DLNR
Abolish the agency and re-establish priorities
The Department of Land and Natural Resources is a pipsqueak of a state agency. It is so small it’s hard to find in the budget, yet it is in the news almost daily (twice just today) with some new controversy.
I won’t bother to list the controversies, because the reader can probably recall several without my help.
The DLNR makes up rules that are not law and then uses them to threaten and intimidate the public.
At the same time, DLNR fails miserably to enforce laws it is supposed to enforce, provide services it is supposed to provide, or maintain the parks for which it is responsible. It operates as if it were sovereign, unethically shooting animals from aircraft, while denying local hunters access to game.
It is time to impose the Parkinsonian solution: Abolish the entire state agency and create new departments with clearly defined responsibilities and powers.
Ken Obenski
Kaohe
Mural
Sickening destruction
As a Maoli artist born on the Big Island and raised in Laaloa (or better known as Magic Sands), I am sick and sad to know that Subi’s mural was destroyed by a small group of haters, just because it flew in the face of the ideal image of fake Hawaii to be bought and sold. One even told Ms. Roberto to go back where she belongs, even though this person is a haole Realtor from the mainland.
When I first saw the mural two days ago, it was so magnificent I couldn’t believe my eyes. It reminded me of the ki’i that stood proudly before Western influence came to destroy them with fire and religious dogma.
Thankfully, her art was there long enough to give the rest of us hope there are others out there with minds and hearts free, not bitter and trying to force their own version of Kona.
I hope others will have the respect and foresight to not destroy someone’s art that was given to the community with aloha.
Malia Kanoeokalani Becklund
Kealakekua