Monday, October 15, 2012

Musings: Beyond the Walls

In the night came a sound I haven't heard much lately in these weeks of dead calm: the wind soughing through the ironwoods. It was followed, before dawn, by the delightfully welcome patter of rain, which continued to fall from the trees long after the shower had stopped, adorning the leaves and needles with drops that sparkled in the first rays of sun.

I had seen other sparkles, hours before, when Koko had to go out at 1:30 p.m. My yawns quickly turned to exclamations of amazement at the blackness of the sky and brilliant clarity of the stars, which seemed almost close enough to touch in the darkness of this new moon, when the fledging Newell's shearwaters are most vulnerable to artificial lights. 

So I can't understand how it is that crews are allowed to continue doing brightly-lit night work to install a water line in Wailua, a major shearwater flyway, at the peak of the fledging season.

Meanwhile, the notice sent out for Wednesday night's meeting on the big water drilling plan advised folks to bring flashlights as the lights at King K School would be turned off to protect shearwaters. Go figure.....

I went to the Seed and Plant Exchange yesterday, an event I've never attended, but did this year to staff the Kauai Beekeepers Association booth, since organic gardening is a natural complement to healthy bees. It was neat to see people all excited about seeds and plants. A few of the Hindu monks showed up — they've been big supporters of the Regenerations Botanical Garden and seed bank — and Palaniswami commented that the monastery is now growing 80 percent of its food.

Later, I got to talking with a friend, about how it's really not so far-fetched to think we can do a lot more to feed ourselves. The monks, who number 22, produce the bulk of what they eat, and they're not out there slaving in the fields all day, every day. They manage to pull it off while still holding down the equivalent of what we would consider full time jobs, while also maintaining the buildings and extensive grounds. Not to mention devoting hours to devotion.

So despite what we're repeatedly told by the folks who want to use the island's ag lands for GMO crops, biofuels and gentleman's estates, while keeping us dependent on Costco, another way is possible — one backyard, one community garden, at a time.

Moving into a related land use issue, County Council candidate Gary Hooser had an interesting commentary in yesterday's paper about the metamorphosis of the bill that created the Public Land Development Corp. (PLDC), with its far-reaching powers to privatize the so-called “ceded lands” now held by the state.

It outlines so clearly the corruption in the state Legislature, which exempts itself from the Sunshine Law precisely so it can ram stuff like this through with minimal public input. The PLDC is the tumor that is representative of a much deeper cancer in our state government. Repealing Act 55 — the PLDC — is just one step. What we really need to do is cure the systemic illness.

So is that gonna happen? Well, some people are organizing, and speaking up, and Hawaiians, environmentalists and unions are finding common ground in this issue. Still, I cringe when I read a paragraph like this in an email regarding the “action plan” for coordinating the repeal of Act 55:

Once again, there is an attempt at a Great Land Grab, and once again our hosts, the Hawaiian People, who are least familiar with our distorted laws, corruptions and backroom deals, as well as our electronic communication/media, are likely to get ripped off. We cannot let this happen again. 

Umm, I think the kanaka maoli are probably more familiar with our distorted laws, corruptions, backroom deals and land grabs than any of us, seeing as how their entire nation was stolen. And really, can't we abandon that "poor ignorant natives" mentality?

I've also been amused to see politicians making big political hay. Foremost among them are former DLNR Director and state Senate candidate Laura Thielen, who has conveniently forgotten the Kokee hotel and park fees she and the Lingle Administration tried to force on us. And Councilman Mel Rapozo got his name circulating among progressives who normally would hold their noses, given his support for GMOs, opposition to solar hot water and coziness with Grove Farm, by telling them he might be able to convince the Hawaii State Assn. of Counties he chairs to support a repeal of Act 55 if he received a “few hundred emails."

Meanwhile, our state representatives, the ones who voted unanimously to support the PLDC, the ones who have shown themselves to be good little sheep, have absolutely no incentive to buck the Guv and leadership of their respective chambers because they're all assured of re-election, and not just this year, but probably for as long as they want to run.

