Activist and single mom living on the island of Kaua'i, political,social,environmental,cultural issues. Heads up on protests, events,and issues. Copyright (c)Anne Punohu,2009,2010 Updated frequently.
BLOG FEATURED AT:
blogarama.com
Here are the websites of these fine candidates. Please cast your vote in the direction of these Kaua'i residents, who for me, have demonstrated the worthiness to sit on the council.
Why am I endorsing these three candidates? I do not give out my endorsements easily. I have specific criteria. One of them is that they have to have an even personality, a calm demeaner, without appearing cold, and they have to have roots to this island in some way. Another criteria I have is flipping and flopping. I do not like wishy washy candidates, who copy opthers rhetoric, or talk about the great "I am", or have a pompous attitude, or who do not listen to other peoples ideas even though they may make sense, but conflict with their own. I do not like candidates who cause dissension and disharmony and who try to take the credit for everything, and act like spoiled Divas on the council.
For me, Derek, as a freshman Council member has behaved admirably well,. He has not displayed any of the red flag behaviors I have seen others display when on the council that would point to a bad policy maker. He has done excellently well, and he is fair and balanced. He can disagree with you without making you feel like you are beneath him or not as good as he is. Others, sad to say display extrfmely pompous behavior, and think only they have the good ideas, and yours are really worth nothing. That is why DEREK KAWAKAMI is getting my vote.
Kipukai for me, is a no brainer to be on the council. Besides carrying one of the most noble names on our island, and being a direct lineal descendents of one of the highest Pio Lines Ali'i Mo'i of our island, (King) by the name of Kuali'i, who in history actually has the credit of being the first to actually unite the islands BEFORE Kamehameha did it, Kipukai has all of the birthright of his famous ancestor, and truly is an ali'i in the old style of the word.
He is highly intelligent, exceptionally even tempered, and listens to others opinions. He actually attends important meetings and has spoken out on the issues and does not have a pompous bone in his body. He treats everyone with respect, and does not mock poeple or raise his voice to people or try to shut them down when they may express an opposing viewpoint. I see Kipukai as someone who truly can work with everyone, and still create legislation that will actually be for the good of Kauais people.
Nadine is a fresh female face for the council which we sorely need with the evacuation of Lani Kawahara on the council. Although the council chambers has had a hard time keeping its female council members inside it, I believe that Nadine is finally the fresh face that can take the heat in the council chambers and keep at it for as long as the voters are willing to keep her there. She has an exemplary history and is even tempered an not pompous or a Diva in any way. She has a vast store of knowledge and is an empathetic person. She is not wishy washy, or a flip flop. She is confident without being stuck up. I support Nadine whole heartedly.
So please, give these fresh and deserving faces an opportunity to truly serve the people of Kauai.
With the flurry of public debate, and my relentless fight to attempt to get someone to listen to the actual housing residents, it has been my biggest problem to find poeple willing to speak out. WHy? From the exact fear, you hear echoed in these and other articles. I for one do not fear speaking out. But many others do. Perhaps it is becasue on Kauai we have a very good management team here that is empathetic, takes calls about repair issues, fixes them promptly as best as they can, and the office staff is kind and considerate.
But in other parts of this state, that is obviousely NOT the case. When it comes to repairs, we, in our housing complex are currently awaiting a new sewer system to fix the one that has been backlogging and causing a horrible stench now for ovwer a year, backflowing into our yards. We have 2an entire building that is boarded up and uninhabitable, as well as another 2 bedroom unit. Since we only have 8 units here, it is very noticeable. We have heard that these units will be getting repaired soon. People have been here, looking at it, and we are hopeful that those units will soon have families in them, since the building has 2 four bedroom units and can accommodate 2 large families.
The plan to evict law abiding, rule following and good tenants is for one thing, more then likely unconstitutional, and as I continue my quest for an attorney to represent us should that happen for a class action lawsuit more then likely very expensive for the state. I plan on contacting Sean Donovan's office, hopefully my last name (maiden) might help since it is the same as his, and we can get some dialogue going on this.
Public housing is currently the ONLY permanent housing solution for Hawaii residents who sincerely cannot afford more then 30 percvent of their incomes. Besides some minimal county projects, this is it. So, if you evict people who have been there for years, because there IS NO OTHER OPTION, not because they are "lazy, and need a wake up call, and need to go back to the beach to wake themselves up", a more or less direct quote from the rogue Democrat Representative Cabanilla. you are asking for the state to potentially be paying out millions of dollars in legal fees and restitution to those possibly slated to be evicted.
This is trul;y the states negligence, the real estate industries greed, and the legislature and the governors short sightedness on the true housing issues in this state.
While they have waxed blossomed cheeked over their apperent "triumphs" of so called "affordable housing", and so called "gap housing" for the middle class, the truly suffering have really had no options. As I have said time and time again, these are single mothers with kids, who just can't make it out there in the housing market who need a roof over their kids heads, so they are following the rules, keeping their hyeads down and trying to be good tenants so they can stay year after year in order to raise their children.
