Sunday, August 22, 2010

Musings: Sunday Ramblings

The moon, full on Tuesday, lit up the night, peeking in through the skylight, darting behind clouds, staring through the window before it slipped behind the mountains, restoring darkness for a brief spell before dawn.

The sun was barely above the horizon, tentatively sending out gold and scarlet rays, when the rain arrived and drummed it into gray submission. Then it moved on and Koko and I moved out into a landscape that was all fresh and wet.

We surprisingly ran into farmer Jerry, prompting me to ask what he was doing out so early on a Sunday morning and of course he was headed over to help set up the county fair — for the third day in a row. And next week he’ll help man it for four days, then take it all down.

A lot goes into the farm fair, just like a lot went into the ‘Aha Hula that Kehau Kekua’s halau shared yesterday, what with an ono feast prepared by Stacy guys at Waipa — she is a member of the halau, and one of her daughters danced last night — decorations, music, beautiful costumes, lei and several amazing hours of chants and dance.

We sat on the lawn at Church of the Pacific, cloud-shrouded mountains at our backs, the sparkling blue ocean before us and off to the side was the brownish-grey creep of Princeville. Behind us was the steady roar of the highway, and we were looking at what used to be the old road: no shoulder, meandering, and narrow enough to prompt a complaint from my father, years ago, when he visited, and my sister, a New Zealander, to reply: “Well yes, it is a wee road, but this is a wee island.”

Things sure have changed. A commenter on a recent post complained that this blog so often gets into politics. It’s hard to escape them when you see their implications all around you, and even harder this time of year. I ran into JoAnn Yukimura, who said that during the election season she might be at a drag race in Mana one night and a hula event on the North Shore the next.

“Do you even need to campaign?” I asked of the woman who has been a force in local politics for some four decades. “Doesn’t everyone know you?”

“No,” she said. “Some people know me, but don’t know I’m running for Council. And some of the young people and new residents don’t know me at all.”

One place to see just about everyone on the Island is the farm fair, and Jerry said candidates requested so many booths this year that there wasn’t room for some of the nonprofits that usually have a presence. Apparently Mufi Hannemann wanted to sponsor the piggy race, but the fair doesn’t go in for political sponsorships.

It does, however, accept corporate sponsorships. I heard the fair ad on the radio the other day, talking about the Verizon opening night, and the Monsanto hall and the Grove Farm tent. I understand they need/want the money, but it’s creepy and weird that so many things/places/events in our lives are “owned” by the corporations. But they have their way because they give not only money, but “volunteers” who are on the clock for their jobs.

Nonprofits, especially small ones, can never compete, which is why you won’t see a GMO Free Kauai tent at the fair – and perhaps not even a booth or table.

And private investors apparently cannot compete against the federal government, at least, not when it comes to fulfilling Mufi Hannemann’s dream of resurrecting the Superferry. As KITV reported:

Gubernatorial Candidate Mufi Hannemann (D) has touted reviving the bankrupt Hawaii Superferry as one of the cornerstones of his economic revival plan.

Hannemann made the proposal last month when he announced his 10 point plan to stimulate Hawaii's economy.

Hannemann said he had talked to a group of private investors eager to revive the inter-island ferry service.

But U.S. Maritime Administrator David Matsuda said Friday the Maritime Administration expects to be the winning bidder when the Superferry vessels are put up for auction.

Matsuda said he doubts any private bidder could compete to buy the ships.


It seems Mufi guys were banking on a fire sale, and hoped to scoop up the ferries — now docked in Norfolk, Va. — for no more than $40 million each, according to KITV. But the feds already have $150 million into the boats, and besides, they’ve discovered just how handy they can be:

"They are extremely versatile as we saw the military successfully activate them for use in the response to the earthquake in Haiti. We saw what they can do," said Matsunda.

At last, they seem destined to serve their true calling.

It’s interesting that Mufi has been pushing the HSF, especially as part of an economic plan. Regardless of how one feels about the ferry, it was losing money badly. It’s hard to see how it could go, even if the boats were bought cheap, unless it was subsidized by government and military contracts. And that is not a good thing.

