Friday, December 4, 2015

Musings: Eye-Catching

A few things caught my eye in recent days.

Like this report, which shows that more Americans have been killed by guns since 1968 than all the wars we've participated in combined.

The numbers look like this: About 1.17 million people have died in combat since the founding of the U.S. About 1.49 million have died of a gunshot since 1968.

America has some 33,000 gun deaths annually. Most are suicides. Homicides account for 11,000.

Other troubling stats: There have been at least 1,042 mass shootings since Sandy Hook. On average, there is more than one mass shooting per day in America. Since the Aug. 9, 2014, police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, police have killed at least 1,112 people, the majority by gunshots. And police are more likely to be killed in states with high rates of gun ownership.

I know folks love their guns, but this is getting more than kinda nuts. Especially when so many nuts have guns.

Then there were the stats about who is buying property in the Islands. Not surprisingly, it's a lot of folks from the mainland and other countries. Because who else can afford a house that costs, on average, over $500,000?

On Kauai, local buyers (and by that is meant residents, not “locals” per se) accounted for just 54.5% of sales. On Maui, it's even lower — 48%.

Not surprisingly, the state's highest home prices were found in Hanalei, where the real estate market has been given a big boost from the highly lucrative vacation rental trade. Unless there's a massive tsunami, which is likely at some point, that area has been forever lost to locals.


More than 38 percent of mainland homebuyers were from California, followed by 10.5 percent from Texas and 8.5 percent from Washington state.

And what's the first thing folks do when they get their piece of “paradise?” They feel compelled to “save it” from something (other than themselves, of course) and thus give money and support to misguided causes and the politicians who advance them.

Let's face it. Local culture is fading. And that's sad, because it's as distinct as many of the plants and animals — also endangered — that make Hawaii unique. 

Finally, Jan TenBruggencate had an interesting post yesterday on the link between fear, unfounded allegations and denial. Though he uses climate change as an example, we've certainly seen it at work with biotech crops and pesticides. As Jan wrote:

The Michigan State folks conducted a study that gave a large group of people positive messages about resolving climate change, and negative messages about denying it exists.

The negative messages resonated. The positive ones didn’t.

The researchers found that the positive messages didn’t change anybody’s mind, and the negative message significantly weakened support for climate action.

People getting the negative message were more apt to doubt the existence of climate change. And that applied to both conservatives and liberals.

Which is why we keep seeing the anti-GMO/anti-ag groups delivering a relentless stream of negative messages. They intentionally sow “seeds of doubt.” And they're so blatant about it that they actually hosted a conference entitled “Seeds of Doubt” to convey this ominous — but ultimately false — message:

Use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the US is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous and dramatic health threats ever to affect our planet.

Nope, you don't need to bother with facts and evidence when you're plying the timeworn trade of sensationalism and fear.

Or as Jan aptly noted:

Fear and allegations of conspiracies are powerful tools—if you can use them and still sleep at night.

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alert: is Wally Wilson back on Kauai driving a blue Toyota truck with surf racks?

Anonymous said...

The vast majority of mass shootings are ghetto gang shooting. All in gun free zones or cities. Pretty easy to kill when the target is unarmed. In fact 51% of murders are by black males, 28% by illegal aliens. The rest of the nation is remarkably safe. And John Lott has proven conclusively that the more legal weapons there are, the less crime. Your statistics sound like the ones on Clinton's web page, which has already earned 2 pinochios.

Anonymous said...

So your point is, since it's "them" and not "us", it's okay? F-ed up racist pond scum.

Anonymous said...

All this talk about more and better gun laws mean nothing when our borders are wide open. One can bring an atom bomb across!

Anonymous said...

Talking about stats. An interesting set of numbers will be brought before the Council on December 13. The Council wants to know as does the rest of the island, how many TVRs are out there both permitted and unpermitted and where they are located. Same for B&Bs. The Council and island residents are going to be blown away when the numbers are known. A whole of range of embarrassing things will come out, like enforcement or rather the lack thereof. Gone will be the notion that there are only a few B&Bs, that so few have no impact , and they deserve to be grandfathered. Stay tuned. The stuff is about to hit the fan.

Anonymous said...