As to any idiotic fools who think that anyone in housing gets a free ride, you have to pay rent to live in public housing, as well as pay utility costs as well. SO what in the heck are you talmking about? The general public seems blind to the fact that the residents of public housing are elderly, disabled, and the WORKING poor, many si9ngle parents. Where would you like them to go? On the streets? As a punishment for WHAT exactly? The crime of being elderly? The crime of being disabled? The crlime of being single, working poor parents of children? This is somehow a crime punishable by eviction? You want top put these people out on the sreet to put in the homeless that are on the street now? So they can liove there another 10 yhears or so, while you still WHINE about the homeless on the street? Does anyone else think this is ludicrous, preposterous, and also might I add unconstitutional and defendable in a court of law, where the outcome is state=0, evicted residents of public housing =one million per ?
Use your heads, and get a grip. Shaun, my freind, I got ya on speed dial. Talk to ya on Monday!!
SO Much for the "Homeless are all mainland good for nothings argument". How many times can I say this ad nauseum? How long can I keep saying shame, and hewa!! When will anyone listen?!?
So, all of you know how extensively I have been trying to educate people on the fact that the state has plans to EVICT LAW ABIDING HOUSING RESIDENTS, to put in the homeless there are now, to just replace these homeless with others who have done NOTHING TO DESERVE IT!!
The HAWAIIANS ALL DESERVE A PEICE OF LAND AND A HOUSE. Period. End of conversation. FOr everyone else, there needs to be LOW INCOME AND VERY LOW INCOME HOUSING BUILD IMMEDIATELY!!
The Red Cross should step in. Guess why they can't? The REd Cross can only come in if government officials ask them too.
This entire state should be declared a state of disaster. This needs to end. The people have had it. This is the most inhumane thing I have ever seen. It is beyond comprehension!! I can't even type anymore. I am just too disgusted.
So, I f you haven't guessed yet, as I write on this topic and advocate for fair and equitable housing ad nauseum and no one really listens to me, I will of course be repeating myself.
I have recently met some people, who are responsible hard working people. One is a mom with three kids. The other is a professional woman. Both have degrees. Both are articulate, intelligent, have no vices, such as drinking, drugs, or questionable behavior, and no mental illnesses. They are perfectly deserving of a decent job and decent housing.
However, neither can find that. They are houseless not homeless. They are part of the much larger numbers of people that do not have a tent parked at the beach. They stay with friends, or live in other peoples back yards, wherever they can go. The word has gone out about a 500 dollar dine for sleeping oin your car, and the rousting of people from beaches. People are clearly terrified. No one wants to step forward. People do not even tell other people that they are actually homeless.
Many poeple on o0ur island, get up get dressed, get their kids off to school, go to work, pick up their kids, and then its a struggle to get through the night. It is more expensive to be on the street. You cant always cook for yourself, you use more gas in your car, and getting a hot shower can also be a problem.
(f you are working, shelter hours here on Kauai are a nightmare. You have to check in by 4 pm. Many cant go there, because of the geographical location of the shelter, being in Lihue. The gas money alone, if you are trying to save up for a rental is hard if you are working in Kapaa, the North Shore, or the South Side. The shelter here is very good. However we need more very low income housing. And quick.
On Oahu, its an epidemic proportions. I know many families there that are homeless. I guess on Oahu there must be an influx of the severely mentally ill, and druggies and others, but i also know there are a significant number of houseless, and families.
The problem is there is no permanent housing here that they can afford. The solution, accodording to some law makers, is to push out existing families out of public housing that have been living their in their opinion for too long, and have extended family members living with them.
This is their solution. Kick out one group of people, who have been following the rules and paying their rents for years, and make them homeless, so that these other homeless can get into housing, and off the street.
WOW. Now THERE is an intelligent solution!~! NOT!!
That solution woujld also cause a flurry of lawsuits. Forget flurry. Try avalanche Can anyone say the words "unconstitutional?" If anyone else had been renting in the private sector, and been a longstanding teneat, would we say to them, "Hey you have been paying your rent and following the rules here long enough!. Its time to get on with your life and get another rental you lazy worthless bum!". Would we say that? Nope.
However, that is exactly what some state legislators are planning come January. Some of them think, rather insanely, that public housing residents are somehow now a worse scurge against hum,anity than the homeless they often treat like wild, untamed animals. Now its the public housing residents that are the terrible, lazy bums. Even though most families are law abiding, pay their rents and follow the rules. What sort of a farce of a government says "Hey lets kick out the public housing residents, so we can stuff these guys in there and put those guys out on the street."
A lot of public housing residents work, and have children. If you evict public housing residents, arbitrarily, after deciding how many years is "too long" to live in public housing, which is by the way labeled as "permanent housing", and NOT as a "temporary housing, or shelter", then you are essentially putting a lot of working class and the working poor on the beaches. Which they are not allowed to stay at. Which will put them back in a homeless shelter. So they can wait to get back into public housing.
