Friday, December 18, 2009

Musings: In the Dark

A chill wind was whipping through the ironwood trees, setting them to bending and sighing as Koko and I walked beneath them in the dark this morning. It’s feeling like winter, and in my neighborhood, thanks to one person who kindly puts up enough inflatable candy canes and Santas for all of us, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Someone down the street is giving him or herself the gift of a brand new home, and I imagine it’s going to be a lavish one, given the stately lava rock columns that were the first things built, on either side of what is still a dirt driveway. As my neighbor Andy noted: “That’s how they let us know it’s going to be something special.”

Of course, even lava rock entry posts can’t change the fighting chicken farm just two driveways down, or the hodgepodge of buildings right next door. Don’t people stop to think about what else is in the neighborhood before they build? Or how their dream home (or spec house) might raise the property taxes of the adjacent humble abodes?

I was interested to read that Oahu, quite unlike Kauai, is interested in keeping its residential neighborhoods residential, with the City Council nixing a bill that would have expanded the B&B industry there. Even The New York Times picked up the story.

On Kauai, a lawsuit regarding transient vacation rentals (TVRs) filed against the county by the Protect Our Neighborhood `Ohana (PONO) is set for a hearing later this month. In the meantime, when PONO asked the planning department for a list of any and all renewals issued for TVR non-conforming use certificates in the Wainha and Haena area, as of July 31, 2009, it got this reply from deputy planning director Imai Aiu:

Searching our on line record we have only received and approved on [sic] renewal application in the Haena-Wainiha area to date:

TV-1668 FISCHER GARY R TRUST Fischer Vac. Ren. 580090480000 7324 ALEALEA RD Received 7/13/2009
Approved 8/24/2009

Please keep in mind that this was done by searching the on line database and has not been verified by an actual search into the hard copy files. The department does not maintain specific lists of the nature of your request, so to generate one would require department time to generate and be subject to fees under the Uniform Information Practices Act.


In other words, the department will provide only what PONO had already found itself in searching the database on the county’s website. Unfortunately, this kind of stonewalling has been characteristic of the department’s decidedly opaque approach to dealing with the TVR permitting issue, and it’s not just the public that’s being kept in the dark, but the Planning Commissioners, too.

Similarly, the public is being kept in the dark about plans for the full proposed route of the bike path. As Andy Parx noted in his blog post on the topic, the path must run continuously from Nawiliwili to north of Kealia in order to meet the federal requirements for an alternative transportation route, which is how the county got the initial $40 milllion in federal funds.

Andy recalled the challenges posed in getting the path past the Wailua golf course, and said that’s when the idea of a “temporary” boardwalk on the beach first came up:

So the Wailua boardwalk is actually a test- one on a much wider section of beach- that, once it has been approved and laid will serve as a precedent when it comes to getting the path past the golf course.... and on down the coast where the topography is much the same and where the cost and difficulty of obtaining the land won’t be the impediment it appears to be now.

He also raised a good point about one drawback of using a structure that is removable, yet anchored into the sand:

People opposing the boardwalk have missed a valuable argument in the fact that the “stakes” that are dug over the ‘iwi will not just be dug once and left there but could conceivably be taken up and put back on a semi-regular basis, especially if the waves themselves remove them.

There’s an awful lot to consider with this project, once you start looking a little deeper.

On a lighter note, Andy’s post prompted a comment from Anne Punohu, who has become a regular in the comment section here, where she posted a link to her ”ode to Andy and Joan:”

But don't get sassy or cute with them, trust me. They can both rip you a new hole at 40 paces.

Umm, thanks, Anne. I must say, I’ve never received a compliment quite like that.

55 comments:

Anonymous said...

The path along the WGC is old history discussed 4-5 years ago. Itwill go along the Kuhio Hwy. just inside the vegetation.

If it went along the beach the ATV off roaders would complain about being denied access to driving on the burial dunes!

Punohu's Politics,Environment and Culture said...

you're welcome Joan. :D

Anonymous said...

"Don’t people stop to think about what else is in the neighborhood before they build? Or how their dream home (or spec house) might raise the property taxes of the adjacent humble abodes?"