And I am reminded again of how we the people can rail all we like against injustices and corruption, but aside from winning a pyrrhic victory here and there, nothing's really going to change until we upend the system that is designed to perpetuate the actions we find so repugnant. Personally, I'm tired of continually fighting over the rules that govern this insane asylum. It's time to free ourselves, and move beyond the walls that needlessly confine us. 

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

FYI, Malama Solomon who is a kanaka maoli from the Big Island was a co-sponsor of Act 55. So, just like Kamehameha IV who sold off Niihau and many other Hawaiian leaders in the past who SOLD OUT, we need to keep everyone accountable!

Anonymous said...

Gotta fight the battle on both fronts Joan. Gotta fight the day to day stuff and take whatever wins we can get. Plus gotta work on the big systemic stuff too. The PLDC is a good issue for us. Could be the straw that breaks the camels back. A big and very important straw that has caught the interest of people all around the State.

Anonymous said...

Hate to sound cynical, but most people in the state have no idea what PLDC is or why it matters.

Anonymous said...

Really good story today, Joan.

I especially like your astute comment:

" Umm, I think the kanaka maoli are probably more familiar with our distorted laws, corruptions, backroom deals and land grabs than any of us, seeing as how their entire nation was stolen. And really, can't we abandon that "poor ignorant natives" mentality?"

Yes, this is one of the big problems and that particular paragraph popped right out at me. Thinking the HAwaiians are not akamai in the realm of law; in fact most Hawaiians are proficient on laws that soar over these peopleʻs heads (International laws of nations) and maybe that the problem only in reverse...they are the ones that are not familiar with what the HAwaiians have been trying to tell them for decades.



Anonymous said...

TO 10:27 AM:

Gee Iʻm glad youʻre giving Joan some direction lol.

In case you havenʻt noticed, sheʻs the one thatʻs been on the fronts. Whereʻve ya been?

Anonymous said...

It all starts with a few and then reverberates from one to another. The PLDC issue has been on the front page of every newspaper in the State. The activists core has grabbed this issue and continues to shake it. All three neighbor-island councils have voted to repeal. Every I repeat every candidate in the State is having to take a position on this. And this is just the beginning and the momentum is only now starting to build. The election is November 6 and the legislative session starts in January. The timing is perfect. The legislature has been exposed and now the public knows more than ever before how those guys in the Capitol manipulate the system to serve the ends of themselves and their friends. I'm telling you this is a good issue and we should take it all the way. Nothing short of a repeal will make this better. It is time for the people to exert their real power and then when we win, people through-out the State will be more empowered and more emboldened than ever. I say we go to the wall on this one. Repeal the PLDC!

Anonymous said...

KipuKai Kuali'i will be holding a public forum, a way to talk story with the people about concerns and the scare tactic of the governors threat to veto the attempt to repeal the law of Act 55, and dialogue as to where do we go from there? What happens if that threat is realized? The fight is automatic, we will definitely have lawsuits from this for the multiple of injustices to the many, not just the kanaka, what we need to do is have a plan "B," in place suggesting ammendments to the current rules, something that they will consider, and hopefully change, so there can be better parameters to work within, we gotta make it as close to what we want as possible, still with the knowledge that we the people will continue to fight for the repeal! Anyway, from what I gathered, KipuKai Kuali'i will be hosting the 1st of hopefully more public forums, the 1st being held at Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, from 6-9pm on the 29th of this month. Come out and let your voices be heard. No political representative, from any political office on Kaua'i, ever included the people in the process with regards to being heard! The PLDC and Gov. coming to Kaua'i was no exception! I think KipuKai's message is, if the Gov. veto's, what's next? Besides the lawsuits-

I agree with 9:54, Watch out for Lahui activist, now renewable energy "Guru," Mililani Trask, she's another one. The allegiance to her is none other than Pohai Ryan, who lost in the primary, Faye HanoHano and Mr. Brickwood G. Sneaky buggers! Amongst others, our own reps are not excluded from being sneaky to us!

