It was a nippy, drippy kind of morning, making it easy to sleep in, so I did, and went out for a walk around 7 under a patchwork quilt sky of white, several shades of blue, and gray. The pink mists on Waialeale lifted long enough to reveal seven waterfalls, then dropped down again, and offered up a rainbow, instead.
Noticed an ironwood tree had broken in half during the windstorm, and the top was resting on the roof of a house that is only occasionally occupied. Now that was a close call.
Heard the big Kukuiula project between Koloa and Poipu suffered extensive damage during the heavy rains, with its newly made road beds washing out completely and the water pipes, which hadn’t been covered, filling up with mud.
That reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw the other day, with blood-dripping, gothic lettering spelling out: Die Developers Die. In tiny print below were the words: Aloha Poipu. Nice knowing you.
The man who told me about the Kukuiula washout, an older local Japanese businessman, attributed it to disrespect for the sacred spots down there, and in particular, misuse of rocks from heiau. I must say, I can’t help but wonder where the pohaku came from every time I see a rock wall being built. Like living or vacationing in burial grounds, it’s an energy source I’d just as soon avoid.
Speaking of bones, and a story I wrote on that topic for Haleakala Tims, a reader posted a comment about a new management firm taking over that paper and ousting Editor Bree Ullman. I was sorry to hear that news, and don’t know how to reach Bree other than through the newspaper, but I know she reads this blog, so maybe she’ll check in and let us know what’s going on. And yes, let’s hope Hawaii hasn’t lost another independent paper. Aside from blogs, they often report stories that aren’t published elsewhere, and will devote the space to look at an issue in depth.
The rain is back and the birds are singing, and after spending two hours on the phone talking to a dear friend, who lives in Illinois and is expecting an ice storm tonight, it’s shaping up to be a leisurely homey Saturday, which suits me just fine.
Talked to another friend yesterday, who is visiting in Cleveland, and I started by saying we’d had some wild weather here. Well, she asked, is it 30 degrees with a 40 mph-wind blowing straight down from Canada and across Lake Erie? No, I had to admit. Then don’t talk about wild weather, she said.
It seems that wild weather, like beauty, is all in the eye of the beholder. And I'll take the Kauai kind of both, thank you very much.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Proposed Changes to State Water Plan
As promised, here’s a synopsis of proposed revisions to the Hawaii Water Resource Protection Plan.
Hearings are set for tonight on Kauai (6 p.m. Civic Center) and all next week around the state, or you can submit written comments to the Commission on Water Resource Management, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, PO Box 621, Honolulu, Hawaii 96809 through Jan 11.
One thing that immediately jumped out at me is that all the action points made reference to the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) “should” do this or thar rather than “will.” Maybe it’s just semantics, but so often there’s a big gap between what government should do, and what it actually does, especially when it's dealing with proposals that cost some serious money.
All the proposals have been prioritized for short term (within five years) and long term (beyond that) implementation.
Overall, it seems the state is (finally!) trying to get a handle on Hawaii’s existing water resources, as well as both current and historical usage. It proposes doing this by better monitoring of wells, springs and surface water sources, and as its data collection program.
Part of that proposal calls for more aggressively seeking data on ground water use from the growing number of private well owners, and creating a system for reporting surface water use, starting with large irrigation users.
The state is also proposing to improve its estimates of water resource availability by collecting and sharing more rainfall data, creating a standardized estimate of natural recharge processes, collecting baseline stream data and most important, adopting the long overdue interim instream flow standards, which establish how much water must be left in a stream so it can function properly from an environmental standpoint.
It also wants to begin investigating the potential impacts of long term climate change trends, and proposes developing and implementing water conservation and water shortage programs for state and county agencies, military and business.
It proposes as well exploring ways to reclaim storm water, both to provide non-potable (non-drinkable) water sources and control non-point source pollution.
Exploring watershed protection initiatives is also on the list, although as a longterm project.