Family X finally had a good year so they decide to build a decent house. Congrats to them, why should they have continue to live in a puny house, etc.? They earned the right, as do all property owners.

Perhaps it would be better if everyone had the same house facade (ala Middle East medinas) but could display their wealth (or not) only on the inside?

Dawson said...

Family X finally had a good year so they decide to build a decent house. Congrats to them, why should they have continue to live in a puny house, etc.? They earned the right, as do all property owners.

Not earned, claimed.

And the issue is not the decency of the house, the un-puniness the house, the rights of the individual, or the myriad other straw men of the Myth of Meritocracy.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Dawson, interesting comment.

If it is not about those things, it must be about the "greater good for all" idea. Perhaps we should revert back to an egalitarian society? Previous discussions on this blog have said as much...close the doors, let's get back to hunting and gathering. That may be fine for some I suppose.

The Family X example was not meant to delve into capitalism or meritocracies as much as indvidual choices. If one household in the neighborhood drives a Pacer while the others drive Mercedes, same idea in reverse then?

Anonymous said...

People who stage book burnings frighten the hell out of me.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps we should revert back to an egalitarian society?

Yes count me in!

Anonymous said...

People who stage book burnings frighten the hell out of me.

huh?

Anonymous said...

Meritocracy is good. It's the only rational way.

Anonymous said...

People who stage book burnings frighten the hell out of me.

huh?


Oh, something on Punohu's Politics, etc. today:

Even though my Sarah Palin Bookburning was nmeant to coincide with her trip, and she left early and came back home to Alaska today, I am still going to have the event at Lydgate Park from 9-11 Am bring a downloaded printout of the front cover of her book, and attach it to a book so we can get a pic of you with it. We will then burn it in the lflames, (Not the book, the paper with the bookcover printed on it).

So, did anyone go to the, er, bookburning?

Anonymous said...

Stupid radical wackos.

Book burning.

Torch and pitchfork assholes.

Anonymous said...

"my Sarah Palin Bookburning potluck"

Amazingly, it doesn't appear to be "ironic."

Anonymous said...

"If it went along the beach the ATV off roaders would complain about being denied access to driving on the burial dunes!"

Right. Why is Joan (or others) not commenting on this???

A serious and real inconsistency.

Anonymous said...

the ATV off roaders would complain about being denied access to driving on the burial dunes!

Why is Joan (or others) not commenting on this???

A serious and real inconsistency.


Well, er, see, those ATV riders are not the kind of Hawaiians we exactly approve of. I mean, most of them work in construction jobs. You know, building, tourist accommodations. Clearly, they are not the enlightened Natives with which we prefer to associate.

Anonymous said...

The same applies to the jackasses on this blog that cannot get enough of pointing their finger at Hawaiians for everything. The only ones who'd be driving on the burial dunes are those who first and foremost DENY that there are iwi kupuna in the sands. Now on this blog alone, that's a whole bunch of you. And whether you like it or not, there are enlightened and unenlightened people in EVERY culture - haole, japanese, portuguese, filipino or Hawaiian. It doesn't matter what ethnic background anyone is made up of. You either have respect for places of known burial sites or you don't. The only pink elephant in the room is your ass that just got kicked in for being ignorant and stupid.

Anonymous said...

I guess the truth/obvious reality hurts.

Anonymous said...

whether you like it or not, there are enlightened and unenlightened people in EVERY culture

Let me guess. The enlightened ones are those who share your opinions, and the unenlightened ones are those who don't?

Anonymous said...

"The only ones who'd be driving on the burial dunes are those who first and foremost DENY that there are iwi kupuna in the sands."

No, some would drive on the dunes regardless of their beliefs.

Punohu's Politics,Environment and Culture said...

My event is so off the topic of this blog. It is so surprising for people thqat try to be so smart, you don't realize that it is TOMORROW, it is NOT a "Bookburning", and I have advertised it as a "toungue in cheek" fun event.

Please stick to the subject matter, and if you need the definition of irony and sarcasm, and political humour and satire, please look it up. *rolls eyes and goes to bed. I have to sharpen my pitchforks.

