Stalling development leads to homeless surge
About a year ago, West Hawaii Today ran an article on how the population of the Big Island is set to grow by one-third by the year 2020.
Now think about the Hokulia project, or the TMT telescope, and how they were government approved projects, that are still beset with building problems because of the courts.
As a developer of properties in the past, I can attest that it is usually a big, costly job just get through the process with the government to get permits so that one can then proceed to spend the really big bucks on actually doing the infrastructure of the development. Yet, (surprising as it may seem), no developer I know of is willing to risk spending any money over here to do a project when they could still be shut down by the courts, even though they have all the permits, and have committed to spend all sorts of money for build out.
No new developments mean no new housing, no new housing means more people here without a place to live. So then, is it any wonder that the paper is reporting on how there is a surge in homeless people here on the Big Island?
Carl Merner
Holualoa
Coral graffiti is not a ‘Hawaiian tradition’
For someone who was born and raised on this island, I have not been able to see the beautiful, black lava that graces our moku until recently. Because of the hard, back-breaking work of volunteers, 20 tons of illegally removed coral from our beaches have now been rightfully returned and have kept our highway free from this eye sore.
To say the coral graffiti which once lined the Queen Kaahumanu Highway is a “Hawaiian tradition” is historically inaccurate and should be addressed.
If I’m not correct, are you confusing the ancient kii pohaku (petroglyphs) that recorded family births and important events for centuries by Native Hawaiians? Never in my years of Native Hawaiian education did I learn that “somebody hearts so-and-so” or large “QVC” trademarks was something of “Hawaiian tradition” and something the people of my culture practiced on a regular basis.
I agree that spray-painted graffiti isn’t any better, but if you want to criticize the hard work of residents who only want to keep our aina clean and intact, then that is your opinion. However, please do not confuse ancient, native traditions with “fun, to-do activities” that are appropriated by the tourism industry. If you don’t like it, then go to the mainland and live and stop changing actual Native Hawaiian traditions here.
Banning Kaimana Ramirez
Kona