Yeah thats a really good solution. makes a hell of a lot of sense. NOT.
The only solution, is to do a few things:
1. Residency policy for social services.
2, Immediately construct more low and extremely low housing facilities.
3. Fix up the units that are empty all over public housing, and get them occupied.
4. Rent control., and new laws to cap what people can charge for rental units in this state, based on 30 percent income.
5. NEWw laws that state that if you re coming here to do business and hire employees, then you m,ust put into a worker housing fund to provide low uiincoime and extreme low income housing in this state. (Oh people will scream about that one!) I don't care.
If I was in government, these are the steps I would take.
Give me one acre of land, I could do a LOT of agriculture on it.
But then, ag lands do not go to people like me, who can actually farm, know what to plant and where and how to ammend the soil and make things grow.
It goes to rich greedy fake so called "farmers", who come here, don't know what the heck they are doing, fail, and then cry and moan that they HAVE to have a vacation rental, or they can not possibly make it!!
What a ridiculous, unfair farce.
The worst thing is when the council whines they don't know what agriculture is and they are trying to figure out how to define it. That's like saying they don't know how to eat, or walk, or stand upright, and they have to define it.
It reminds me of the ridiculous debates a few years ago about what constitutes an "environmentalist", regarding the seat on the planning commission that states there must be a representative from enviromental interests on the planning commission.
Its the same thing. Some people said, well I know which bin to put cardboard in, and I drop off my cardboard at the recycling center. Therefore, I have been active in the enviromental community and know enough to represent that seat on the commission." That was what some people were actually saying, I am not kidding you.
The same theory is now being applied to agriculture. "Well I have plants on my land, so I am a farmer. See all this grass?".
I just cannot tell you how totally p.o.'d that kind of very ignorant, and fake stupid "well I dont know I am innocent. Whats agriculture anyway? How do we define it? Lets ponder this until after the election. "
I will never forget, at the meeting I had a great conversation with one of the landowners, who actually turned out to be a really great couple.
I mentioned to the wife, that if they paid more attention to doing ag on their land they probably would not even need to supplement their income with the vacation rental, after finding out how much they charged for a room rental.
She agreed but said that the mortgage payments on the house were very high and that is why they needed to rent out rooms, but that if they did do more ag it probably would produce more.
Another issue that I heard, not from this couple whom I actually like, and think they really are pretty sincere poeple, I often here from these "farmers" that they can't sell their crops. Thats ridiculous. People are SCREAMING for Kauai produce. When I mention this, then they say that they can't get a good enough price for it if the market is flooded with certain seasonals.
So I tell people you need to niche market. Do hierlooms. Look at other varieties of crops. Do people listen? Nope. Want to know why?: Its real simple. They will "token farm", and then delight in failing, so they can say see, the land can't produce we cant make it work. SO we need to change the zoning because this ag land is just no good for farming.
That is the most bogus argument there is in this modern agricultural era. There are tons of soil ammendments that are safe, like sunhemp, a natural soil conditioner. Two or in the worst cases three rounds of this crop and you can fix the most depleted soils. A round of liming afterwards, and there is just absolutely no excuse for not being able to get in a crop of anything. A good load of loam from the west side maybe, if you need to, and six inches or organic topsoil tilled in, and you are on your way to a highly productive peice of land. There is NO EXCUSE for not being able to bring in a crop. Especially if land has been fallow for awhile. Everyone knows fallow land is the best for ammending and rejuvination, and will be able to produce well if you take care of your spoils properly.
But all this is a waste of breath. These poeple will do the exact opposite to ensure they DON'T get a good crop or do well. Then they can whine, moan, and complain. THey waste all of the ag lands, they trash them, they do everything wrong, and they are the ones that contribute to the degeneration of our soils and ag lands.
I would like an ordinance where we take the land away from farmers, and give it out to poeple like me who can actually farm. WHo know how to produce food, or to ranch and produce meats, cheeses, or who can grow herbs or medicinals, or who can produce traditional canoe plant crops, or florals that can be used for mass producing leis, such as vanda orchids, and plumerias.Ho0w about growong ipu gourds, and Kauai wauke, and producing real Hawaiian tapa again? how about lauhala groves, and a manyfacturing area, where we can produce lauhala weavinjg from right here on Kauai? How about ulu groves, and the selling of breadfgruit? More taro farming? how about hawaiian medicinal plant farms? How about niche marketing, such as truffles, vineyards, and then wines produced right on kauai? Fruit tree groves, and then the production of jams and jellies from them? What about the numerous varieties of teas, and then the manufacture and packaging right here? What about the fruits which we need to export such as papayas, mangoes, bananas? How about edible gingers, and a host of other hierloom and niche marketing crops? This is what agriculture is.