Another useful number would be the amount of money budgeted by the county for planning department enforcement.

Is the council starving their enforcement budget so while blaming them for not enforcing?

If they lead off with $1000 per day fines B&B owners are gonna lawyer up. If they start with small fines and cease letters, people will cease and pay IMHO.

Anonymous said...

we should ban cars because they kill 30plus thousand a year

Anonymous said...

This is good. Make it as hard to buy a gun as it is to get an abortion.

http://news.yahoo.com/state-bill-hard-buy-gun-225821590.html

• A 72-hour waiting period
• A 30-minute video on gun violence and "alternatives to purchasing a firearm"
• A tour of an emergency center between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., where gun violence victims are present
• A requirement that buyers travel at least 120 miles to make their purchase.
• requiring the "consent of the parent, spouse or partner" and "local pastor.

Anonymous said...

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'” Isaac Asimov

Amen!


Anonymous said...

Hawaii Gun sales are thru the roof.
Perhaps, Hawaii's gum laws and the process to get "piece" is unconstitutional, but many I know are going thru the process to have some ready lead.

Plus....half the newcomers bring guns and do not even know the heavy handed laws HAwaii has. So there are thousands of undocumented gats and ARs

5:58 Getting an abortion in Hawaii is easy. No 2 week waiting period, no medical history, no education required , no government tracking and no interface with the cops, DEA, Homeland Security and unknown government agencies.
The policy for abortions and I think a woman has the right is.....purely drop and plop, no questions asked, nada, zippo, in and out. The nurses care, but you don't even have to tell you parents, let alone every government agency.
But I agree it would be good to get a gun as easily as to get an abortion.
5:58 Another newcomer spouting off on sh*t he don't know and trying go tell others how for live.
Guaranz...this rich person of pale persuasion has been here less than 5 years, is against barking dogs, loves Hooser and Yukimura, is all for farming as long as it isn't Big Ag, wears Birkenstock type slippahs, wears neato cool kine T-shirts and floppy hat. And at least one natural cotton, jute, hemp necklace or bracelet. Is spiritual but really not Christian, even tho' every moral he has stems from Judeo-Christianity..Being a Christian is so Gauche and low class. Maybe a splash a beard growth, just enough to be George Clooneyesque. Lives on the Northshore or Moloaa.


Anonymous said...

Talk about weirdness -- at Planning
The new plan is to allow illegal rentals to metamorphically become legal Rentals in Hanamaulu, Puhi and Lihue. Allow greater density to get more housing for the folks.
Welp, the housing ids already there. This may be an insidious way for Planning to get on your property to assess the real illegal problem with outbuildings etc.
People NEVER NEVER NEVER allow ANY one from Planning on your property. You MAY be pigeon holed.
They can fine you or cite for ANY concrete pour, any fence, any chicken coop...ANYTHING THE person from Planning feels in his opinion needs a permit,
Just a word of Caution...the new era of the Planning Dept with the new leaders can not be trusted.
Never allow anyone from government on your property.....maybe the cops or fire, but every one else will someday get you. There are things ypu need a permit for that you would never dream about.

Anonymous said...

7:15

some of it is due to budget, no doubt. most of it (lack of enforcement) is due to lack of attention and will.

Anonymous said...

Guns are more difficult to purchase now, more than ever.

But being desensitized to mass murder is easier now, more than ever before.

Every action movie has multiple murders,. Half of the video games on the market allow the user to engage in murderous rampages, TV shows like all of the twisted "Law and Order" spin offs, forensic files, "Criminal Minds" and "The First 48", all blur the lines of real mass slayings vs make believe ones. Gangster rap lyrics mirror what is seen on the 11 o'clock news every night, in every large city: brutal multiple inner city shootings and increasingly lowering the value for human life, and yet these rappers are heralded by critics and kids alike.

As for the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, it has probably saved our country from despots and warlords, but we will never know.

If you all think the purpose of the citizenry's right to bear arms to protect us from a rogue US government is non "progressive" and outdated, then picture another J Edgar Hoover, another John Ashcroft, another Joe McCarthy, or Al Haig holding the highest positions in government again, because there will be more Hoovers and McCarthys because our country's political pendulum is in constant motion, and a conservative pendulum swing to the right is much sooner than you all think.