Perhaps he’s willing to risk turning off voters on the Neighbor Islands, where he is reportedly stronger than Abercrombie, to court voters on Oahu, where he’s lagging. Not that polls really mean all that much. Especially when there’s so much more money to be spent, and mud to be slung, influencing voters in the next four weeks.

And finally, we got a sad and ugly look locally at how the ill-conceived Iraq war just keeps on killing, long after the previously normal soldiers — or in this case, National Guardsman — come home.

After returning, he [Clayborne Conley] suffered from insomnia, combat nightmares, startle reactions, morbid ruminations, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol abuse, court records said.

Nearly as troubling as the three deaths that occurred is what this comment portends:

[Fred] Ballard, with [Hawaii Dept. of] Veterans Affairs, said PTSD and traumatic brain injury are the predominant injuries of the current conflicts in the Middle East.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kehau's Aha Hula was a truly inspiring event and the beauty of Hanalei as you described was the perfect venue. My husband and I reflected on the old road. As a young child in the mid sixties I remember riding on that road to go to church in Hanalei w/ my family in our Volkswagen van. I can recall the breathtaking beauty of that ride as the rolling pastures of Princeville Ranch stretched from mauka to makai dropping sharply to the sparkling blue sea. Na Molokama standing proudly in the calm. My first glimpse of Hanalei Valley simply took my breath away. Imagine Hanalei Town back then before the invasion. The valley floor planted in kalo and Hanalei river meandering gently to the cresent bay as it still is today but then many old time families lived in their modest homes and there was no proliferation of mansion/tvrs.

Kehau's mana'o about these wahi Kapu (sacred places) reminded me of the importance of these places. I no longer live in the district of Halele'a and the drastic changes keep me away most of the time. Aha Hula rekindled my affection for the area that captured my heart over 40 years ago. Mahalo Nui e Kehaulani.

Anonymous said...

The rolling hills that were princeville were so beautiful before being graded into a golf course, forevermore spewing chemical pesticides, fungicide, insecticides and herbicides into the glorious Hanalei Bay. I used to love the plum lined roadway. They decided to give Princeville the road when they made a new straigher highway so more tourists could quickly drive to Ke'e. I thought I was in california looking to the left, the land was plastered with redundant looking CA timeshares. Really ugly.

Princeville certainly is not sacred to the developers who built it out as fast as they could sell. Now with the economic downturn, the value has dropped dramatically.
Princeville, though, at least went through the required zoning changes before using the AG land for resorts unlike the greedy in Hanalei and on AG lands like Kaupea who are making farming and residential communities resorts, nevermind the zoning change. Princeville is the VDA(visitors destination area) , not Hanalei.

The hula event was inspiring, Mahalo nui to Kumu and all the dancers.They were fab

John Keomailani said...

My family and I drove from the westside to attend the halau's `Aha Hula event. We missed it last year because it was sold out in advance and this year, we made sure to get our tickets early before it sold out once again. (Which it did) Kumu Hula Kehaulani Kekua has the ability to take this or any traditional hula event she creates to any place on this island and transport those in her audience to a different plane an d time. The magic and the mana that she possesses is inspiring! It was a beautiful, beautiful day. Many of the chants and dances that were selected for presentation were of and for Hanalei and Kaua`i. I am amazed of the impressive caliber of the more than 40 chants and hula that were shared with us - not missing a beat, every word and phrase,and vocal pattern was delivered one after the other from memory and a connection to her ancestors and gods that was moving and powerful. I know her ancestors and akuas were present, showing signs of approval that came in the form of a roll of thunder (yet no rain!), multiple appearances of rainbows, rain sprinkles here and there when she chanted of it and a double rainbow at the close of the event as they paid tribute to Kaua`i's King Kaumuali`i. I am proud to say that Kaua`i has a kumu that is true to its roots, that has expertise and knowledge of her island and openly shares that knowledge with residents and visitors who came to be a part of this incredible sharing. This `Aha Hula event and Kumu Kehaulani is a wonderful gift to Kaua`i and the Hawaiian culture. I look forward to `Aha Hula 2011 next year!