The guy that said he couldnt grow an orange tree by the ocean, obviousely a mainland transplant does not understand that years ago, in the kalalau valley true farmers came here form the mainland, planted citrus in the kalalau valley, on the ocean, on the coast, with wind and rain, and saltwater, and were able to supply all of California with citrus, including oranges limes and lemons. When I hear this guy complaining he cant grow an orange tree, that just really insults the intelligence of Kauais people. since we know the history of citrus here. In particular the varieties of Ka'u oranges that are adapted to those conditions, the Hawaiian lemon s and limes, ect. So we know the guy is just totally incapable. HE should not have that land. Give it to a real farmer.
The state’s handling of burial sites comes under fire
Joan Conrow
Apr 7, 2010 |
Image: Caren Diamond
Standing atop seven ancient Hawaiian burials, on a lot with at least 24 more, the house that Joe Brescia is building at Naue, on Kauai’s North Shore, has been the focus of protests and prayers, emotional meetings, a stand-off with police, sacred rituals, a months-long vigil and lawsuits — some of them still ongoing.
The house, now nearing completion, has become a powerful symbol of the bitter battle between development and cultural preservation in Hawaii. It’s also exposed serious shortcomings in the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) and come to represent what some see as a deliberate attempt by Gov. Linda Lingle and her administration to undermine and circumvent the Island Burial Councils in order to facilitate development.
These issues came to the forefront on March 8, when SHPD Administrator Pua Aiu overruled a unanimous vote of the Kauai-Niihau Island Burial Council and approved a Burial Treatment Plan for the iwi on Brescia’s lot.
In making the Feb. 11 motion to reject the plan, Council Vice Chairman Keith Yap said that the concrete caps placed over seven of the burials “are not appropriate, and we’re still very much against any kind of building over the graves.”
The Council also expressed reservations about the concept of “vertical buffers,” which references the amount of space between Brescia’s house and the iwi beneath it, and requested details about how his septic system, leachfield and landscaping could impact other burials on the site. Additionally, the Council asked Brescia to disclose his plans for providing access to the iwi by lineal descendants.
When asked why she had approved the Burial Treatment Plan after the Council specifically asked for more information and changes, Aiu replied, “It didn’t need any more revisions.”
Native Hawaiians and members of the preservation community were outraged.
“What SHPD has done is undercut the authority of the Council to protect the burials when they’ve made a decision to preserve in place,” said Dana Naone Hall, former chairwoman of the Maui-Lanai Island Burial Council.
Aiu’s approval marks the first time SHPD has overridden a Burial Council and permitted construction on a previously identified burial site, said Alan Murakami of Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., which is litigating the Brescia case: “They just absolutely caved in response to development pressure. What is the point of having a Burial Council if they can only determine how high or how wide the buffers can be? That’s a huge constriction on the power the Burial Councils previously had.”
Aiu defended her decision, saying that since SHPD is “not allowed to do a taking” of private property, the agency had “very little wiggle room” in attempting to site the house Brescia wanted on a relatively small lot widely dispersed with numerous iwi.
Murakami disputed that contention, saying the state statute does include provisions for acquiring such properties. “It’s an option that nobody wants to explore,” he said.
Aiu said Brescia’s oceanfront parcel was too pricey. “If the state was to spend $2.2 million on that lot, what do we give up? … Other people talked about purchasing the land and weren’t able to find the money.”
Aiu says financial constraints during a period of economic downturn will likely continue to affect the way sites like Brescia’s are handled.
“I unfortunately think this might be a harbinger of things to come because of more pressure on the land, especially to build along the shoreline,” said Aiu. “We will find more burials. There’s a strong sense in the Hawaiian community not to move iwi, but if we can’t prevent construction, that doesn’t leave us with a lot of options.”
“Serious deficiencies”
Iwi advocates agree that pressure is mounting. “We’ve got developers who want the view, the ocean, but they have no respect for the culture and now they even want to disregard the burials,” said Charlie Maxwell, chairman of the Maui-Lanai Burial Council.
But what is the purpose of preservation laws, advocates ask, if the state is unwilling or unable to stop construction on lands with high concentrations of iwi, and the governor’s appointee can overrule the Burial Councils in favor of developers?
“It’s very frustrating to be involved with the burials this long and to have fought for the law and these problems are still continuing,” said Maxwell, who lobbied for state burial protection legislation after some 1,000 iwi were unearthed in 1989 to make way for the Ritz-Carlton resort at Honokahua, Maui.
“After Honokahua, people certainly believed the law that was put in place would actually prevent the kind of thing that is happening now on Kauai, which is essentially building a house on top of a burial ground,” said William Aila, a member of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna ‘O Hawaii Nei, which formed after the Honokahua incident.
Native Hawaiians and members of the historic preservation community say the current troubles are rooted not so much in the law, but in how it’s implemented by SHPD.
That assessment was affirmed by a devastating new report from the National Park Service, which assigned SHPD a “high risk” status that could jeopardize the federal aid that provides half of its funding.
