BCD,out now but doing well as a long haul trucker),lived when they where stationed in Hawaii, a nice little two bedroom townhouse, not huge but big enough for 3 or 4 people. Its hooked in with several other two or three bedroom townhouses in a ticky, tacky development, but in the Military everything is more or less supposed to look the same anyhow and if it makes it affordable to live in Hawaii that way then so be it. The Military also has small parks and open spaces. Developers went to build $600,000 plus homes and just build a few affordable ones if any, we will never catch up that way. The poor are just priced out of the market and few care what happens to them. A very successful working class friend of mine was going to buy a house and at closing the developer wanted $30,000 more then the assesed value. So my friend moved to Provo, Utah and then to Las Vegas, he has a nice home on the edge of Vegas and is mostly happy. Had he stayed he would be priced out, in debt up to his neck or living with relatives. Why? is there affordable housing in Vegas, 1.Land, 2. Smaller profit but you build on the volume, make people able to buy. Why? Is there affordable housing in Phoenix. 1. John F. Long and then others built it. We have the land, if we can build $1 millon dollar homes, with Golf Courses, then we can build affordable homes and trailer parks. The fear of H'canes is Bull Poop, from Bull Poop artists.

Po'ohala "To carry on Ohana, Virtues and Skills" "Its not about how often you fall down. Its about how often you get back up." 2007 "Application of your faith will change your life"

Cutchase64

04-04-2007, 5:28 PM

No, Awesomeron, I thank you for drilling home the point that it's about the welfare of the kids who were taken from an obviously traumatizing environment that makes Kawamoto's gesture a good one.

If hundreds despise his ruthless tactics in past business, that's another issue.

Of course it would be nice if more could be done for all, but I'd settle for this at the moment.

The detractors propose what? Hey big shot, leave the kids where they are. It's all or nothing.

Cutchase64

03-29-2007, 8:47 AM

I was disappointed in the columnist. Shapiro (whom most times I enjoy for his candor) who dissed Kawamoto and proposed he had a grudge from former hassles? That could be true but again, he was not soley responsible for the 80's bubble. Can you blame the sellers who took the money and ran? Ez for someone to say that another should continue to struggle, while the critic may be in a more stable position.

Frankly, at that time (not much equity built up) I might have done the same if offered a great price and would have used the equity to re-inject it into the island economy through my business.

Villifying Kawamoto seems like leftover "J-Bashing."

The US makes the rules for foriegn real estate investment, whether it's wealthy Canadians, Aussies, Chinese, Japanese...if it leaves us too vulnerable, we should change those rules.

There exists a classic,(beyond the reach of locals)gated style community on Kauai that seems the most detrimental to an island image I can think of.

kivismom

03-28-2007, 5:37 AM

TOASTT!!! Why are you so worried? If they should leave that house, which I hope they never do, atleast they lived in it! I believe that because people, white people, are so jealous and racist, those Hawaiian families will be there forever!!! They'll pass that beautiful mansion on to their beautiful children for generations to come, simply because you guys hate it!!!!

AWESOMERON

03-27-2007, 11:14 PM

Thank you Cutchase 64. It is Mr. Kawamoto's Property and he can rent the property to who he wants to rent it to. Now the adults and Keiki may encounter some problems, and it will not be easy for them. They may also be watched by the neighbors and evan the slightest violation reported. There are evil people that do not want them there. I do not think that they will destroy the neighborhood, or considering the market and houseing shortage the market value of property. There can be little or no uppermiddle class white/asian/educated flight as there is no where to fly to. Kick back accept the social status mix and help out where and if you can. I hope the Adults are wise and keep what ever agreements that they made with Mr. Kawamoto. I am sure that there will be pressure from others to allow more people to stay then are allowed to. If it was my house it would be both Dry and Smoke Free, as well as Pet Free. A certain amount of restrictions make things easy to manage and allows for the tenent to say No. I always tell my Keiki if you have trouble saying no then just say your mom and dad won't let you, and leave it at that. A landlord can rent his property to whom ever they want at what ever price they want to charge. As long as they pay the taxes on the assested value of the property. Which in this case unless Kawamoto has a loop hole, the program of his is costing him money. However he would have to pay the taxes regardless.

Po'ohala "To carry on Ohana, Virtues and Skills" "Its not about how often you fall down. Its about how often you get back up." 2007 "Application of your faith will change your life"

Cutchase64

03-27-2007, 2:14 AM

Good point about kids being the priority, Awesomeron. Who could argue against that?

Added note towards neighbors who are overly defensive towards their new neighbors:

In the words of David Letterman emoting towards Bill O'Reilley as Bill took a hard line against Cindy Sheehan (Mother of son killed in Iraq):

"For God's Sake, Man!!! Have you no sense of Compassion!!!"

AWESOMERON

03-25-2007, 3:17 PM

I really do not care what his motives are!!! 3 families that where in the street or in shelters, are now in homes. Several Keiki that where in the street, on the Beach, or in shelters, are now in homes. They are for the time being safe from, explotation, molestation, and might be able to go to school and learn somthing and catch up or keep up with their grade level. To the neighbors that do not like it. Shame on you!!! I live in Waianae, they just opened a 300 person shelter less then a mile from my very nice upscale home. I no complain, I smile and invite people to Church. It is wrong in America for keiki to live in the street or on the Beach. I went to the Fields Open and there is a great big open field/parking lot that is real close to existing sewer/water lines that would hold about a 100 or so FEMA Trailers real nice. I believe that Homelessness in Hawaii is at a Crisis Stage and the FEDS need to step in and help out. Trailer Parks on Pinnaple Land, relocation to the mainland. If we export our Inmates, why not our Homeless? I just drove towards North Shore, lots and lots of open space, make good homes. Keiki go to school, Parents learn jobs. Not having Trailers because of H'canes very poor excuse. Florida is full of Trailer Parks, W/T and Upscale, lots of KOA's and Trailer Camp Sites. No Fear, H'Canes, if destroyed which is unlikely then rebuild. We can solve the problem it is that the people in charge do not want to solve the problem. Except a little bit show and tell. They rather keep the status the way it is, however the way it is is vastly unexceptable.

Po'ohala "To carry on Ohana, Virtues and Skills" "Its not about how often you fall down. Its about how often you get back up." 2007 "Application of your faith will change your life"