Anonymous said...

Kamehameha IV was a strong anti-American alii who contributed much to his people and feared most the same group that eventually overthrew our Queen. Alii may have made poor land decisions in a system that was foreign to them. Most loved their nation and people. Don't put Malama Solomon in the same category as Liholiho. We have our share of kanaka who buy into this political system that has disenfranchised us. This is not the first time she threw us under the bus. She tried to shut down PASH and cultural practicioners shut her down. Hawaii Island needs to get rid of her!

Anonymous said...

Heard that KipuKai Kuali'i will be having a forum regarding the PLDC, the repeal that he supports, but the dialogue that he wants to engage in regarding if the Governors threat of vetoing is realized. What do we do next, how do we prepare, besides the lawsuits that will be coming out of the woodworks by the people that are able to afford it? We know the people (who are able to afford) will file law suits, that's a given, but that's after the fact. I think we need to come together and discuss the potential of it being veto'd and strategically thinking of ammendments to the rules that will be as close to possible as we wish for it to be. It wouldn't hurt to get together and pick the shit out of it. Anyway, he's having his first forum, sponsored by Christian Marston of Tahiti Nui in Hanalei on October 30th, from 6-9pm. I believe it is a no host bar with pupus served! Come and let your voices be heard. It's a first, no elected official, from any political office on Kaua'i ever gave us the opportunity to get together, and be heard. The Governor and PLDC was no exception!

And 9:54, I agree with you, some of our Kanaka did sell out, case in point, Lahui activist Mililani Trask, the "Renewable Energy Guru," personal friend of Senator Pohai Ryan, the senator that lost in the primary to Laura Theilan, (thank god), and Faye HanoHano and Brickwood G. They among our own senators are perfect examples of how out of touch our government officials are with our island people. Something of this magnitude, the least they should have done is make us aware of this bill, now law!

Anonymous said...

Is crazy to start negotiating with ourselves. These decisions will be made by legislators who are even now scrambling to back peddle and save face even if they don't have to worry about elections. We push for the repeal and nothing but the repeal and we might get it or at worse a severely amended version with the exemptions removed and neighbor-island representation. We push for the repeal and let the legislators find there way out of this mess. If they blow it and a repeal does not pass and or if the law is not severely amended, the people will be even more outraged and the reps and senators will look even more like the hapless fools they are.

Anonymous said...

Oh gosh! Hooser, Kualii, and Rapozo all have reputations of needy insecure attention whores. They make Joann and Tim look mature. The only time they seem to do anything is I it will get them publicity.

Anonymous said...

I'm a kanaka and I give a damn...not when they start screwing around with the potential of f'ing around with DHHL, another agency that was set up to rehabilitate our people. You might sit around and wait for our legislatures, fuck that, that's what we got the last time we sat around, with our fingers in our noses, (could be in worse places) and got act 55. I wanna get involoved! We have much to lose, how the hell you think we got our PASH rights, because we sat around and let the legislatures fight it out! Screw that, we had to fight for it, what's the difference!

Anonymous said...

Screw waiting around for legislatures to beef it out. Get involved now...why wait to see what happens and act more outrageous when we don't get anything that we wanted ammended or otherwise to these rules. You say wait around, is this how you think we Kanaka's got our PASH rights, by waiting around for them to decide when it was appropritate for us to legally practice our cultural rights. We had to fight for it, what's the damn difference? And when they have the potential of fucking around with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, another agency that was founded on the principals of rehabilitating our hawaiian people, through various obligations, then I have a problem with it. I choose to get involved, what is the worse thing that can happen? Nothing! And instead of worrying about the "grandstanding" of allowing the people to have a voice, worry about the jackasses that never tell us anything! It's too freaking bad that most of them ran unopposed! They might end up like Senator Pohai Ryan!

Anonymous said...