I don't own a gun, but if Donald Trump somehow was elected as President, I would seriously consider an AK-47.

Anonymous said...

Getting an abortion is not easy if you live on Kauai. It requires a flight to Oahu and as people are so fond of griping about, that ain't cheap.

Anonymous said...


So how many TVR's are there in Hanamalu anyway?
Kinda hard to picture, but I'd love to hear the pitch!

Anonymous said...


Whoops! My bad! Hanamaulu

Anonymous said...

How many illegal houses in Hanamalu? I would say 100%. And, yes. I have been there many times and live close by. It is becoming creepy, with hose showers, garage family homes and on and on.

Anonymous said...

creepy to you is someone's home. come off your high horse, shit head.

Anonymous said...

since there is no place for locals to live, and everything is priced so high, people live in garages, etc all over the island. but they aren't asking for special use permits to turn them into commercial properties. they pay top dollar to live in run down houses, cause no other exists here. Leave Hanamaulu out of this, you are comparing crumbs to fancy cakes

Anonymous said...

646 lol that ad would probably be something like this:
-Do not leave valuables in car. They will disappear
-located half a mile from picturesque beach,that even locals avoid
-do not pet the neighbors dog, it will probably bite you
-enjoy the early morning sounds of traffic to rouse you from your slumber.

The above comments are definitely politically incorrect but there's enough grains of truth in there that I highly doubt hanamaulu will ever become a tvr Hotspot. As for illegal rentals, yea they all exist there but these families literally have no other option. But unlike illegal ag land adus, life in a garage isn't exactly luxurious or has great views. They are hardworking folks that work the drudgery, low paying jobs that make kauais service oriented economy possible for everyone.

Unlike the tvr/bnb/home stays that are gripping about this law, These folks don't get to enjoy beachfronts, large lots, or picturesque views. They are merely getting a roof and a place to sleep. To me it sounds like these illegal beach tvrs found a paradise property, dived in, and then realized they can't actually afford to live that lifestyle so they need to rent out illegally. Hey, be like most locals and live in a normal subdivision you can afford and just drive to the goddamn picturesque location.

Anonymous said...

@8:54. What do you mean by close by? Also the fact that you say you've "been" to hanamaulu a "few" times makes it sound like you're a transplant. Hanamaulu has been getting sketchier and sketchier for the last 15 yrs illegal dwellings notwithstanding. Probably why the adus are there, because rent is cheaper there than anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

As goes Hanamaulu, so go all our other middle class residential neighborhoods, as Californication rolls on in the face of a deeply dysfunctional approach to zoning law and absolutely Byzantine rules making. We spend on to $1 million for the rice cooker fiasco while the systemic problems at the root of this and other deep flaws in protecting the public interest in our neighborhoods push us to a precipice of squalid un-livability. And the politicians fiddle on in grotesque hissy fits while spending lavishly on sidewalks and bike lanes of dubious benefit to most of us. Yank the phony ag dedications from these TVR's on ag land, get a handle on all the TVR's and B&B's outside of the VDA and tax them at the resort rate out of existence and back to residential use. Or state the obvious- the whole damned island is a de facto VDA because we can't govern ourselves. The No GMO, Barkless, Witless Hotel CaliforniaKauai.

Anonymous said...


8:54: I'm afraid you misread my question.

Please read 6:46 again.
I asked how many "TVRs" are in Hanamaulu ?


Anonymous said...

Should be zeroooooo!

Anonymous said...

Unless the visitor are from the Philippines. But they not visiting. They staying. So hanamaulu is not a tvr. # of tvr's: none. 8:54 pointing out locals n Filipinos.

Anonymous said...

Hanamaulu, Puhi and mauka Lihue are standard subdivisions. Hanamaulu and Lihue built over 35 years go. Generational living and growing. These are fine subdivisions that because of the County not allowing similar homes have become over populated.
Kapahi is another area.

