Kim not the economic answer
I read with much amusement the Aug. 17 editorial in West Hawaii Today, “Kenoi’s name hung over election.” The writer asks “How do we develop and foster an enticing economic climate beyond hotels and government jobs?”
During Harry Kim’s terms in office, I was the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Director. We had numerous companies wanting to establish operations providing non-agricultural and/or technical jobs. One was a waste-to-energy facility that would have processed, using modern technology, all the trash from west Hawaii and produce electricity, jet fuel, and reduce Hawaii’s consumption of diesel fuel as well as environmental cleanup.
The most memorable instance was in 2007, a company that wanted to construct a server farm at the lab, employing 3,000 people and paying an average annual salary of $60,000. The board of directors gave this plan initial approval. An environmental activist stepped in and started a mud-slinging campaign against the project, making many unsubstantiated claims.
The company, some board members, and I met with then-Mayor Kim to discuss planning approval of the project. After carefully listening to everyone, Mayor Kim proclaimed he was against the project and would not approve it. Sitting next to Mayor Kim, I turned and asked him why. Mayor Kim turned to me, patted me on my knee and said, “Ron, you just do not understand.” I asked him what didn’t I understand. He said such a project would only serve to increase traffic on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, raise housing prices, and create more income disparity between those those who have and those who have not.
“Besides, we have all the jobs we need in hotels and the construction industry.”
Then came the great depression of 2008. Were hotels and construction all we needed?
The future? Back to the old days.
Ron Baird
Waikoloa