“This action is not taken lightly, and comes only after multiple attempts to help the SHPD correct serious deficiencies identified in audits going back as far as 2002,” wrote National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis in a March 19 letter to Laura Thielen, director of the state Division of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees SHPD.
While the report addressed SHPD’s performance under the federal historic preservation law, it also highlighted systemic failings and a number of “major problems” identified during a July 2009 visit to SHPD offices, including inadequate, untimely and inaccurate reviews of development plans that often confused State and federal historic preservation regulations and indicated “a lack of quality control and management oversight.”
The report found that SHPD’s inventory of surveyed archaeological sites is incomplete, outdated and disorganized, which “could lead to decisions being based on partial information, with detrimental effects to Hawaii’s cultural resources.”
The report further noted that a project to digitize files in order to improve their organization and accessibility “has not been supported by SHPD management and numerous efforts to train current HI SHPD staff have been postponed.”
SHPD also was ordered to develop better procedural standards for conducting surveys of archaeological and historic sites. SHPD critics said this could help stymie agency actions apparently aimed at minimizing the likelihood of finding burials prior to construction, such as directing archaeologists not to dig too deeply and either failing to require archaeological surveys or restricting their scope.
A failure of the state
As a result of taking such a narrow approach, the full extent of burials on a site is often unknown, such as on Brescia’s lot, or discovered after construction begins, as was the case with the General Growth/Whole Foods and Kawaiahao Church projects on Oahu. Under state law, when burials are found “inadvertently,” Burial Council review is not required. Instead, SHPD determines what to do with the iwi, and the Councils have no power to challenge the decisions.
“Appropriate survey and inventory affects mitigation,” Hall said. “Everything is dependent on the backbone of inventory and survey.”
The report frequently referenced problems stemming from insufficient and unqualified staff. While it did not identify Aiu–a former analyst with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and public relations consultant–by name, critics say that both she and her successor, Melanie Chinen, a former policy adviser to Lingle, lack the professional qualifications to lead SHPD.
The report also underscored deficiencies in the areas of public outreach and consultations, agency shortcomings that figured prominently in the Brescia controversy. Following the Burial Council’s April 2008 decision to preserve in place all the iwi on Brescia’s lot, Nancy McMahon, then the state archaeologist on Kauai, approved a treatment plan that sanctioned the use of concrete jackets on seven burials and house construction atop them. The Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. sued, and in a September 2008, Kauai Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe found that McMahon had failed to properly consult with the Council and other interested parties prior to approving “preservation measures” for the project.
“The heart of this case is the failure of the state to follow procedures put in place to protect cultural practitioners, the general public and the rights of landowners,” Watanabe said in ordering McMahon to conduct the required consultations and return to the Council with a revised Burial Treatment Plan. On Oct. 2 and Nov. 6, 2008, McMahon returned to the Council with essentially the same plan she’d approved earlier. The Council rejected it.
Meanwhile, Brescia’s archaeological team, Scientific Consultant Services, had already placed concrete caps on the seven burials, without SHPD’s permission, and the house was being built over them. Watanabe refused to stop the project, but warned Brescia that he was proceeding at his own risk because the Council could approve any number of actions that might affect construction, including removing the concrete burial coverings.
Months went by, McMahon made minor revisions, and on June 4, 2009, draft 11 of the Burial Treatment Plan went to the Council, which deadlocked on a vote to reject it. Shortly thereafter, the Burial Council lost its quorum, and many more months elapsed before Gov. Lingle appointed two new members. All the while, work on the house continued.
At each of the Burial Council meetings, numerous members of the public denounced the BTP and complained that McMahon still had not engaged in the proper consultations. The public similarly opposed the 16th draft that the Council most recently rejected.
In her letter approving that plan, Aiu noted that McMahon had conducted the judge’s required consultations by meeting with three individuals, listening to testimony at Burial Council hearings and reviewing written public comments on the plan.
Hall disagreed that McMahon had gone far enough.
“When you have every individual and organization writing in against it, how can you turn around and approve it? We all know it was political.”
A change in philosophy?
In response to Aiu’s approval of the Burial Treatment Plan, Murakami said he plans to amend one of the claims–that SHPD failed to properly carry out the laws–that has been before Judge Watanabe since the start of litigation two years ago. “The approval could be reversed, but without any practical effect on the building of the house,” he said. “We need to have a ruling. Otherwise I’m sure a developer will make sure it happens again. They will point to Brescia and say, ‘Why can’t you do that for me?’ That’s the danger that I think all the Burial Councils now fear.”
Maxwell concurred. “Whatever happens on Kauai affects us throughout the Islands,” he said, which is why the Maui-Lanai Burial Council voted unanimously last week to write a letter of protest to the governor stating it had “no confidence” in the ability of SHPD, Aiu and McMahon, who is now Aiu’s deputy, “to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Hawaii, especially the iwi.” Other Councils around the state are expected to take similar stances.
