tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post6010359858458839622..comments2023-10-17T04:51:08.765-10:00Comments on KauaiEclectic: Musings: DreamingJoan Conrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-59346205198300225292014-05-19T01:35:24.491-10:002014-05-19T01:35:24.491-10:00"Change is the law of life. And those who onl..."Change is the law of life. And those who only look at the past or present are certain to miss the future" JFKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-51344781616046375432014-05-18T15:12:13.543-10:002014-05-18T15:12:13.543-10:00Off topic, but what was that prosecutor smoking? ...Off topic, but what was that prosecutor smoking? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-73123551816994493482014-05-18T14:34:31.264-10:002014-05-18T14:34:31.264-10:002:02. Except it wasn't my assertion at all tha...2:02. Except it wasn't my assertion at all that that was a cause, but rather that the dreaminess and fixation on GMOs and sustainability were doing nothing to address the economic and social woes. Joan Conrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00172330100788007499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-22156983750101565292014-05-18T14:02:33.785-10:002014-05-18T14:02:33.785-10:00however, in a piece that rightly elevates the issu...however, in a piece that rightly elevates the issue of an impoverishment of experience by longstanding families of modest means here on Kaua`i, the conclusion could not be more off-base in identifying the primary causes of this state of affairs.<br /><br />it is perversely laughable to assert: "dreams about pristine Kauai leading the global fight against GMOs, and everyone living happily ever after sustained solely by a "yarden." are somehow plausibly the main causes of economic assault. <br /><br />a smart cookie like you ought to know better, and i suspect you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-45471332266791462022014-05-18T13:47:58.671-10:002014-05-18T13:47:58.671-10:00No it's part of the BS that happened here, whe...No it's part of the BS that happened here, where the visitor destination area was allowed to creep into communities and turn into resorts no local people can afford. How nice of you to tell us to fuck off now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-16660948488958899552014-05-18T13:00:26.439-10:002014-05-18T13:00:26.439-10:00People take pride in things they had no hand in. ...People take pride in things they had no hand in. Redeculous.<br /><br />People who want extra credit for where they were born usually have not accomplished anything of significance. <br /><br />Until the rules change, it takes money to buy a house and being born on Kauai is not even a part of the loan application.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-36236461657876463402014-05-18T09:21:28.586-10:002014-05-18T09:21:28.586-10:00Being born on Kauai does not give anyone the right...Being born on Kauai does not give anyone the right to own a house . Th w world/society owes you nothing for being born in a particular place . Like it or not Money gets you a house. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-84867177663670025972014-05-17T23:14:36.339-10:002014-05-17T23:14:36.339-10:00This article rally toes together all the various t...This article rally toes together all the various topics driving change on Kauai: the landowners, the sellouts, the dreamers, the marketing, the (self-)deception, the rent-seekers, and the ruthless takers.<br /><br />Does anyone dare to dream about real independence? Not the Polynesian Kingdom style, more like the Bahamas (a little Commonwealth influence might be a welcome thing). Near as I can tell, that's the only way to get real control of the land back--to remove it from the US system of greed. What would the constitution say, how would it guarantee the rights of the Hawaiians (and what exactly would those rights be)? How would it prevent corruption and greed? Could an independent Kauai reach a stable and not destitute financial and social balance?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-43845629797549163852014-05-17T22:00:50.793-10:002014-05-17T22:00:50.793-10:00This topic has been bouncing around in my head for...This topic has been bouncing around in my head for a long time, and Joan nails it with the title Dreaming. Are we really trying to live here, or are we (the transplants, a majority of the readers I assume) just dreaming of doing good, doing right? How can you tell? <br /><br />I just went for a walk to Papa'a bay, and it's clear there are a lot of rich dreamers owning property around there, and not just the Tara estate. <br /><br />That childhood poverty number, if accurate, is appalling. Or are those my mainland standards? I see not rich local kids having fun at the beach (NOT Papa'a bay, though), with smiles full of false teeth, but I also see a lot of homeless with snotty kids--and they're not going to remember those as the hanabata days.<br /><br />As a transplant myself, I remain unsettled.<br /><br />There's a good companion piece over at IslandBreath:<br /><br />http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-end-of-end-of-nature.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-24240846659919912522014-05-17T19:37:08.261-10:002014-05-17T19:37:08.261-10:00In my immediate neighborhood in "the house lo...<br />In my immediate neighborhood in "the house lots" I know of 4 vacant houses owned by local families that will not rent to any one no local or newbie. Those house have sat vacant for years.