Unique living museum must be preserved
Bishop Museum closed Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook at the end of January. This unique “living” museum is a Big Island, state, and international treasure, with many native, Polynesian-introduction, and endangered plants planted among the intact remnants of Hawaiian agricultural formations.
Many tourists and students from all over the world visited this site, but the garden also has a small group of local employees who are being laid off, as well as a cast of volunteers who support the garden, the gift shop, and the native and endangered plants that are/were offered for sale.
My short-term concern was that the staff should not be laid off and the garden should not be closed while Bishop Museum looks for a buyer.
A very significant issue is the many endangered plants that are on the Greenwell Garden site: some are planted in the ground, but many are in small pots awaiting sale to the public. Who will take care of these plants while the garden is closed? It is not acceptable, and probably not even legal, to allow these rare plants to die from neglect. My long-term concern is, of course, who will ultimately buy the garden? This living museum should be managed as such, and not primarily as purely a tourist attraction business.
The garden has important cultural, educational, and conservation significance. The National Tropical Botanical Gardens would seem an appropriate steward for the garden.
Marie Morin
Kailua-Kona
State should follow rules
I’m writing in response to the letter from Jerry Smith published on Feb. 4. Mr. Smith rails against the fact that the TMT project may have to move, he’s probably right about that, however, it’s important that we address the real issue of why that’s the case.
The state was negligent in the permitting process as determined by the Hawaii Supreme Court. The delays in the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening from the airport were not the result of Hawaiian activists, it was the result of the state of Hawaii ignoring federal law (Antiquities Act).
The state of Hawaii circumvented law in the approval of the high speed ferry (no environmental study).
Most states enforce OSHA regulations and don’t require that the U.S. government have a presence, several years ago, the feds had to come to Hawaii to take over OSHA enforcement as the state was negligent in enforcement.
There are many EPA regulations that the state does not adequately enforce.
I am personally in favor of many of these projects, however, the state of Hawaii has to obey the regulations in place. The activists in the case of TMT have the right to protest, it’s appropriate that the courts listen to the voices of the people. I saw no such protests from the supporters and so their voice is not as loud.
It’s important that we understand how these things come about, it’s time the state government mature to the point that they follow the law as they expect the rest of us to do.
Duane Sherman
Ocean View