Presley Wann, who served two, four-year terms on the Kauai Burial Council, said he emerged from his tenure convinced that state laws need to be radically altered. The Burial Councils, he said, should be consulted at the beginning of the development review process, rather than the end, “when everybody’s all frustrated. That’s why we took a lot of the heat. We need to be involved way ahead of time. As Hawaiians, we know where our burials are.”
Laws governing real estate transactions in the Islands also need to be revamped to include the caveat that “nobody’s guaranteeing you the right to build,” Wann said. Some places, like Brescia’s lot, simply aren’t suited to development.
Aiu said SHPD “would like to be more proactive and do [archaeological] inventories up front in the planning process. But that will take money, time and changes in philosophy.”
Preservation advocates are hopeful that federal pressure on SHPD, and Lingle’s departure from the governor’s office, will usher in positive changes. In the meantime, Hall and Maxwell said it’s important to remember that progress has been made in the 20 years since the state adopted legislation governing the treatment of Hawaiian burials.
“We were happy with the law because before that, in the ’50s, developers would just plow them under, crushing them and take it to the dump,” Maxwell said. “It’s very painful. I’ve cried many times at burial sites, especially when the bones are all crushed. If only people would take care.”
We are the world. This year, as we are driven to our knees, and we fight to rise there is only one thing that will unite us in the battle to keep our dignity. That thing is hope. As we express joy, hope is the enevitable aftermath. We all do have hope. But there is one thing that we must do to have it.
Recognize that we are all part of this world, and interdependent on the salvation and survival of one another.
In our home, Christmas is never about trees, lights or presents. We very rarely have those. We celebrate a spirit that comes from the pausing of the world, if only for the briefest moment to acknowledge something greater than themselves. Each other. Aoha to the world.
Even though my Sarah Palin Bookburning was nmeant to coincide with her trip, and she left early and came back home to Alaska today, I am still going to have the event at Lydgate Park from 9-11 Am bring a downloaded printout of the front cover of her book, and attach it to a book so we can get a pic of you with it. We will then burn it in the lflames, (Not the book, the paper with the bookcover printed on it). Bring something for the potluck, too.
Here is how this breaks down. The Union wanted to increase bus fees. The leg admitted it costs more for gas, employee costs, ect. But lawmakers refused to increase the bus service dues.
This meant the DOE would run out of funds to keep the bus service going. SO the lawmakers said oh well too bad. So now, the bus will not be rinunning past march.
This will force most children to walk to school, if they live a mile and a half from their school. That means on dangerous shoulders on the highways, across places where there are no stoplights, and in the pitch dark at this time of year.
What is the matter with those lazy parents you say? Well, popular to local folklore, Hawaiis parents sometimes work 2 jobs to support their children. They have to get up early for work. Hence the I cant take the kids to school, you will take the school bus.
I was one of those parents. I worked overnight, came home at 6 30 and collapsed. My kids had to learn how to take the school bus.
Not only that, My daughter lives miles from school. We have no Jr High in our area, and next year she starts High School which is even farther away. Encouraging the kids to get off the school bus and onto the county bus service would be disastrous. How are you going to pack 60 kids onto our county buses? You arent.
Do the buses coordinate with the times for school? No. Why? Becasue there are school buses for that. Will the sceduals change? Will the Kauai bus add more buses? HEY TOO BAD THERE ISNT A NICE WALKING BIKE PATH THAT IS SAFE FOR THEM TO GET THE !@ MILES TO SCHOOL< HUH?
Ok to say that I am !*@&#%!&@#% about this is a huge understatement. A phonecall to the governors office from me today got me this response:
"It is the unions fault. We gave them money. They have to figure it out Well, we actually gave them a lot less money so they had to prioritize. Classes, or no classes, school bus or no school bus. It was their choice. We are not going to give them any more money.
Hey Lingle, I hope you enjoy your holiday season WE won't.
KKK I am in there somewhere. But anyways for the last guy that spoke, CAUCASIONS ARE IN THE MAJORITY AND ARE NOT A MINORITY CHECK FACTS BEFORE YOU SPEAK
DO NOT FORGET TO COME OUT TONIGHT> I WILL POST UP THE SECOND MEETING WHEN IT IS ONLINE
In your efforts, I suggest that you continue to explore ways in which it is possible to clearly demonstrate how collaborative efforts should be the way to combine the resources from the public and private sectors to get things done.
From the private sector, the greatest challenge is to "fire people up" to get organized and involved. Too often, the few who will take the time to "speak up" are left in the forefront by standing alone by themselves. The grass roots constituency will say things like "right on", but will not attend meetings or voice their opinions. The groundswell of support with the SuperFerry is an excellent example of how the grassroots constituency CAN and SHOULD make a difference. I would prefer that the swearing and the hostility be minimized, and that those in positions of leadership should set the example of being rational and clear-minded about seeking solutions.
It would be to the advantage of those who wish to protect and preserve our finite natural resources and our cultural heritages by being definitive in offering solution-based approaches over and above being than merely confrontational in addressing the concerns and issues at hand. You, Anne, have retained your passion and eloquence with your abilities to be focused and analytical in assessing the challenges and choices which impact and affect what is precious and priceless in our midst. As you move forward, continue to inspire others to join you in your endeavors.