<br />So, many land owners share the blame for the lack of and cost of housing.<br />No telling how many more houses or ohana units in this subdivision are vacant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-36131622344949407512014-05-17T15:19:57.686-10:002014-05-17T15:19:57.686-10:00the crush of an ever-increasing cost of living on ...the crush of an ever-increasing cost of living on kaua`i has been driving out local families for quite some time, and it is truly a shame. it would be wonderful to be able to tackle this issue, and begin to turn the corner on it, but the complexity is great, and agreeing to genuine answers that can be implemented as effective policy is not so simple.<br /><br />tectonic shifts like this don't happen for just one or two reasons, but are the result of a multitude of factors that align in their cumulative impact. So untangling this has proven most difficult, and it is not readily apparent that anyone is even trying.<br /><br />take housing for example. i suppose all housing is affordable to someone, but the great bulk of housing is not affordable to local working class families, nor is it intended to be. Instead, the market - from the builders, to the real-estate agents, to the county caters to an affluent global market, because of the increased opportunity for profit. <br /><br />TVR's jack up the price of existing rental housing stock, pricing local families out of their homes again becuase of the increased amount of money the home owner can make w/vacation rentals to tourists.<br /><br />Local government, which could play an important role in buffering market forces that are in direct conflict w/local community's needs proves ineffective, perhaps in part because as property values are driven up, the tax base grows.<br /><br />And so it goes. Everyone is a winner - "we all love the natural beauty of Kaua`i" - except most of the people who have lived here for generations, and can hardly afford to maintain pace with the ever rising costs just to live here.<br /><br />Much more can be said about this, but i will close with this - cudos joan for writing about this critical issue. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-44665962719458315862014-05-16T13:50:48.586-10:002014-05-16T13:50:48.586-10:00More money on the island is a good thing.
Most ric...More money on the island is a good thing.<br />Most rich folks live and let live.<br />It is the fringe newbies, first born of rich haloes and Nimbys that are killing the island.<br />Big land owners will Not have public interest in their plans, as long as the public blames big land guys for our ills.<br />Big land owners have been taking care of their land for a long time and they will continue to do so.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-50794252400820752352014-05-16T13:27:16.231-10:002014-05-16T13:27:16.231-10:00The real problem is the Council.
A developer who c...The real problem is the Council.<br />A developer who can find suitable land for "middle income" working folks has years of BS, nam by pamby Bynum types that question every motive. Why would any one put their money and dreams in the hands of these obvious hypocrites.<br />We as citizens are responsible for our government.<br />Be wary of of anyone who does not put the people of Kauai first.<br />Oh By the way, Jackpot Timmy, most of Kauai's working people rent. Your self centered "tax raises" will raise rents.<br />Time to get to basics. Make homes easy to build for the young folks.<br />Before you vote, look at the personal history of our "leaders", where they got their money and who their backers are.<br />A vote for Jackpot Bynum or ANY of the babeezes who gifted him his half mill and cost the County another mill is a vote for 'let's cheat the Kauai citizen. This includes the former locals, Jay and Joann, developer Gary and "oh gee? What do I do now" , Chock.<br />What a cast of players.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-69541051211751879842014-05-16T08:41:16.776-10:002014-05-16T08:41:16.776-10:00gigantic cash will continue to want their peice of...gigantic cash will continue to want their peice of Kauai. Although soulless and bent on profits over community concerns, they will not stop. GF Case is class example of promises to do good, slowly backtracking non fulfilling. Ohana realty promising to be "good stewards" and"eco" of hanalei ridge they salivate over developing all the while struggling to prove Pierre is an authentic giver. All commodities. zero humanity. Been in the midst with Chinese billionaire lately and Russian ex polit bureau billionaire wanting in here. many sucking up to the rich to catch their drippings. again, they will not stop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-74209567499270371212014-05-16T07:55:29.690-10:002014-05-16T07:55:29.690-10:00"The TVR have taken many rentals away from us..."The TVR have taken many rentals away from us middle class people too and killed communities like Hanalei and the North shore."<br /><br />You're joking, right?? The middle class can't even afford the NON-tvr homes in Hanalie-Haena, which sell for big $$$ even without being TVR's.. Even if you eliminated every TVR on the island, Kauai real estate prices in many communities would still be far higher than the middle class can afford. Take away every vacation rental in Malibu and Aspen, and you're still going to have very wealthy people buying up those properties. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-37386348525753329112014-05-15T23:57:53.812-10:002014-05-15T23:57:53.812-10:00joan if you do some digging.. you will find grove ...joan if you do some digging.. you will find grove farms making some really strange decisions. they haven't followed through with any of their so called projects like the koloa camp homes… never even got the permit.. what about wainani development? the walkable sports/city center right off the airport… oh yeah thats corn field… heard GF is about to kick out the nursery in lihue along the highway. shame. looks like they are good at selling… or selling out. who's in charge over there? id certainly like to know who is making these decisions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-41754690880369565512014-05-15T15:59:15.033-10:002014-05-15T15:59:15.033-10:00Interesting comment about "middle class newco...Interesting comment about "middle class newcomers who have caused the shortage of affordable housing...."<br /><br />That's one way of looking at it. Always a scape goat in everyone's predicament. Could people locally afford a middle class type of home rental as in Princeville? Would they want to live there paying 2,100 bucks or more a month?<br /><br />IF we all could live in grass shacks, we would. But they are not permitted. The old plantation shacks for sugar cane workers be better? They are not built to code.<br /><br />Scape goat:<br />The TVR have taken many rentals away from us middle class people too and killed communities like Hanalei and the North shore.<br /><br />The super rich are always investing in new money making opportunities with no consideration to impacts, and donate money to charitable organizations because ...they need the tax right offs.<br /><br />If you haven't by now, its ALWAYS about making money, and the dream of making even more.<br /><br />Or perhaps, we would have a new way of dealing with waste,sustainable energy, pollution and have a landfill without problems, a drug rehabilitation facility for our island kids and teenagers, more beach access, better education on island so that the lower class could elevate themselves to the disappearing middle class.<br /><br />People in service of other people do not think that way. We just want to be able to pay our bills and survive, and have some time to enjoy the island.<br /><br />Perhaps we should all move back to the mainland, make some money and come to enjoy the TVRs?<br /><br />Dreams are best enjoyed in bed.<br /><br />Dr ShibaiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-42010655584777000122014-05-15T14:59:41.808-10:002014-05-15T14:59:41.808-10:00Did the Indians stop people moving West? Nope! H...Did the Indians stop people moving West? Nope! Hawaii is next! Its not a fact now...but it will be!! People will try to slow it down .. but the rush will be overwhelming .. the galloping horses are full on coming around the cornerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-42523195100498081912014-05-15T14:38:17.483-10:002014-05-15T14:38:17.483-10:00Definition of a happy local: Someone who arrived ...Definition of a happy local: Someone who arrived in Kauai with more money than the local who was there before them. <br /><br />Definition of an angry (ex) local: A local who was displaced by someone with more money. <br /><br />Example: The Taylor camp crew were once happy locals, then became angry locals once hippies and surfers with the ability to make a few bucks came along and displaced them. <br /><br />Point: This process has been going on for about 150 years on Kauai, and for 10,000 years in the rest of the world. The "locals" are often just the last group to have arrived, but of course, insist on the right to preclude anyone with more means to come along and raise real estate prices - exactly what they themselves did when they arrived a generation earlier, because every newcomer creates more demand for housing. The character of neighborhoods and communities all over the world has been in constant flux for thousands of years - and most attempts to "freeze" them from being subject to change usually leads to far worse, artificial outcomes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-33703896240379030832014-05-15T13:18:17.129-10:002014-05-15T13:18:17.129-10:00How is that interesting ?How is that interesting ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-25804508992374735772014-05-15T12:37:32.146-10:002014-05-15T12:37:32.146-10:00Interestingly, it the wealthy newcomers who cause ...Interestingly, it the wealthy newcomers who cause development pressure on Kauai's open lands yet it is the working and middle-class newcomers who have caused the shortage of affordable housing in our existing communities. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-37302265099226369112014-05-15T11:56:17.383-10:002014-05-15T11:56:17.383-10:00Grove Farm 2.0 was also able to Sell the Shopping ...Grove Farm 2.0 was also able to Sell the Shopping Center for $63M, Costco lot for $6M, Home Depot lot for $4M, New Safeway lot $11M, Poipu Bay Golf Course for $8M, Village West Servco lots for $4.5M, not to mention other Village West lots and the Puako Phase II and Pikake subdivision lots.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875069982976812251.post-24396930648080053912014-05-15T11:13:25.707-10:002014-05-15T11:13:25.707-10:00Perhaps if you posted all the lyrics to "Mone...Perhaps if you posted all the lyrics to "Money" more people would understand why people will do just about anything to have. "Money it's hit ...don't give me that goody good bullshit"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com