Monday, June 21, 2010

Musings: Gold Rush

Last night’s Rorschach black cloud beneath a swirling vortex that hid the moon gave way to this morning’s summer solstice sunrise, which was all about gold, as in gold light shining on Makaleha, gold shafts beaming through the trees, gold wisps floating across a blue sky.

It was not about the kind of gold that A&B seeks to mine from Kukuiula, the upscale vacation home community on the southside:

”For those of you who want to become a developer, I want to share my pain with you,” said A&B Properties Executive Vice President Paul Hallin during the start of his speech.

Oh, yes, Paul. Cry us a river all the way to the bank. Of course, he was speaking to a sympathetic crowd at the Chamber of Commerce membership meeting. Meanwhile, one of his VPs, Brent Harrington, had this to say about a project that is described by residents as "the destruction of Koloa" and by its developer as “very sophisticated, cutting-edge,” yet somehow still having the "feel of a small plantation town:"

In addition, it “will create significant employment” and an “economic ecosystem” which will benefit the local community, he said.

I heard the other day that all the words like natural, sustainable, family farm, organic, pristine, green — words that used to mean something — have been co-opted by big business to sell stuff that’s not. And now, apparently, they’ve even bastardized the definition of ecosystem.

Brent’s comments brought to mind a comment I heard this weekend from a mainland transplant. He was wondering why locals like Ian Costa, Roland Sagum, Walton Hong and others are so eager to accommodate developers, vacation rental owners and the gentrification of ag land:

“They’re actually working to limit their own opportunities,” he said. “Don’t they realize that all this development is only going to attract more haoles, until they eventually take over the place?”

Like so many questions posed about the way things are done on Kauai, I really couldn’t come up with an answer that made any sense, except “there’s gold in them thar beaches and hills!”

On a related note, I picked up my health food co-op order the other day from a North Shore ag land parcel that is obviously a working farm. It has fields planted in crops, a tractor, farm workers in the fields, a packing shed used for packing veggies, steady customers who buy its produce. The main house is simple and rustic, as are the two vacation rental units (TVR) that help this real farm stay in business.

Indeed, it is the only farm in that neighborhood, which is zoned ag. But it is not the only place with vacation rentals. And it struck me as patently unfair that this place should be treated the same as ag lots that have been operating TVRs without even a semblance of farm use.

As I drove away, I thought of how bogus the discussion has been about what constitutes a farm. If you send an inspector out to look, it’s quite obvious who is actually using their ag land for agriculture. But if you don’t go look, or more importantly, don’t want to see, then you can pretend a mansion sitting on acres of lawn is actually a farm dwelling.

Some folks think that implementing a county manager system will improve the functioning of government on Kauai. I understand their hopefulness, but do they really imagine the Mayor and Council will bring in someone knowledgeable and experienced, from outside, no less, who will usurp their power and make them all look bad?

In reading The Garden Island’s report on a recent public meeting about that concept, I wasn’t sure which I found more disturbing, the fact that Sonny Gerado actually served as second in command of the county for eight years, or his comment that he "has not seen any mayor have a substandard performance.”

Like I said, if you don’t look, or don’t want to see…..

Getting back to land use, I had a voice mail message this weekend from Jennie Yukimura, JoAnn’s mom. She wanted my address, because she’d written me a letter. I was nervous returning her call, wondering if I’d penned something that offended or upset her.

That kind of tension is one of the casualties associated with being outspoken on a small island. I also felt it when my landlady told me yesterday that she read my blog.

“Oh, really,” I said noncommittally, unsure what her reaction might be.

“Yes, and I thought, how can such a sweet girl say some of these things? And some of the language you use! But you know, what it came down to is I really respect you for speaking up. Because it’s obvious that you really care about Kauai.”

It turns out Jennie’s thoughts were along the same lines, but about someone else.

“I just wanted to thank you for writing that letter to the newspaper defending Caren Diamond,” Jennie told me. “I admire her so much. She does so much. She works so hard, and it’s not for herself, you know. It’s for all of us, because she really cares about the island. If you see her, would you please let her know how much I appreciate what she does?”

“Yes,” I assured her. “I’ll pass that along.”

Because people like Caren are worth their weight in gold.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

“Don’t they realize that all this development is only going to attract more haoles, until they eventually take over the place?”

And what's wrong with that? It's a free country where we all, given financial ability, can move about the country at will.

Or would you impose racial quotas?