It is also considering revoking water use permits that haven’t been in use for four years or longer, which could have an adverse effect on water sources for future farming endeavors. And finally, the state is proposing that it improve its enforcement to ensure that people aren’t using more water than their permit allows.
For the meat of the document, check out the Priority Recommendations and Implementation Plan.
Hearings are set for tonight on Kauai (6 p.m. Civic Center) and all next week around the state, or you can submit written comments to the Commission on Water Resource Management, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, PO Box 621, Honolulu, Hawaii 96809 through Jan 11.
One thing that immediately jumped out at me is that all the action points made reference to the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) “should” do this or thar rather than “will.” Maybe it’s just semantics, but so often there’s a big gap between what government should do, and what it actually does, especially when it's dealing with proposals that cost some serious money.
All the proposals have been prioritized for short term (within five years) and long term (beyond that) implementation.
Overall, it seems the state is (finally!) trying to get a handle on Hawaii’s existing water resources, as well as both current and historical usage. It proposes doing this by better monitoring of wells, springs and surface water sources, and as its data collection program.
Part of that proposal calls for more aggressively seeking data on ground water use from the growing number of private well owners, and creating a system for reporting surface water use, starting with large irrigation users.
The state is also proposing to improve its estimates of water resource availability by collecting and sharing more rainfall data, creating a standardized estimate of natural recharge processes, collecting baseline stream data and most important, adopting the long overdue interim instream flow standards, which establish how much water must be left in a stream so it can function properly from an environmental standpoint.
It also wants to begin investigating the potential impacts of long term climate change trends, and proposes developing and implementing water conservation and water shortage programs for state and county agencies, military and business.
It proposes as well exploring ways to reclaim storm water, both to provide non-potable (non-drinkable) water sources and control non-point source pollution.
Exploring watershed protection initiatives is also on the list, although as a longterm project.
It is also considering revoking water use permits that haven’t been in use for four years or longer, which could have an adverse effect on water sources for future farming endeavors. And finally, the state is proposing that it improve its enforcement to ensure that people aren’t using more water than their permit allows.
For the meat of the document, check out the Priority Recommendations and Implementation Plan.
Musings: The Downside of Addiction
It was almost eerie to be out early this morning, between rain showers, with the sky very dark and lightening flashing frequently in the southwest. The crescent moon, barely risen above the Sleeping Giant’s stomach, was quickly consumed by billowing black clouds.
The big Kona storm that swept through the state seemed to remind most everyone — mostly because their power was off or a road they used was flooded or closed by fallen trees — of human vulnerability in the face of nature. And that vulnerability becomes even more pronounced as we increase our dependence on technology.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my MacBook and high-speed wireless, and a cell phone is good in a crunch. But after going through Iniki, when I lived without power for 10 weeks, I learned a valuable lesson that still serves me well when the winds are howling and the lights are flickering: you just can’t be attached to the stuff. And that includes the technology. Because the more you feel things have got to be a certain way, the more likely you are to suffer.
Yeah, maybe your life is disrupted for a day or two or three, but so what? It ain’t the end of the world.
We’ve all come to take a cheap, constant supply of electricity and gasoline for granted; in fact, we think it’s our due, that it’s one of the entitlements that come with living in a first world nation. And that’s the attitude that has us invading Iraq and blowing the tops off mountains in Kentucky.
Yesterday, I read an article in the New Yorker — you can see an abstract of it here — about the new synthetic-fuels boom in Canada. Yup, with real oil pushing $100 a barrel, the push is on to extract synthetic crude from the Alberta tar sands and other once marginal sources.
Of course, the money to be made is huge — and so is the destruction.
“With unconventional oil extraction, however, the damage to the environment tends to be higher all around—more land gets disturbed, more pollutants are produced, and then there are the greenhouse gases,” the article states.
We’re talking about tailings ponds filled with mercury and other toxins that cover 11 square miles, and excavation pits that are slowly consuming Canada’s boreal forest, considered one of the largest intact ecosystems on earth.