JoAnn's reality of stopping development is in fruition. Locals crammed into fire traps and her rich friends following her leadership in developing Ag CPRS...never forget, JoAnn made over 2 million when she split her Kalihiwai piece. 2 million for her, but Zero for you, cause you can't do it. Cause you are greedy and she isn't.
And that other hypocrite Da Hoos developing Waioli Gardens, Alii Gardens and others for higher end folks...money for him, but none for you, cause you are greedy and Da Hoos is out for the common good. Unf*ckin'beleivable that we have these 2 hypocrites leading us.

The County's attempt to legitimize the LONG term housing in Hanamaulu is a joke. The poor homeowner who believes the County is intent on increasing affordable rentals and legitimizing the non-conforming units, will be in for a surprise.
Just to get a architect stamped plan, fireproofing behind stoves and garage walls, reducing the 50 percent lot coverage and a thousand other laws the homeowner will find himself UNABLE to pay the cost, And then there is that $14,000 for a water meter.
So as the County scrutinizes the homes, the ones that do not fulfill the requirements will be red flagged and some day, someone from the County will come down and "cease and desist" the property. DO NOT TRUST THESE COUNTY guys.

Bnbs were in a questionable leagl area. There were no rules clearly written and the then the County calls the BnBs "drug dealer types" and illegal.

IN HANAMAULU with clear Building code violation, density violation, lot coverage violation fire safety violation, heavy cesspool violation, cars parked all over the street and such not.......THE COUNTY calls this "non-conforming"....a euphemism for ILLEGAL.
It will be interesting to see that now the County has admitted with snickering laughs from the Planning asst Director that there is a HUGE percentage of illegal use in Hanamaulu.....will the County, now admitting the severe health and safety violations, go after these regular folks just like they did those Haoles with the BnBs
Selective enforcement at the best....But to one and all...NEVER EVER TRUST THE COUNTY PLANNING DIVISION, they will someday, in many ways screw you over....it may be in a few years after this nonsense goes away, but once you are "red-marked" in their Planning book....you are toast.
And Tim Bynum's million dollar rice cooker has at least three hundred and fifty illegal cousins steaming rice right now in Hanamaulu alone.

Anonymous said...


So to the person who keeps bringing up tarps in Hanamaulu:

QUIT COMPARING LOCALS TRYING TO HELP SHELTER THEIR FAMILIES WITH YOUR STUPID TVRs!

Anonymous said...

9:16 AM said, "her leadership in developing Ag CPRS"

I agree with you on your opinion of JoAnn, but all those ag condos (faux farms) were developed under Hawaii State law which supersedes County law and avoided the latter's public hearings, etc. So Yukimura had little or nothing to do with them popping up all over. The State law was designed to enable "regular" folks to buy farm land for farming yet also enabling them to live on their farms. But it was a giant loop hole for large (6 to 10 acre) parcel luxury development. All one had to do to comply with State law is to plant some fruit trees (or whatever) and have a guy come tend them and sell the produce. But the State law was enacted before Kauai was discovered by wealthy mainlanders who were willing to pay millions for these parcels; far more than "regular" farmers could afford. The most pressing factors holding back affordable housing development are cost of land, cost of entitlements & construction and the open market competition of buyers for limited building opportunities (supply and demand forcing up prices).

Anonymous said...

I once had an old white man say there's so many Filipinos here, you fuckers are every where. Why don't you flips go backs to your country.

If he wasn't old, I would have answer politely with...

These people are too stupid to realize the census stats shows that there are more whites that reside on Kauai than any other race.

I like all races but I hate racist people.

These TVR owners and all those who circumvent the laws to supplement their income GOT CAUGHT and are now trying to point the finger at everyone else instead of owning up to their tax evasion million dollar home business.

The real question here is how many of them were paying taxes.

The State of Hawaii AG and the federal government should AUDIT TVR's, BnB's, and Homestays.

The county of Kauai's audit validated fraud, waste and abuse corruption by our county government. If only Jesse Jackson Jr. knew that he could have gotten away with all his crimes on Kauai instead in Chicago, he probably would have joined the Mayor and his criminal cronies.

Anonymous said...

Actually it was developed and built over 40 years ago.

My grandfather bought his second home in that area.

He did it while working for the sugar plantation as a welder.

This was when homes for locals were affortable until the sell outs like Yukimura made it impossible for the future generations of locals to own their own home on island.

