The Good Places Tax Dollars Go

on April 16, 2014 at 12:01 am

Rev. Alan R. Akana

This week is cause for celebration, as another year of filing taxes has come and gone. By the time this is published, I will have submitted my paperwork, breathed a sigh of relief and perhaps indulged in a glass of champagne. Not because I am now less financially fortunate than I was before, but because it is nice to know that another 365 days will pass before the scramble begins again. Though I’m not a fan of some of the ways our government chooses to spend our hard-earned money, I am supportive of the many positive ways it is distributed: roads, schools, transportation, fire department, clean energy projects and drinkable water. So cheers, everyone, for working together (in this case, possibly begrudgingly) in hope that our money will go a long and beneficial way this year …

Earth Day festivities abound this weekend since the official “holiday” is Tuesday, April 22. Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park host a community workday Saturday (April 19). Volunteers are invited to help make Kamalani Playground and Lydgate Beach Park a better place through various activities such as trash pickup. Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, shoes and work gloves, and meet at 7:30 a.m. at Kamalani Playground to register. Lunch and treats will be provided. Visit kamalani.org for more information …

The fourth annual Earth Day Rising festival is happening this weekend on the beach at Waipa. The family-oriented event includes workshops, music, food and art. Visit https://kauaifestivals.com/festivals/earthday_rising_iv.html for more information …

Easter festivities also are flourishing this weekend. If you’re on the North Shore, consider hopping over to Prince Clubhouse Saturday for an Easter egg hunt at 9 a.m. There also will be picture opportunities with the Easter Bunny for the keiki and tasty treats for the adults atThe Tavern. Visit princeville.com for more information …

Haena to Hanalei 8-mile Run/Walk, 5K Run

Churches across the island also will have Easter commemorations of their own this weekend, including Koloa Union Church, which recently welcomed Rev. Alan R. Akana as its new minister. Originally from California, Akana has many connections to Kauai, including serving as treasurer of the Iniki Disaster Response Task Force for the Hawaii Council of Churches in the early 1990s. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Westmont College, and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary …

Kauai Lagoons Golf Club recently welcomed Paul Ito to serve as its new director of golf operations. Ito worked as director of Puakea Golf Course in Lihue from 2004 to 2010. He is a graduate of University of Washington and has been a PGA professional since 2002 …

The 34th annual Haena to Hanalei 8-mile Run/Walk, 5K Run and One-mile Youth Run are right around the corner, and now is the time to start training. The event, which is Hanalei Canoe Club‘s first major fundraiser of the season, will commence June 7. More than 600 runners and walkers are expected to participate this year. The 8-mile trek will cover a stretch of the highway from Kee Beach to Hanalei. A pancake breakfast will be served to participating athletes during the awards ceremony following the race. The cost is $35 to participate ($45 on the day of the race) and $10 for the Youth Run. Email info@hanaleicanoeclub.org or visit hanaleicanoeclub.org for more information …

A possible threat to nesting birds in Kilauea. Photo from Hob Osterlund

Earlier this year, 25 albatrosses were slaughtered by unleashed dogs on Kauai. I know how hard it must be to keep happy-go-lucky dogs from roaming free, but please consider the vulnerable native wildlife. There is a dog in Kilauea that people in the community are concerned about (see picture) that has been sighted near baby albatrosses. Please call Nicki Pignoli at 828-6109 if you see this dog …

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The Good Places Tax Dollars Go

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