When I look at this issue, I remember when the burial council believed it might actually have some might and power to stop developments when bones were found, work with developers, educate, and care for the iwi kupuna. It was a noble cause and one that everyone was hopeful about even though it was a state agency.
But again, it has turned into yet another way to divide and conquer Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian interests. It has perpetuated an "us vs them" mentality, while seeming to be yet just another feel good look good rubber stamp to developers who continue to get there way to dig up and pave over the bones of the Hawaiian people.
The most important thing however, that the Brecia incident and situation underscores for me, at least is the PRECEDENT that it is setting, and the actual weakening of the force of burial laws.
The very fact that we are dealing with a state funded entity who must tow the line of the philosophical ideals of whomever is making the appointments in this case the current Governor will never be a commission that is allowed to make an honest appraisal and decision. You can be a dedicated commission member, the same goes with the planning commission, make a decision and go with your heart but for the most part, in a state or government agency whomever and whatever it is you go with whomever butters your bread.
My fear with the Brescia incident is that the precedent that this sets will weaken any other decisions, claims or actions that the burial council will make in the future for any other projects that come up, and the same goes for the planning commission.
Further, when we look at this entity funded by political interests, rather than being an independent and required review board I feel that it is not serving its original intent which was to prevent something just like this from happening.
Developers and landowners know how to sue. It is what they do best. People who objected are also learning how to sue. The most feared word in any county, state or federal attorneys office is the word "sue". That is because you have to use the peoples money to pay for court proceedings, and you need a very strong case to proceed. WIth property rights issue the favored laws tend to run with the landowner so these cases are tough to win in court. It cannot be just public opinion that wins these cases, but clear evidence and a pristine action history by the state, county or federal agency, board or commission involved in any such action. If there was even a hint of something or someone who did not cross the "t's", and dot the "i's" along the way the case would be extremely weak in court even though public sentiment and resentment may run high against a landowner or developer in a case such as this.
It takes that entity to have a backbone and be willing to call the bluff of the "sue-ee" to undermine the intimidation of our county and state governments by those who just automatically say "sue" rather than "compromise", or realize that they have presented something that just will not fly and is totally unnacceptable without having to land up in court to force the issue.
Therefore, this is why Maunakea had to push this issue. The county cannot fight Brecia because he has the almighty power to sue the county, which will take time and cost money and the county is saying they don't have the money to fight Brescia, or maybe even the will to fight him, or the county or the state may not have dotted the "i's and t's" perfectly in this case, and are then vulnerable and they do not feel that their case is strong enough to win in court. This of course angers the public who have a huge issue and want something done as in this case when the iwi was not adequately protected and that was the mandate of the Burial Commission who tried to do their duty but was hampered by technicalities and loopholes and threats of lawsuits.
When we stop being intimidated in this way, when the people can stand up and say go ahead and sue, do your worst but we are not backing down from our position, when we can truly say as commissioners and board members we will show a united front and let them sue, things actually might start to change.
It is the commissioners themselves who are appointed and serve in the voluntary capacity that are given the power and authority to make these decisions.
I have often testified at planning commission meetings two things:
1. You, as commissioners have a lot more power than you think you do, and the attorney is there to advise. In this case, Maunakea had to advise that if you do this, Brescia will sue. The commissioners can show a united front get a backbone and "just say no".
2. Enforcement and the due diligence of properly funding enforcement operations. We continue to make laws that look good on paper, and continue to say to developers you must do A,B,C, or else, and then when they do not comply it is either a slap on the wrist or we give extensions and exceptions and exemptions because we hope they will do the right thing, or we are afraid of a lawsuit if we don't.
When we truly take the power of the people in hand and stop being afraid and intimidated, when we appoint commissioners and board members to positions where there is no conflict of interest, and that will have a backbone then we will see enforcement and the funding for it occur, and the full power of these commissions and boards realized.
Until then, precedents will continue to occur that will weaken their power, and we will continue to be bowed and broken by the word "sue".
Aloha Re:Protest December 10, Mayors Office PRESS INFORMATION, AGENCY AND GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS, INTERESTED GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS.
"The Fourth Alignment"
This is an alternative group being proposed by The La'a 'Aina Coalition in a last ditch attempt to do what is right for both the culture and the environment and the people of Kaua'i.
We believe due to the severe economic downturn that the current owner of the Coco Palms property is actively seeking a motivated buyer. Our group is actively seeking a buyer with both philanthropic interests, an excellent environmental and cultural motivation and a willingness to invest, when partnering with our soon to be formed La'a Aina Foundation.