"the PLDC is the tumor that is representative of a much deeper cancer in our state government"

I could not have said it better myself! And the therapy needed to facilitate healing is Surgical Excision of all the representatives who voted for this deal. Get them out of office. Corruption, power and money if feeding this cancer.

Dr Shibai

Anonymous said...

The ones that sit quietly and take no position is the ones that you need to worry about! Kouchi, Morikawa, Tokioka, Kawakami, you all need to get the f...out! You disgrace our island with representation to the limited and all powerful few! Ku i luna kanaka! Rise up people! Make a grandstand against them, not the people that are allowing a process to take place, get involved! And it's ok if our council members were clueless as well, who's stepping up to the plate, and I don't think he's excluding any other council members and candidtates from joining him in his cause, because it's KipuKai, he's a whore? What makes all the 9 candidates running for council in attendance to this forum, Street Marchers on Lemon Street in Kapahulu, get a grip!

Anonymous said...

DHHL is another failure. Talk about only serving the 1 percent. 99% of Hawaiians will not qualify for DHHL.

Anonymous said...

That's why we gotta be part of the solution and stop only talking and recognizing the mismanagement of our trust. Why do you think so much people are bucking the department at this time, and for the first time in years, of which I cannot even remember otherwise, we have commissioners that are actually beneficiaries themselves, so they no the personal struggles that we are faced with. This is the first set of commissioners that are actually fighting the department and making them realize that they, (the commissioners) are there to represent the beneficiaries, not the damn department, they had it wrong all these years. They too are standing up, despite the efforts of our Chair Designate to put obstacles in the way of trust laws, and what we as beneficiaries are entitled too. So I agree, we need to find creative measures to put our people on the land, it's an injustice that the waitlist is so damn long, there are thousands of acres of HH lands, and the department is making it next to impossible to build a home that they can call their own. Why the heck do we need to qualify for 240,000.00 to 280,000.00 homes? It's just another reason to keep us off our lands. Your fight should not be with the HHCA, it should be with the government that imposed these laws on our people, we know the true intent of the HHCA as it was proposed by Jonah Kuhio, unfortunately, that's what Congress did, another measure to disenfranchise our people. So what happens, there is 'eha among our people. You wouldn't believe it even if I told you, there are people that are beneficiaries of this act that are not satisfied with the current laws, we want to lessen the quantum to service more of our Hawaiian people, there are some of us out there, that despite our direct benefits from the act, still look after our small "N's".

Anonymous said...

No waterline work at night, according to project manager at water department, looks to be a typo in the state road work notice for the past few weeks since the project is basically completed.

Joan Conrow said...

Thanks for letting us know, 5:58.

Anonymous said...

Joan,

I understand Mel received over a thousand emails of testimony asking to repeal act 55. The printed hard copies of testimony were shared at the HSAC meeting with all present. Sounds like he's doing a great job to me.

Anonymous said...

I'm a Sierra club member and am very grateful that Mel has taken a leadership role in the repeal of act 55.

Anonymous said...

Im cautiously optimistic with Mel. Yes it's great that he's helping the cause but I question his sincerity because I still recall his testimony in front of the governor. Most of us were against PLDC from the get go based on the law. Don't understand how he could change from amend to appeal so quickly, was it merely pandering for votes? Never know with dem politicians. Yes Thielen gave excellent testimony at the hearing and all, but most of us can't forget what she and Lingle were attempting to do to commercialize Kokee. Sure looks like a lot of political posturing for votes.

Anonymous said...

Did HSAC support a repeal?

Mel said at the governors meeting he SUPPORTED it. Beware the wolf in sheep's clothes.

Anonymous said...

No night work around this part of Wailua makai.
What are you talking about?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8:09 -- It was 800 emails. We'll see how good a leader Mel is if he can get it in HSAC legislative package.

http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/more-800-oppose-public-land-agency.html

Anonymous said...

Re- 9:11 post

Most of us were against PLDC from the get go based on the law.

