Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Musings: Questions

Have you noticed? The days are getting longer on each end now. Every day we're picking up more minutes of light. And in between, there's been that brilliant, marvelous moon, with the wild pigs returning nightly to browse in my backyard on camphor berries. A lot of animals like those plump black berries, including Koko, doves and especially rats, which munch them beneath my car hood, leaving the skins scattered on top of the engine.

Did you know that 663,032 people were arrested for marijuana possession in 2011? That's 128,328 more than were arrested for all violent crimes combined. Crazy. But we have a chance to change that travesty, one state at a time. House Bill 699, which would legalize marijuana in Hawaii, is up for a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. You can submit testimony via email to JUDtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov. It's best to get it in 24 hours in advance. 

You can track the various cannabis bills moving through the Lege at Fresh Approach Hawaii, a coalition that includes the Drug Policy Alliance and ACLU. This is the year we can make changes in the state's cannabis laws, folks, so stand up and speak up.

So whattta ya think? Is the county gonna stand firm and actually revoke Coco Palms' oft-extended permits? I mean, who can disagree with Planning Director Mike Dahilig's bold pronouncement that “[t]wenty years of blight and inaction must stop now?”

Except former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, who is still clinging to the dream that the property will be restored to its “full glory.” Sorry, Maryanne, but Elvis is dead, and so is that project. I think most of us would be happy to see that rottting eyesore bulldozed so the land can breathe again. Talk about bad feng shui.

I found it kinda creepy/scary to learn that Kusaka has been busy trying to work a deal for that property. Geez, Maryanne, didn't you do enough damage at Kealia Kai and Kaloko?

I also had to wonder just what the mayor and Council Chair Jay Furfaro had in mind when they issued their joint statement:

It’s time to move forward and look to other options that will address the future of this historic site. Once the permit issue is resolved, we will be in a better position to discuss what those options might be.”

What options do you suppose they're already considering, and when will the public be included? Now that the county has warmed up by seizing Mike Sheehan's boatyard, hopefully the plans will include acquiring Coco Palms through eminent domain so it can be turned into something other than an unneeded resort in an already overused and overcrowded area.

And finally, wouldn't it be great to clean up aina naturally? The state House Committee on Agriculture is having a hearing on HB154, which authorizes a pilot project to see if hemp can remove toxins from soil. Go here to submit testimony.

12 comments:

  1. House Speaker Souki introduced the mj bill so it has a good chance. End the prohibition and punishment. Support legalization!

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  2. Did you know you could be facing up to 5 years in state prison on a felony paraphernalia charge just for the BAGGIE that the pot is in?

    This is nuts. Let's change this crazy law.

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  3. Why was the last permit extension recommended and granted in the first place?

    No work has been done on the property since the permit was original issued. What was the justification for the extension 3 years ago?

    Phil Ross, is he still the owner?

    Why hasn't DLNR withdrawn or issued them a violation of the leased area behind the private property? Is the County working WITH the State?

    Condemnation of private property takes time but it can be done. Sheehan was in violation of his permits too right?

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  4. Maybe we can get a nice Elvis themed strip mall. Wailua could really use a Bed Bath and Beyond. And please let there be a Starbucks with a drive through!

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  5. The Coco Palms property should be claimed through eminent domain, razed, and turned into a Center for Hawaiian Studies on collaboration with the University of Hawaii.

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  6. don't forget about the pesticide registry bill.....
    http://capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=673&year=2013

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  7. Thereʻs about 41 bills fast forwarding on the pldc.
    Most of them for.

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  8. I also had to wonder just what the mayor and Council Chair Jay Furfaro had in mind when they issued their joint statement:

    ...
    but I heard somewhere County gonna take the land and its gon be a Hawaiian cultural center. Remember Kane Pa demanding that? Anyways, its probably going to be some vote grabbing apology for the bones.

    Spain Portugal Holland Colorado Washington all legalized pot and made money on it with no proven social downside. And are we not supposed to be the free country? "They hate us for our freedom." But you cannot grow a plant in your own house and smoke it. Fine, but don't lie to me and tell me we're free.

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  9. The only reason the ʻcountyʻ is ʻdoing their jobʻ to do something about coco palms is Dahilig probably got his bank account refreshed.

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  10. I seem to remember that Kusaka "acquired" a cpr unit in the Coco Palms property. She may have been given a condo unit for all of her help in getting the original permits. If she is a part owner, you can see why she still has great dreams for the place. She sure will fight its condemnation.

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  11. January 30, 2013 at 5:12 PM

    Dahilig and Carvalho are corrupt and EVERYONE knows it.

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  12. I'm with anonymous 1:33...great spot and opportunity for a cultural center that could also generate revenue for the county, and for Hawaiian studies programs, while providing a venue for presentation of the "real" Hawai'i. No-brainer.

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