WE'VE STOOPED TO A NEW LOW

[Gov. Linda Lingle says she has no regrets about going to Kauai to face protesters and demonstrators opposing the restart of the Hawaii Superferry, adding that the reception was far from polite.

Lingle told reporters yesterday that she had "never experienced the level of rudeness" as she did appearing before a largely hostile crowd of 1,000 at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Center Thursday. Members of Lingle's staff said besides boos and jeering, members of the audience cursed Lingle and shouted obscenities at her.

"I have been going to public hearings for 25 years, but I have never seen the personal rudeness that went on not just against people who were there to share information, but to their own fellow residents," Lingle said.]

I can understand being passionate about one's agenda, but lack of common decency and civility as displayed by some of Kauai's citizens, is shameful. Disagreeing is one thing, but shouting obscenities at the governor is a new low for Hawaii's people. Behavior like this makes it obvious that Hawaii's "Aloha Spirit" is declining on a daily basis, and it's getting to the point that the only thing that keeps me glued to this "rock" is the great weather it offers. That and the stew and rice plate lunch along with some really good neighbors.