*for your information, Sarah Palin advocated the removal of certain books from school libraries, and suggested organizing bookburnings for them REAL ones, *

Anonymous said...

OMFG

Punohu's Politics,Environment and Culture said...

Further, do not TROLL to MY blog, steal MY writing, *there is a copyright warning at the top of it*,
then repost it here on Joan's blog, without my permission, and especially when it has nothing to do with what Joan's topic is about.

I have restricted my blog as you know. Thats a pretty cowards way around that restriction.

Stop it now.

Dawson said...

If it is not about those things, it must be about the "greater good for all" idea.

No, it's not.


Perhaps we should revert back to an egalitarian society?

Not in my opinion.


Previous discussions on this blog have said as much...close the doors, let's get back to hunting and gathering.

In fact they haven't.


If one household in the neighborhood drives a Pacer while the others drive Mercedes, same idea in reverse then?

That's not the issue.

Anonymous said...

do not TROLL to MY blog, steal MY writing, *there is a copyright warning at the top of it*, then repost it here on Joan's blog, without my permission

I'm pretty sure this would fall under fair use.

Anonymous said...

Punohu has some interesting ideas but she seems to have found a home for her own blog in Joan's well travelled blog...that is quite a compliment to the author of this blog :)

Anonymous said...

Let me guess. The enlightened ones are those who share your opinions, and the unenlightened ones are those who don't?

-- WTF, Definitely off base.

No, some would drive on the dunes regardless of their beliefs.

-- For those, the only belief is a lack of awareness and a disconnection to the fact that the dunes are delicate ecosystems at the very least.

All the more reason why the bike path WILL NOT be constructed on the beach at Wailua!

Anonymous said...

If it went along the beach the ATV off roaders would complain about being denied access to driving on the burial dunes!

-- Um no...the golfers didn't want to give up their golf course on the ocean front!

Anonymous said...

The only ((Hawaiians)) who'd be driving on the burial dunes are those who first and foremost DENY that there are iwi kupuna in the sands.

That's not true at all. Some simply don't agree for whatever reason that it is a desecration to ride ATVs even if there are burials there.

They might not share the traditional beliefs about bones of ancestors (just as most Japanese no longer believe in ancestor worship). Or, they might share traditional beliefs but nevertheless disagree that there is any disturbance created by riding ATVs (or, building a path).

Joan Conrow said...

Anonymous(es), you just got deleted because we are not going to have any more commenting related to Anne's blog on this blog.

If you want to comment on her posts, you'll need to do it over there.

Anonymous said...

Seems damned arrogant to call Hawaiians who don't hold to the ancient beliefs about burials, "unenlightened."

Anonymous said...

toxic seepage
education quality
sexual crimes
battery
hunger
housing
county manager system proposal
property tax reform
union contract terms
economic diversification


on the merits -- pretty much any one of those is more important than birds, bike paths, etc

just sayin


dwps

Anonymous said...

They might not share the traditional beliefs about bones of ancestors (just as most Japanese no longer believe in ancestor worship).

You are sooooo wrong. While there are many Japanese that have converted to Christianity, there are many, many more who have not. What do you think the O Bon season is about anyway? All summer long every Buddist temple hosts ceremonies and celebrations to do just that, ancestor worship. AND! Many others who do not belong to their religion are graciously welcomed to enjoy the celebrations. It is a family tradition where keiki to kupuna are seen year after year continuing this beautiful tradition. When they light the lanterns and send them afloat up the Wailua river or out to the ocean at the Lihi in Kapa`a at the end of the Obon season, they bid farewell to their ancestors with prayers and ceremonies upon their return to the spirit world. Offerings of fruit, etc. are left on gravesites as a means to spiritually feed and nourish the spirits of ancestors. It is an awesome and beautiful tradition of ancestral worship.

Whether you like it or not, stayng connecting with ancestors IS important. Hawaiians that still hold those beliefs and traditions have every right to do so as well.

Anonymous said...

Whether you like it or not, stayng connecting with ancestors IS important.

I can't think of anything more purely a matter of personal opinion. Obviously there's nothing wrong with maintaining traditions. But neither is there anything inherently wrong with someone who chooses not to honor, adhere to, or value traditions.

