Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Musings: What's Happening?

So let's see, what's happening out there aside from whales jumping on the horizon and brisk trade winds kicking up the surf along the eastside?

Well, James Alalem and Raymond Catania were arrested on charges of obstructing this morning at Wailua beach. The two had built a rock ahu to mark the location of a heiau along the route of the county's controversial Path and wanted to make sure it was not disturbed by construction crews.

Both men were released without having to post bail, according to Police Chief Darryl Perry. They are scheduled to appear in court on the petty misdemeanor charges at 8 a.m. March 20. Jimbo previously was convicted of interfering with a government operation when he attempted to stop a backhoe from digging up iwi kupuna to make way for a bathroom at Kaumualii Park by the Wailua River.

Why does the government constantly create these kinds of stand-offs with Hawaiians?

While we're on the topic of sacred land, Presley Wann, president of Hui O Makaainana O Makana, came on KKCR yesterday to announce that he had been “reassured by the state they are not going to do any kind of clearing, scaling or touching of Makana.” As you may recall, I previously reported that kanaka were up in arms over a state proposal to conduct rock mitigation on the distinctive peak using the same invasive methods employed on the cliffside along the highway leading into Hanalei Valley.

Instead, Presley reported, the state plans to do a scientific study to project where a rock might land if it does fall from the mountain. The state, of course, is motivated by liability concerns after falling rocks killed and injured some folks on Oahu. It doesn't want that happening to one among the hordes who visit Kee Beach.

And yes, we're talking hordes. Presely and Joel Guy noted that some of the surveys conducted for the Kee-Haena State Park Master Plan showed as many as 2,000 visitors use the area per day. How fricking nuts is that? Since the state plans to put up a gate so it can collect revenues, it's pressing to allow the max number of tourists into the park. But citizens reviewing the master plan, many of whom have ancestral connections to Haena, are pushing for visitor limits based on what the resource can sustain. Gee, what a radical concept for a park, especially one created in such a culturally significant area as Haena.

Shifting gears, Hawaii Reporter — and it kinda gags me to reference that rightwing rag — is reporting that our planning director, Mike Dahilig, has his eyes on decidedly greener pastures: executive administrator to the UH Board of Regents, a job that reportedly pays $150,000 annually.

The article was actually about Mike getting dinged in a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing for letting UH pick up the tab for him to attend various sporting events, including the 2008 Sugar Bowl in Louisiana. During his six years on the Board of Regents, Mike reportedly took $12,509 in athletic tickets, airfare, hotel and gifts. Though UH officials said it wasn't that much, some Senators reportedly told Hawaii Reporter that it was an example of the waste, abuse and bloat that plagues the University.

Speaking of waste, abuse and bloat, let's turn our attention to the state Legislature. The House is set to hear two bills Friday morning that would introduce some sense into the medical cannabis program.

HB668 wisely seeks to move the program from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Heatlh and requires DPS to assist with the transfer. Let's hope they can pry this program out of DPS' gun-toting hands and give it the proper agency to administer.

HB667 allows caregivers to care for up to 5 qualifying patients, gives patients immunity from searches, seizures, and prosecution while transporting it, allows out of state patients to use their prescriptions here, increases the allowable amount to 10 plants and five ounces of usable stuff and delete the address where plants are grown from the patient's blue card. Further, physicians no longer would have to disclose the specific medical condition of their patients to the regulating state agency. Yes, finally some patient privacy.

Our own Rep. Dee Morikawa was among the lawmakers sponsoring both bills — mahalo Dee! — and she also serves on the Health Committee that will be hearing these measures. 

You can submit testimony for either bill — reference the bill number and testimony in the subject line — via email at HLTtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov. Or click on the links I've provided to give testimony on-line.

Regardless of how you feel about cannabis, the current program is unjustly discriminatory to patients. No other prescription holder in the state has to jump through these hoops and be subjected to this sort of governmental scrutiny.

Meanwhile, HB699, which would legalize cannabis, is set for a formal decision-making vote Thursday afternoon. Some 250 pieces of written testimony were submitted in favor, and only 41 in opposition. I skimmed through some of that testimony, and a lot of it is was very poignant and thoughtful.  It definitely tossed out the stereotype that pot smokers are brain dead losers. Though I imagine President Obama's admission of serious ganja smoking in high school has offered the most effective proof that smoking the herb — even as a teen —doesn't mean your life is ruined. Unless you're arrested for it, in which case things start to go seriously downhill. And that's just one reason why we need to legalize it.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let's pray Mike gets a new job and Kauai gets a real planning director with real experience.

Anonymous said...

Attended the "2008 Sugar Bowl in Louisiana"

I remember that game. The local UH kids looked like little shrimps next to those big Georgia players. It was not even close. But I'm sure the UH students can still feel good knowing their tuition went to free tix for da maka makas.

Anonymous said...

So where did mike come from, and how did it come to pass that he came to kauai? Did he break da law again when he was appointed to be director by da mayor

Anonymous said...

He didn't break the law(at least not in this case)...the mayor may have bent the rules in order to put him in office. The Planning Commissioners were convinced by the mayor to appoint him.

whatever happen to those people -you know aloha goes a long way - one commissioner accepted an appointed job with the county, one of a commissioner's son got a job with the county, just a little aloha, you know...

Anonymous said...

So who were the Hawaiians in the stand off?
Not jimbo.
He built that pile of rocks last year without consulting any of the cultural folks from Wailua.

Anonymous said...

Jimbo does his consulting directly with the spirits.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the UH, SB 963 wants the state general fund to be the collection pot for tuitions, fees, etc. instead of the University.

Where have we heard that before? Kind of like hurricane and tobacco lawsuit money that never make it to their intended purposes.

Or maybe Abercrombie wants to privatize the UH under the PLDC.

Anonymous said...

Mde up religious practices, fake heiau, fake Hawaiian culturalists.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for finding yet another GOBAG that has to just go...

Anonymous said...

Don't forget the meeting that is scheduled for the public on THURSDAY MORNING Feb. 7 at 9AM at the Courtyard Marriott in Kapa'a makai of Wahooooos restaurant, about the fraud, genocide and desecration that continues at Wailuanuiahoano where MORE evidence of desecration, genocide and fraud will be presented... EXPECT US TO SHOW UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY BECAUSE WE ARE IDLE NO MORE!!!!

Anonymous said...

Lets hope Mike stays because he is leading a invigorated planning department that is much improved since the last director was let go.

Anonymous said...

February 7, 2013 at 11:38 AM

yup by hiring a former UH football player... yea mike.

Go Warriors...

whatever.

Anonymous said...

That's not saying much. Under Ian's leadership, anyone would've been better. It took 20 years to pull the plug on Coco Palms. Is the County only moving on it now because of the bike path construction? Doesn't look good to all the tourists who will be riding/walking by that eyesore. Whatever. Mother nature will undo what Noyes, Haigh and Cavarlho won't.

Anonymous said...

With zero management experience, less than 8 years planning experience (typically the requirement for a real planning director)...get real he is a joke and a puppet of the mayor.

Anonymous said...

Haole logic:

Jimbo is brown. Hawaiians are brown. Therefore, Jimbo is Hawaiian.

Raymond is brown. Hawaiians are brown. Therefore, Raymond is Hawaiian.

Anonymous said...

No, some Hawaiians are white. Haven't you heard the Shilo Pa song?

Anonymous said...

Let's spend more money building improvements next to a shoreline that's prone to disappearing every so many years. It will be a monument to the god of stupidity, worshipped by many in government.