I guess WWII has left some people scarred for life.

The elitist on Kauai do this in not only home but jobs, college scholarships and contract bids as well as high school sports. They keep it all for themselves and their family and friends so their people can live the good life while others have to struggle to find a way to live life good.

Anonymous said...

Hanamaulu is definetly sketchy, as someone else pointed out. Parts are creepy. . Mayor Malapit ordered the planning department not to enforce the building code there because of votes. That set the stage for a runaway problem. But what is fair for one, must be fair for all. This area, like Hanalei, desperately needs a sewer system. Then density and coverage issues can be tackled.

Anonymous said...

Sensing a groundswell of comments from residents pissed about the runaway TVR/B&B/tourist rentals infiltrating every corner of Kauai. No matter where you live, waimea, kapahi, wailua, lihue, kalaheo, lawai, kilauea, there is a vacation rental near you, guarantee. posting your stories on this blog is good. even better is if you share your thoughts directly with the council. Right now the council, is considering a ordinance that will open the door to more B&Bs in your neighborhood. stop this by insisting the council not allow any more B&Bs outside the visitor destination area. this is our chance. protect where you live. no scaid.

Anonymous said...

right on, 2:28

Anonymous said...

They're in a lot of neighborhoods. Why not? The tourist dollar has to go to someone. Might as well be locally owned b&bs instead of mega Marriott.

Anonymous said...

And make them good for one year and shut down if the neighbors complain about noise or traffic.

Anonymous said...

why not? because neighbors don't want tourist rentals for a neighbor, thats why. stay at the marriott.

Anonymous said...

Is the Marriott in a VDA?

Anonymous said...

Nope its in a resort district

Anonymous said...


Thanks, that makes sense.

AG ON AG LAND,
MARRIOTT IN A RESORT DISTRICT, and
TVRs IN THE VDA.

Anonymous said...

The Marriott is most certainly in the VDA, the resort districts and VDA are the same.

Anonymous said...

not true

Anonymous said...

VDA and resort are two different things. Resort refers to ZONING. Like r-4, commercial, industrial etc. The VDA is a basted child of the Council that arbitrarily determines what areas are allowed to become tvr infested area (no permit required for tvr in this area). If you have a property INSIDE the VDA, you're an idiot for not renting it out as one. The issue with this bnb fiasco isn't people actually running true bnbs, ie living upstairs and renting out their SPARE bedroom. It's people who run quasi resort tvrs in non VDA areas that don't want to lose their illegal cash cow. As Joan points out all the time, the issue is with people registering for bnb permits and abusing the system to allow their 15 bedroom multifamily residence that's on a terribly undersized cesspool, on ag land, and claiming to be the victim when they're already BREAKING THE LAW (but claim innocence through ignorance of said law)

Anonymous said...

Abortions on Kauai IS EASY. I guess if you have had one you'd know just how easy it is. And you don't have to tell your parents if your of consent age which is 16.

Anonymous said...

In 1982, the limitations on locations of the VDA's were created as a result of the 1980 Session laws of Hawaii, pursuant to the authority of Act 186. It was required of the counties to establish the VDA's. It was not arbitrary at all and have many requirements/or criteria.

Anonymous said...

thanks 7:37

with VDAs created to accommodate vacation rentals of all types, why has the county allowed these guys to set up everywhere else outside the VDA? can someone please explain this?

Anonymous said...


Because people we trust, like realtors and off island owners, just did what they wanted.
Already breaking the law, they then hired their smarty pants 'we'll sue ya" attorneys and basically and blatantly steamrolled us.
How embarrassed our leaders should be for having enabled (and STILL enabling) this illegal takeover, AGAIN.

Anonymous said...

so what is the County doing about this? are they going to stop it?

Anonymous said...

don't count on the county to stop anything. over many years they've consistently done just the opposite. give in to the illegals. increase rather than decrease numbers of vacation rentals, destroy neighborhoods. they talk big but haven't done shit and thats a fact.

Anonymous said...

thank carvalho and his cabinet for working together to sell kauai to the haoles. the buck stops there.

Anonymous said...

Is that carvalho's legacy; selling us out?

Anonymous said...

if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and waddles like a duck; it's a duck