November 20, 2004

News Bits For This Week

Hilo Bay from 4 mile turn out Mamaaloa Hwy 

Ive not done a peice like this in a while, but I thought that you might find it interesting to read about what is going on one different islands and in different cities here in Hawaii so here are a few news briefs

From Maui... Can Paradise be loved to death? I think so and I am viewing the destruction here on the Big Island everyday. But even in protected spaces like our national parks things are getting way too crowded. I saw this at Yosemite, Denali, and at the Grand Canyon, where access has had to be restricted to preserve a fragile ecosystem, read about Haleakala here thanks to the Maui News for this one!

From Kauaii... Trouble in Paradise? For years we here in Hawaii have complained and been concerned that air travel is the only way to get between each island.At nearly 100.00 per ticket its too expensive for families to visit and for firms that must send employees back and forth... not to mention that nearly all serious medical care is done on Oahu, paitents are flying back and forth. With 9-11, the two airlines that serve us interisland nearly went bankrupt, so this is a very serious issue. We dont have a ferry system like most island nations and need one badly. Our Gov. Linda Lingle made this one of her campaign promises to at least get a ferry system going if not fully operational by the end of her first term and Mercy me shes done it. The ships are in production, and will start plying the waters between the islands by 2006. We were really looking forward to this as you could take your car between islands and two people for about 200.00 total round trip... But those that stand in the way of progress are ever at our door. Read this article from the Kauaii Island Journal, mahalo KIJ!

From East Hawaii...WE really are two sides to one island. Hula and the Hawaiian language are a cultural phenom in Japan where Hula "Halau" or schools are springing up everywhere. This total emmersion week of classes took place accross the street from us at Resturant Kaikodo.I actually had some of these ladies in the shop yesterday they were very nice, and seemed to be having a wonderful time. Read more about this here... Thanks to the East Hawaii Tribune Herald for this article

From West Hawaii... I think that everywhere in the country, there seems to be a major legal case going on the subject of land use, emmenant domain, public good vs property rights in development. Here in Hawaii over the last five years, huge tracts of land that were once used strictly for agriculture, or were part of the Sceeded Lands, (land surrendered by the deposed Queen Lilioukalani, when Hawaii was seized by the US government, supposidly to "protect"her legacy but really to control Hawaii,)are being turned over and rezoned for residential developement. I cannot begin to discribe what I have seen in the last three years, the clearing, grading and building that is goin on here seemingly with very little thought to the longterm effects on a fragile enviroment and a total lack of infrastructure. That being said I am a firm believer that if you own the land you have a right to do as you please with it as long as you are with in the laws of the land and zoning. the Hokulia Project is a development project that I think will be a watershed for developement here on the Big Island. I include it in this post as I hope to write more on this. Over a hundred homesites have been sold for nearly 80 million dollars, a golf course has been built already and the runoff is polluting one of the worlds most beautiful coastal areas. This area is rich in cultural and archalogical sites for the Native Hawaiians and there are many questions on how these sensitive sites are being handled. On the other hand, If this was such a big deal why was it approved in the first place, 20 years ago? This area is near to the place where Captain James Cook frist landed in the Hawaiian Islands and the controversy continues since that time, Progress or Paradise seems that you cant have both, read more here...

I have a few more islands but I think this is enough for one day Aloha and A Hui Hou