Many years ago, Bernice Pauahi Bishop started a school.
She was the great granddaughter of King Kamehameha I. She saw that her people’s lack of education was holding them back, so she started a school.
It was called Kamehameha Schools, but now the vision of Bernice Bishop is being blurred. They run many fine schools, but sometimes turn their attention to putting up condos and development.
In their well-meaning effort to raise money for schools, they forget their Hawaiian roots and pave the land and trample on their own culture.
Their latest project is to build 43 buildings and 150 rooms overlooking Keauhou Bay, the heart and soul of Hawaiians and the center of many cultural activities.
This overblown development would be lounging above the birthplace of King Kamehameha III. The charming walkway by the wall would have buildings perched right above it, destroying the ambiance of that sacred place.
A row of buildings perched above the small beach would change the look of that charming place, turning a small part of paradise into a row of wood and cement.
It would bring 450 new people swarming daily onto that tiny driveway by the boats.
The fecal matter from those 150 rooms would pollute the bay. The state Department of Health warned that,“If polluted runoff reaches the bay it will wreak havoc on marine life like the green sea turtles.” It would also wreak havoc on people and ruin the last, best bay on the island.
There would be 200 extra cars jamming up that already crowded small street.
They also want to have commercial shops by the boat launch area. How they plan to put shops on about 25 yards of space is a mystery.
Kamehameha Schools wants to take away the place where Hawaiians paddle canoes, families and children play, and births and memorials are celebrated.
Off-the-wall projects like this show that having too much money makes for whimsical and idiotic ideas. Billionaire President Trump is the ultimate example. Wanting to buy Gaza and steal Greenland and Canada are silly, destructive ideas. Stealing Keauhou Bay is the same unreal whim of billionaires.
Building bungalows would wreck the scenery, destroying the reason people buy a beach home in the first place. They want beauty but will get traffic jams and crowds. It will not be Hawaii, but the worst of the mainland.
This Keauhou project brings resentment and inconvenience to so many people.
Here’s hoping they will see the mental suffering it will cause and find another place to build and fund their schools, a place more pono with the people.
If anyone wants to join the over 8,000 residents who have signed a petition to stop this development, go to Save Keauhou Bay and sign. Not harshly opposing them, but asking Kamehameha Schools with aloha to build it elsewhere.
They already know this in their heart, we’re just reminding them. Aloha.
Dennis Gregory writes a bi-monthly column for West Hawaii Today and welcomes your comments at makewavess@yahoo.com.