Anonymous said...

Conrow said, "'volunteers' who are on the clock for their jobs."

Shame on you, Joan. You know that's a lie and that many employees of large companies volunteer their personal time for commnity projects.

Anonymous said...

Conrow said, "'volunteers' who are on the clock for their jobs."

Shame on you, Joan. You know that's a lie and that many employees of large companies volunteer their personal time for commnity projects.


Or at best recklessly indifferent to the truth.

Joan Conrow said...

Of course I know that many people who work for corporations and businesses volunteer their personal time. That doesn't mean that many don't also do "volunteer work" on the clock. In any case, you're conveniently missing my point.

Anonymous said...

Go ahead and delete. It's obvious to all that you don't know the volunteers are on the clock. You just said it without checking the facts.

Joan Conrow said...

I deleted because of the nastiness you directed at me. If you can present any facts to back up your contention that I am wrong, and none of the corporate "volunteers" at the Fair are on the clock, please do so — in a civil manner.

I know and trust the source of my information, and so stand by it.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8/24 6:46 AM:

Awfully defensive. Are you an employee of Monsanto or another similar company? We all don't know that what Joan says is wrong. Corporations are famous for trotting their employees to testify in favor of their agenda. Case in point was the Superferry. I would guess some of them were on the clock. Corporations like Monsanta can afford to pay employees to "volunteer". That's not to say that some give of their time freely. I trust in Joan's integrity that she does her research.

Anonymous said...

I know and trust the source of my information, and so stand by it.

August 24, 2010 7:03 AM

these are not union employees right? because all campaigning related business should be off the clock and on the individual's dime.

Anonymous said...

You lack any journalistic integrity and therefore will remain a bitter petty woman. Honolulu Weekly…LOL!!! Really? Talk about small time!!! Talk about a failed career! That’s you and you know it!!! Loser!

Anonymous said...

To the last anonymous poster: You are the loser for hiding behind your anonymous post. Joan is an excellent writer. What newspapers or periodicals do you write for? Such animosity and jealously! Gotcha feathers ruffled? Go crawl under a rock!

Anonymous said...

August 25, 2010 12:01 AM

bully - there is really no need for that kind of bashing.

Anonymous said...

Kinda funny, but sick all the same... that's you buddy whoever you are that writes such self centered nasty crap about Joan. let's see, a journalist who stays on top of the truth, on top of what's going on here,and writes in a consise really understandable way. Joan has written for numerous sources, has received mant rewards, and hey , wtf are you spending your time reading her writings if you think so little of her. Go listen to rush, asshole. We don't want to read your comments

Anonymous said...

It's an open forum.
Joans vision of the truth is not always unbiased. She has her ways of leaving out details and inserting words that were not spoken.
But that why we read to keep her honest.
But the writer who challenged her was lame.

Anonymous said...

Joan's own actions have served to limit the publications that will buy her work. From rhetorically wondering if lingle is the personification of evil while covering the super ferry to insulting the new owner of one of her regular gigs, joan's inability to perceive any difference between her personal bias and objective reality has damaged her professional prospects. It wouldn't be a problem if she could make a living selling her opinions.

Joan Conrow said...

Thanks for all the career counseling, but I'm very happy with my life and work and have no regrets about any of the professional choices I've made. To quote Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way."

Anonymous said...

and i like your way, Mahalo, in fact you are my favorite writer

Joan Conrow said...

Mahalo!

Anonymous said...

Joan wrote "Not that polls really mean all that much."

I agree but I constantly hear the opinionated banter terms about like "viable candidate", etc. prior to the election. "Leading" candidates are invited to debates while "marginal" candidates suck wind. How does anyone know who is viable, leading, or marginalized prior to an election? Seems meaningless polls are being used to determine which candidates are given more or less access to the voters and media.