Preservation needs to be done right
Being of Hawaiian ancestry, I am all for a preservation plan for parts of Laaloa (Magic Sands) Beach Park. In fact, as a WHTs Oct. 1 article points out, finalization of such a plan is way overdue. But so is the Laaloa beach expansion plan overdue by a few decades.
Going back in time, the property in question was purchased by the county for the explicit purpose of expanding the beach park and its facilities for the general public as a whole. This land was not purchased, with tax dollars, for the preservation of anything outside of a public beach park. Then, came the Hawaiians wanting to appropriate the area to preserve its archaeological significance. All fine and good, although dumb things have happened along the way. Like allowing those inclined to take it upon themselves to construct, under no authorized guidance, a kuule (fish god stone) in the general area that there is thought to have been one. The erecting of fences and kapu signs with no real authority. And with no real authority, the closing of the parking area to the general public way before there was a need to. All while ignoring for decades the many alien rocks that clutter the beach of what is a sacred canoe landing.
My concern is that the county spent $3 million in taxpayer monies for property that now an organization, nonprofit or whatever, expects to confiscate from the public at no cost to their entity. Tell me, is this the right and proper way to go about wanting to preserve anything? By the taking of whatever while offering no remittance?
Hugo von Platen Luder
Holualoa
Auwe! Taxes, taxes, and more taxes
Why is it that politicians can only perceive one way to solve deficits by increasing existing taxes or creating a new tax? Can’t we be more creative? Let’s see, here’s an idea. We could legalize a lottery. The revenues could solve all the education needs and probably pay for the rapid transit program.
As we watch the news, another billion-dollar Power Ball lottery is about to payout on the mainland. And once again, Hawaii is left out. Taxes are a one-way street, everyone has to pay for our political spending habit. In a lottery, no one is forced to buy a ticket. But, if you do, there’s a potential payday for the winner plus plenty of revenue for the state. A win-win.
Let’s put the lottery on the agenda for the next Con-Con ballot. Let the public, not the politicians, decide.
Lynn Sebek
Waimea