Anonymous said...

But neither is there anything inherently wrong with someone who chooses not to honor, adhere to, or value traditions.

Absolutely! Although there are some that do not value or honor the japanese or christian belief systems, I don't believe that they would not disrepect their burial places and sites.

Anonymous said...

Although there are some that do not value or honor the japanese or christian belief systems, I don't believe that they would not disrepect their burial places and sites.

CORRECTION: I still believe that they would not disrespect their burial places and sites. Sorry for the typo...

Anonymous said...

But what constitutes disrespecting burial places and sites is a matter of opinion as well. Obviously some Hawaiians don't think a path is disrespectful. Some don't think riding ATVs there is disrespectful. Others obviously do.

Dawson said...

But neither is there anything inherently wrong with someone who chooses not to honor, adhere to, or value traditions.

Exactly right. But they are not the issue.

The issue is those who choose not to honor, adhere to or value traditions, and who choose to deride, belittle and mock those who do.

Dawson said...

...deride, belittle or mock, I should add, by word or deed.

Anonymous said...

i'll mock old traditions of ritualized rape, child sacrifice, etc

but those groups dont do that anymore so seems moot

self mutilation is still done by some christian groups. that does not seem to be a ritual/tradition worth supporting

bon dances and similar get-togethers certainly dont seem to induce/cause any sort of harm

female genital mutilation is common in some parts. tough to support / allow that one

does the genesis of the item matter? seems somewhat relevant. the middle east thing for example RE ~"women must walk X paces behind the man" did not start as a "dominance / obedience" concept, but rather back in the day it was thought better the wild animal attack first the man, so the girl could away. but hard to enforce on that rational now; not many tigers in karachi

traditions, rituals, customs, etc whatever. its a mixed bag, and fair game for commentary


dwps

Anonymous said...

"The path along the WGC is old history discussed 4-5 years ago. Itwill go along the Kuhio Hwy. just inside the vegetation."

the old hx is what deal was struck to move the path from the beach to the hwy side? wasn't the the path supposed to continue from kamalani bridge south and go 'coastal'to hanamaulu?

i have to think the golfers held more clout than any ATV riding desecrators. they pay more fees than the turtle egg smashing eco-terrorists in big trucks and quad runners.

Anonymous said...

http://www.kauaigovonline.org/cokforms/TVR_Log.aspx

Anonymous said...

for your information, Sarah Palin advocated the removal of certain books from school libraries, and suggested organizing bookburnings for them REAL ones,

Better check Snopes on that one. It says these claims are FALSE. I'd link to it but...

just search snopes sarah palin banned books.

Anne P said...

Did't Joan just say to stop DOING that?

You people have no respect.

I have finally figured out how NOT to advertise my blog here, since people cannot stop PLAGARIZING it.

If you want to discuss what is on MY BLOG, then get a name and discuss it. Stay off Joans, and stick to the TOPIC.

grrrrrrr

Anne P said...

I have just emailed Joan. re: anony posters posting things on my blog that are copyrighted to this blog without my permission

Anonymous said...

for your information, Sarah Palin advocated the removal of certain books from school libraries, and suggested organizing bookburnings for them REAL ones,

I have just emailed Joan. re: anony posters posting things on my blog that are copyrighted to this blog without my permission


Uh, you said that about Sarah Palin on this blog in this comment thread on December 18, 2009 9:16 PM.

Aren't you the one who was reposting entire comments verbatim in your own comments? What's the dang deal with you, anyway?

Anonymous said...

I have finally figured out how NOT to advertise my blog here, since people cannot stop PLAGARIZING it.

You appear to be confusing quoting with plagiarizing. Plagiarism is representing someone else's work as your own.

anony posters posting things on my blog that are copyrighted to this blog without my permission

Under the fair use doctrine, anyone can quote reasonable snippets of what you have written, copyrighted or not, in order to comment on what you have written.

However, that's not even an issue because in the case you're complaining about, you did post the words on this blog.

Anonymous said...