We will seek to form partnerships and seek one hundred percent private dedicated financing towards the purchase of the Coco Palms property for the express purpose of turning it into a multi use cultural park, education center, Museum/Memorabilia/Activity center, Hula Halau Pavilion, Crafts Pavilion, and picnic/park area with native vegetation and archeological restoration throughout. This would be a gathering place, as well as becoming a prime example of what archeological and cultural restoration looks like when dedicated like minded individuals join in a concerted effort to take back their cultural and environmental assets.
The purpose of The La'a 'AIna Coalition, as the political action committee arm (PAC) is to propose a "Fourth Alignment" for the bike path, which will essentially stop the bike path at either entrance points of the property, then users of the path will enter and traverse a privately funded and maintained trail(IE no State or County Control) that will meander and traverse the property around any and all culturally sensitive areas in a path charted around both structures and burial sites and historical markers.
This solves all problems inherent with using either the Mauka alignment or the makai alignment, although our coalition favors a Mauka alignment, or an absolute break in the path if all else fails. Some of the issues that lead us to seek a path through the middle of the property with a crossing at Kuamo'o, and picking up the trail on the other side and routing it to the canal which will then end up at the "Safeway" alignment and crossing are really inherent on the double jeopardy determination by the Office Of Hawaiian Affairs.
According to the double determination by OHA, essentially what they are saying is that both routes will impede on sensitive cultural areas and burial sites. Therefore the only other two options are a highway alignment, which may be quite risky or a break in the bikepath, which no one wants.
Our proposal, hinging on the land aquisition, will be that the trail will be privately owned, a right of way given for traffic but that the liability will be assumed by the Foundation thus allowing control of the paths construction including width, surface area, signage and rules and regulations regarding its use. The right of way would be strictly for the operating of foot traffic, strollers, wheelchairs, but would more than likely not allow speedy "freeway" style bikeriding through it, but would more than likely require the walking of bikes through the property to reduce the occurance of any accidents, and be more culturally sensitive to the purpose of the property..
The County path would then resume outside the boundary of the property line. This essentially would be a "break" in the path, but still give the path "continuity", without a true break in it. It would take away the controversial usage of both the canal route and the makai route, and would address any concerns of any path going near any sensitive cultural areas. It would take the path safely away from the main highway.
It would however, be an entirely different path than the one that the County is building and would be visually far less intrusive. We would not be looking at any deep drilling or digging. The path would be very simple. Signage would blend in with the environment and the buildings and park itself would be monitored and patrolled so that it would be safe.
This would address many issues especially culturally sensitive ones. We feel that this is an all around good solution which is a win win for everyone. What we are asking people to do, is if you like this idea and concept of "The Fourth Alignment", please email, write letters or phone the Mayors office. Encourage him to put this option on the table and write it into his recommendations, so that the design team for the county can then conceptualize this into their plan, and public meetings can be held on it. .
Lets show the Administration that we can come up with solutions. Lets show ourselves that we can be independent and have something that is truly ours and take control of our sensitive areas again with responsibility. Lets show equity in how we treat our cultural and environmental resources. Lets show the rest of the State that we can compromise and come up with good solutions to tough issues. After all, we are not the "governed" body, but the "governing body",. The Makaainana, the Kuaaina. EO.
The La'a Aina Coalition(PAC) Anne Punohu kad2009@ymail.com
SOMEBODY FLUSHED AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
-
Well, well, well, apparently it's time to go out there and NOT vote for a
bunch of crooks, know-it-alls and folks who care passionately about their
showin...
2018 Year of the Earth Dog
-
Here are our annual predictions, based on the Chinese lunar calendar, for
the 2018 Year of the Earth Dog. As we predicted, the current 2017 Fire
Rooster ...
-
Hawaii Photographic Society September Meeting Announcement Place: Makiki
Recreational Park, 1527 Keeaumoku Street, Administration Building. Date:
Septemb...
100 Days of Creative Courage
-
*100 Days of Creative Courage is a creative online course that will
celebrate the final 100 days of 2015!*
Over the past 5 years, I've collected over *1...
Capsule (2014)
-
Download Full Capsule in Best QualityNow you can play full Capsule in high
definition format with duration 85 Min and has been launched in 2014-04-13
and M...
Goodbye, JAC, long live the JAC.
-
A sad day today, the Joint Astronomy Centre (JAC) will close for business
on Saturday 28th February. The JAC has been around for decades and
supported both...
-
Meanwhile, Back at the Compost Pile
This blog is currently on HIATUS. Posts, links and comments are not being
updated. But you can check out the older pos...
Introducing A Big Island Life
-
Introducing A Big Island Life
I've been so busy lately with my new website, it is called A Big Island Life,
a site dedicated to everything about the B...
Perfect Prime Rib Standing Rib Roast
-
- My Hawaiian Home
- My Photography Blog
- My Manhattan Kitchen
DEC26
Perfect Prime Rib and Yorkshire Pudding
Posted on December 26, 2013...
Hi-Yo, Silver, away!
-
Slowly, but surely, Miss Maddie the alpine westie is gaining back her
strength and stamina on these brief walks that we take around the
mountainside. The...
.jpg)
