Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Musings: Slogging Along the Campaign Trail

One stellar October day just keeps flowing into the next, prompting me to enthuse, when I called Farmer Jerry yesterday for a story I’m doing about water, “Well, it’s another gorgeous afternoon!”

“Yes, it is,” he said in a chipper voice. “Unless you’re a thirsty plant desperate for water.”

I always appreciate people who can make me laugh and offer a different perspective on things.

Later, returning with a friend from the beach, where the pohaku are donning their autumn coats of limu and the sand is starting to slip away to wherever it spends the winter, I mentioned that I was thinking of attending the Abercrombie-Aiona debate that evening.

“Do you want to go?” I asked.

He gave me an incredulous look. “Are you kidding? What a waste of a beautiful evening.”

We both agreed we already knew how we were going to vote — Abercrombie — although when I expressed surprise that the race is close, wondering if there was a trend toward conservatism in Hawaii, my friend, who is local, explained it this way: “No way. It’s who you gonna vote for, the locals or the haoles?”

Then we got to talking about the Council race.

“No need vote for Derek, because he’s gonna get in no matter what,” my friend said. “And you just watch. Kaipo’s gonna pull it off. He’s got a lot of supporters out there.”

We also agreed that Nadine Nakamura, JoAnn Yukimura, Mel Rapozo and Jay Furfaro are going to make it. So then who best to round out the Council, perhaps by plunking for one candidate? I like KipuKai Kualii, because he’s a caring person who supports progressive issues, has a strong sense of community and knows how to organize and work with a group. My friend is leaning toward Ted Daligdig, saying that earning the rank of colonel shows he’s smart, works hard and knows how to play politics.

Because in the end, we agreed, if a politician can’t build political alliances and work with others to get his or her bills passed, they’re useless, no matter how grand their dreams.

So instead of continuing on the campaign trail to the debate, I took Koko walking through the splendors of the mountain trail, returning by the light of a waxing moon cozying up to Jupiter as the last smoldering remnants of day were devoured by the blackness of night.

And it was confirmed I made the right choice when I read about the rather ho-hum debate this morning on Civil Beat. It offered a succinct rundown, although it seemed the reporter kind of gave the gubernatorial candidates short shrift. Guess we’re all wearying of the rhetoric.

Of note in the LG debate was the inclusion of “fresh topic” in reference to GMOs. Does that mean the subject never came up until the candidates got to Kauai? Anyway, both Schatz and Finnegan took the industry-friendly stance of opposing GMO taro, but supporting genetic modification of other crops.

Not so fresh was The Garden Island’s splashy report today on the $1 judgment in the Brescia vs Kaiulani Edens-Huff case, which I covered a week ago. Unfortunately, Paul Curtis still got it wrong, writing:

Although Brescia redesigned plans for the home to avoid directly disturbing the remains, protesters had camped on the public beach near his property and, in at least one case, were arrested for trespassing on the property where Brescia has been trying to build a home for seven years.

It’s been 10 years, Paul, and there’s no more “trying.” The house is pau already. And not only does Bresica’s house sit right on top of seven burials, a number of iwi were damaged by heavy equipment during an archaeological inventory survey. If that’s not “directly disturbing the remains,” I don’t know what is.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another great post, Joan!

Unfortunately, race does play an important role in the Governor's race whether we like it or not: perceived or not. Agree with your assessment of the Council race...what's your take on the ballot measures? And poho with the Brescia case, auwe!

Anonymous said...

There is no Racism in Hawaii...or so I've been told at this blog.

Anonymous said...

"Because in the end, we agreed, if a politician can’t build political alliances and work with others to get his or her bills passed, they’re useless, no matter how grand their dreams." Come on guys, "useless"?? For years Kaipo did nothing but be a watchdog. Is that useless? Is it useless for someone to serve who is honest and willing to speak out on important and controversial issues? Is a minority voice "useless"? MY THOUGHTS

Anonymous said...

Or you can have somebody like Tim who isn't a watchdog, can't build political alliances and goes with the money on controversial issues. In other words, totally useless.

Anonymous said...

Best to read Paul C's articles while telling yourself that whatever he wrote, the opposite is probably true.
How did we go from Mike L and Amanda G, who could write while getting it right back to to this reporter? Seems like there's an article every day that the bloggers have to correct.

Anonymous said...

Amanda G?! What are you smokin?

Anonymous said...

He asked to move the burials but Kiulani Jeff and Nani said they had to stay hoping the house wouldn't get built.

Now the burials will always be moved!!
Avoiding the street theatre

Anonymous said...

there's 30 or 31 iwi there, 7 under the house, the others all right there, all around the seaward side of the structure. It's not 7 Iwi

Anonymous said...

Joan, I have the utmost respect for you but do you know the lethality of that gnarly man...Abercrombie? and if he had his way (especially with the Akaka bill) heʻd get rid of every Hawaiian on the face of the earth. He literally detests Hawaiians. Most of them that are aware or even attended the year 2000 Akaka hearings can verify what I say. So much so that I will cast my vote for Aiona...and I do that with trepidation.


I am really surprised there was no mention of Ken Taylor; a man who goes to every single damn hearing on this island and fights for the laws to be upheld and for the local people.
I am disappointed at this oversight.

Or Rolf Bieber, for that matter. Hereʻs two guys that have stuck their necks out and they donʻt even get an honorable mention.

I will cast my vote for two people only.

Anonymous said...

"there's 30 or 31 iwi there, 7 under the house, the others all right there, all around the seaward side of the structure"

who the heck is gonna want to rent (or purchase) this house, when there are other choices? what is that guy thinking?!? he just had to get it built to "win", to prove "a point"? was it worth becoming a pariah in the process?

i hope it sits empty (is it indeed empty, so far?)

Anonymous said...

hope it sits empty (is it indeed empty, so far?)absolutely not, the brescia place is full of ghosts

Anonymous said...

Stevie Wonder wrote "When you believe in things that you don't understand....then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way"....Ghosts? Bones have feelings?

Anonymous said...

I wonder how the credits and debits are entered into the great accounting book.
The public mindlessly driving over burials on their daily trek.

Or knowingly living among them and seeing them daily. Caretaking the area and limiting intrusions.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how the credits and debits are entered into the great accounting book.
The public mindlessly driving over burials on their daily trek.


I don't imagine it's high on the carnal sin ledger to not accept the notion that dead human remains are somehow inherently sacred.

Anonymous said...

I am only voting for Kawakami, Yukimura, and Kualii.

Anonymous said...

Anon - "Or Rolf Bieber, for that matter. Hereʻs two guys that have stuck their necks out and they donʻt even get an honorable mention.

I will cast my vote for two people only."

Yes I plunked Taylor and Bieber.

Anonymous said...

How 'bout Joan as a write-in?