I have just emailed Joan. re: anony posters posting things on my blog that are copyrighted to this blog without my permission

I bet she was just thrilled to get your email

AP said...

Anonymous said...

I have just emailed Joan. re: anony posters posting things on my blog that are copyrighted to this blog without my permission

I bet she was just thrilled to get your email

December 19, 2009 5:45 PM

Not that it is any of your business, but I happen to know Joan personally. SO I am sure she did not mind it.

Frankly its none of your business.
STICK TO THE TOPIC.

Do you even remember it?

Joan Conrow said...

OK, let's just stop all of this right now. Any additional comments posted by anyone, including AP, about her blog will be deleted, as well as the comment AP just posted that included comments I'd deleted.

And comment moderation will be on as a time out for all sides.

Anonymous said...

If this bike path route was known to the public c. 4.5 years ago, why are is the opposition only coming now? Was it procrastination years ago, thinking plenty time was there? Was it the recent realization that "hey, this thing is actually going to be built now?" or ??

It has been posted by the County et al. many times that this Path idea has gone thru many, many public meetings prior to the last, well attended meeting.

Just curious as to the "why now" effect.

Ed Coll said...

Intellectual Property Rights you say?

The movement from analog to digital is more important for the structure of social and legal relations than the more famous if less certain movement from status to contract. This is bad news for those legal thinkers who do not understand it, which is why so much pretending to understand now goes so floridly on. Potentially, however, our great transition is very good news for those who can turn this new-found land into property for themselves. Which is why the current "owners" of software so strongly support and encourage the ignorance of everyone else. Unfortunately for them - for reasons familiar to legal theorists who haven't yet understood how to apply their traditional logic in this area - the trick won't work. This paper explains why
http://emoglen.law.columbia.edu/my_pubs/anarchism.html

Enjoy

Anonymous said...

" you're welcome Joan. :D"

This blog to be renamed, Two Blogs Hugging...

Anonymous said...

Let open source compete "in the market" with 'private property' software and see which which, if either, triumphs. For word processing, my kids' school has them use Open Office. For work I use both microsoft and corell products. Open office seems great, but word and word perfect are so far the expected programs in my industry.

Anyway, we don't need big brained theorists to dream up bold new futures for us.

Anonymous said...

It's like bittorrent. I get all my movies, tv shows, ebooks, audiobooks and some software from bittorrent sites.

All for free.

3TB full and counting...

Anonymous said...

Back on topic -

why no acknowledgement of the numerous hypocrites that tread on the beaches ???????? (atvs, big trucks, even running people over!)

Ed Coll said...

December 20, 2009 9:55 AM Let open source compete "in the market" with 'private property' software and see which which, if either, triumphs. For word processing, my kids' school has them use Open Office. For work I use both microsoft and corell products. Open office seems great, but word and word perfect are so far the expected programs in my industry.

Anyway, we don't need big brained theorists to dream up bold new futures for us.

Open source is not the same as Free/Lirbe software and something that is free has no problem competing in the market. You are right we don't need "big brains" to dream up the future, but perhaps to see it clearly. Like you the "expected programs" (MS Office, almost nobody uses Wordperfect anymore) are the norm but I use neither. I use Linux and about 95% of everything I use is Open Source/Free/Libre/GPL etc. Microsoft Office may be the standard in "business" but I have none of their products on my computer(s) yet can read and convert easily to the "standard" (Microsoft) for those without big brains that haven't got it yet and save money for hardware upkeep at the same time.

How can something that is better, improving faster, and free not be the future. Unlike the USA most of the world cannot afford to throw away money being beta testers for Microsoft wnd their annoying patches, and restrictive EULAs.

Even academia is moving rapidly away from proprietary products (The USA is lagging here as well by at least five years, but picking up speed every day. Hawaii (at least Higher Ed) is actually ahead of the curve compared to many states. All one need do is compare the development cycle time of Propriety VS FREE/Libre/OS and it is clear (at least to me) that the future is already here, but most people don't know it yet (small brains I suppose).

The copyright lawss the exist today are completely inadequate to meet what is going down now. Unless they outlaw giving software apps away their lordships will indeed die in the dark as Moglin predicts.