If you knew of this as being a problem why didn't you raise the flag or surface the information before the PLDC and 55 passed. Act 55 needs to be corrected by ammendment or repeal. To attack an individual on our side whether it be an election year or not is preposterous. Actually getting your politicians involved would work best. My suggestion would be to work together rather than split our resourses to correct the Governors sugarcoating of 55.

Anonymous said...

Heard Kouchi's radio ad. Says he is "Standing up for fishing". This of course is code for saying he doesn't give a shit about whales, seals or turtles. This guy makes me want to throw up. He and Tokioka were on the inside when the PLDC was passed and they did nothing. Was gonna leave it blank but now I'm gonna vote for Georgio. Sends a stronger message.

Anonymous said...

The point 9:11 was making is we din't know if Mel is on "our side."

Anonymous said...

re 11:09 post

talk about distortion. It's not about race, color or creed or side. From what I see Mel is about what's right for all of Kauai. There is no us unless we stand for a common cause.

Anonymous said...

Mel is for himself and himself only.

Anonymous said...

I respect your opinion but I totally disagree. Mel is one of the most productive members on that council.

Anonymous said...

Re: 10:18 am post

I, like most people, found out about Act 55 and PLDC after it was passed rather secretively by the legislature and signed by the gov. The PLDC public hearing on Kauai and the Governor's meeting that followed, showed strong public opposition of Act 55. Mel appears to flip flop and that's why I questioned his sincerity. I did say I appreciated his help, but that I would remain "cautiously optimistic" when it comes to Mel over the long haul.

Anonymous said...

I heard about 55 just like you through the grape vine after it was passed. I understand your optimism, but keep in mind that Mel is a politician and he represents all on Kauai. Trying to please everyone is surely a challenge. I have faith in Mel to make the right choices. And if he is wrong he will be the first to admit it. Most council members hold a firm stand on their personal agendas. Mel's ability to work with all walks of life makes him a valuable asset.

Anonymous said...

I cut some fresh roses for my dining room table today. They sure smell good and give you an invigorating feeling of life on our beautiful island.

Anonymous said...

Mel rocks. He always says it like it is. I'll choose him over Joann and Bynam everyday.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Mel and Shay both have trolls stationed on Joan's blog to leave positive comments. They must be feelling a little insecure.

Anonymous said...

Mel is the kind of dirt bag clown that would stoop as low as go on to a family members facebook account to talk trash about people. What a juvenile turncoat that bozo is.

Anonymous said...

Ask Aurero Moore's Family what they think and feel about Mel.

Anonymous said...

joan your dig at mel is off the mark. his public record on GMO is pretty clear. ask jeri depietro.

Joan Conrow said...

I don't need to ask Jeri. I'm going by his own statement:

Councilman Mel Rapozo said GMO is responsible for saving many countries from starvation. The GMO companies have provided economic stimulation, and no studies have convinced him whether such products are unsafe, he said.

Anonymous said...

His statments wasn't even one of the most ignorant things that we've heard him say. He doesn't even know of studies that have proven GMO and their pesticides to be toxic, he probably doesn't know that countries have banned GMO. The country that has created GMO does not even grow their products in their country. Mel runs his mouth but doesn't know what he is saying until someone tells him what's popular and what's not. He and Kipu are clearly pandering for Votes. What a total disgrace!

Anonymous said...

Hi Joan,,
RE : PLDC


Did you ever research how long it can take to get a County SMA or Engineering Dept permit? Thats the primary reason in trying to subvert the County input into State land issues. When you apply to the Feds for permits they have rules regarding how long they may take before responding to permit applications. The county has NO rules. That means they can take as long as they want. Do you know that SMA which is governed by the Stae CZM office has no rules which guide the County. That gives Maui the right to make a different decision than Kauai in identical decisions..

Anonymous said...

Yeah that heffer would attack people on his relatives Facebook!

Joan Conrow said...

Thanks for your comment, 8:06, and it's a good point. However, I'm not sure there ever could be a one-size-fits all approach to SMA decisions. Aren't these lands designated as such because they have unique characteristics?