Okay, I definitely don't represent anybody but myself, but I am very sorry for this.

Although I did not have anything to do with the towing of the car, I was impressed that somebody who was himself so strapped for cash paid money out of his own pocket to get the vehicle professionally towed out . Unfortunately, during the towing efforts, the vehicle got stuck in the mud, blocking a commonly used access route, and then I don't know exactly what happened. What I heard-- second or third hand-- is that the tow company gave their word that they would come back for the vehicle and tow it out later, when the road conditions improved. But by the time they did, somebody else had already moved the vehicle back to the spot where it had been originally towed from! But I do understand the tow company did fulfill their promise and got the vehicle out once and for all.

So, what I do know is there was more than one party pushing and pulling the vehicle around. I'm very sorry for any private property infringement, and that the vehicle blocked an access route for as long as it did, and, again speaking for myself only, I learned a huge lesson from this whole disaster. This has proven once again the old adage that the way to hell is paved with good intentions. It also goes to show that if rainbow is to continue on this island for another year, we need to completely rethink our process, we need to learn to be humble, and to admit our errors, and there were many.

I don't know how to make things right with Chad or anybody else who was involved and felt something was not right. To them I want to say: You are not alone! Even many of us who love rainbow gatherings with all our hearts felt exactly the same way. This year was blighted by heedlessness and recklessness, and at points-- speaking only for myself again-- I was embarrassed to have anything at all to do with the Hawai'i Rainbow Family.

We will talk about all of this at our next council, and I will pass on Chad's message.

Aloha,
Benjamin