Anonymous said...

a project that is described by residents as "the destruction of Koloa"

Oh please. By a tiny handful of perpetually disgruntled residents, maybe. But not me or the other Koloa residents I know. We're grateful for the addition of several good restaurants in the area and the greater opportunities for local merchants.

You have a right to your your knee jerk counter cultural antagonism to the hopes and aspirations of normal middle class Kauai residents. But don't go around thinking your sneering superior attitude and conventional anti capitalist pose represent "residents" in any general sense. Not at all.

Anonymous said...

Brent’s comments brought to mind a comment I heard this weekend from a mainland transplant. He was wondering why locals like Ian Costa, Roland Sagum, Walton Hong and others are so eager to accommodate developers, vacation rental owners and the gentrification of ag land:

“They’re actually working to limit their own opportunities,” he said. “Don’t they realize that all this development is only going to attract more haoles, until they eventually take over the place?”


What a stupid comment. Even if haoles "take over the place" (eyes rolling) it would in no way limit the opportunities of enterprising successful local professionals who would in fact benefit in a growing market.

Andrew Cooper said...

An interesting, and enlightening set of comments that say a lot about the issues! No growth won't work, the exploitative development that has been so common in the islands is simply destructive. The middle ground is hard to find. And those of us who would like to see a middle road find it difficult with ever more extremist views on either side. Of course this applies to a lot of current issues.

"has not seen any mayor have a substandard performance."... It all has to do with what standards you are using!

jackbauer said...

TO: June 21, 2010 9:11 AM.


Joan may appear to have a superior ʻattitudeʻ to some, I guess you could say, although she does not seem to perceive herself as such; so how would we analyze this?

My description of Joan is that she is superior because she has a keen ability for insight in matters that go over most peopleʻs heads.

As far as the ʻattitudeʻ part, you are off the mark.

There, does that help?

Anonymous said...

Don't kid yourself. Your opinion that Joan is superior is just because you happen to agree with her politics. I'm sure you would view anyone with the same political/social opinions as you as "superior."

Anonymous said...

I'm pro-development.

I want Kauai to become like Malibu.

Or Maui.

jackbauer said...

I guess that would be because my political/social opinions are superior.

Dawson said...

"Your opinion that Joan is superior is just because you happen to agree with her politics."

My opinion of those who claim to be able to divine someone's reasoning, motivation and affiliation from a few words on the internet, is that they're intellectually crapacious.

Anonymous said...

That's too funny jb: "Joan doesn't act superior, she is superior"

Anonymous said...

What a stupid comment. Even if haoles "take over the place" (eyes rolling) it would in no way limit the opportunities of enterprising successful local professionals who would in fact benefit in a growing market.

If haoles were running the show they wouldn't need the locals for influence peddling.

Anonymous said...

If haoles were running the show they wouldn't need the locals for influence peddling.

Is that your racist opinion: that locals can't compete in the market with haoles and that they are only good for "influence peddling"? Man, getchoself a white hood and a cross ta burn!

jack said...

"If haoles were running the show they wouldn't need the locals for influence peddling."

heyyyyy cool dude, funny how you coined the exact right correct word for roland sackum: ʻinfluence peddlingʻ.

Costa and the rest are definitely bottom feeders and theyʻll syphon the slime off a wall if you throw em a crumb.

Anonymous said...

"I'm pro-development.

I want Kauai to become like Malibu."

You mean with the sewage spills, landslides and wildfires? If you went to a private school, ask for your money back.

Anonymous said...

seems like Ian has gotten more than crumbs for selling his soul along with Kauai

Anonymous said...

seems like Ian has gotten more than crumbs for selling his soul along with Kauai

translation: Ian's legal analysis on behalf of the county pursuant to his job as deputy county attorney sometimes allows people to do things with their private property that I personally wish they would not be allowed to do, and I am so closed minded and blinded by my own selfish preferences that I cannot comprehend that other points of view might be valid and can only imagine that people who disagree with me must be evil and/or on the take.

Anonymous said...

Joan's referring to Ian Costa, the Planning Director. He's not a deputy county attorney.

jack said...

Hate to be negative but as far as Joann Yukimuraʻs past phoniness, Iʻd say she was sucking up by proxy. Hey ma can you pitch for me?

Anonymous said...

I dunno about past phoniness, but I think the Joann of the seventies would disagree with Joann today. I liked her better back then. More idealist than realist. I know Joan would have liked Joann the politician in the seventies.

Anonymous said...

"Joan doesn't act superior, she is superior"

good for you!