We’ve got the native villagers suffering “a peculiarly high number of cases of a rare cancer” in one town that lies on a lake fed by the Athabasca River, which runs through the mining area, and we’ve also got the promise of more greenhouse gases, according to the article.
Alex Farrell, a professor in the Energy and Resources Group at UC-Berkeley, found that all the current climate models are based on the assumption that we’ll be using conventional crude. But once you start doing such energy-intensive conversions as turning coal and tar sands into synthetic crude, the green house emissions double.
And that means all the warming, storming, flooding and melting scenarios will happen that much faster.
Not surprisingly, given our insatiable appetite for energy and fears that cheap sources of crude are peaking, or have already, the article reports that “there is a great deal of support in Washington for measures that would, in effect, subsidize high-carbon fuels.”
So here we go, down another slippery slope of consume-consume-consume and never mind the cost, whether it’s environmental or social or even if the whole damn climate is at stake. After all, there's money to be made — and addictions to be satisfied.
In the weeks following Iniki, I had a generator that I turned on, once my earplugs were in place, to run the washing machine and vacuum cleaner and occasionally the toaster. But it was too loud, stinky and expensive to keep running all the time, so I did without refrigeration, hot water and lights and managed to survive just fine — once I realigned my expectations with reality.
It was a good lesson, having that mini power plant in my backyard, because it taught me just what it takes to have the luxuries of electricity. Now, though, with all that racket and stench confined to the big power plant at Port Allen and people I don’t know dying for oil in Iraq and places I’ve never been to being destroyed to extract coal and tar sands, it’s easy to forget the ugly, dirty, deadening side of my totally legal addiction.
Until the winds whip up again, and the lights flicker, then go off.
The big Kona storm that swept through the state seemed to remind most everyone — mostly because their power was off or a road they used was flooded or closed by fallen trees — of human vulnerability in the face of nature. And that vulnerability becomes even more pronounced as we increase our dependence on technology.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my MacBook and high-speed wireless, and a cell phone is good in a crunch. But after going through Iniki, when I lived without power for 10 weeks, I learned a valuable lesson that still serves me well when the winds are howling and the lights are flickering: you just can’t be attached to the stuff. And that includes the technology. Because the more you feel things have got to be a certain way, the more likely you are to suffer.
Yeah, maybe your life is disrupted for a day or two or three, but so what? It ain’t the end of the world.
We’ve all come to take a cheap, constant supply of electricity and gasoline for granted; in fact, we think it’s our due, that it’s one of the entitlements that come with living in a first world nation. And that’s the attitude that has us invading Iraq and blowing the tops off mountains in Kentucky.
Yesterday, I read an article in the New Yorker — you can see an abstract of it here — about the new synthetic-fuels boom in Canada. Yup, with real oil pushing $100 a barrel, the push is on to extract synthetic crude from the Alberta tar sands and other once marginal sources.
Of course, the money to be made is huge — and so is the destruction.
“With unconventional oil extraction, however, the damage to the environment tends to be higher all around—more land gets disturbed, more pollutants are produced, and then there are the greenhouse gases,” the article states.
We’re talking about tailings ponds filled with mercury and other toxins that cover 11 square miles, and excavation pits that are slowly consuming Canada’s boreal forest, considered one of the largest intact ecosystems on earth.
We’ve got the native villagers suffering “a peculiarly high number of cases of a rare cancer” in one town that lies on a lake fed by the Athabasca River, which runs through the mining area, and we’ve also got the promise of more greenhouse gases, according to the article.
Alex Farrell, a professor in the Energy and Resources Group at UC-Berkeley, found that all the current climate models are based on the assumption that we’ll be using conventional crude. But once you start doing such energy-intensive conversions as turning coal and tar sands into synthetic crude, the green house emissions double.
And that means all the warming, storming, flooding and melting scenarios will happen that much faster.
Not surprisingly, given our insatiable appetite for energy and fears that cheap sources of crude are peaking, or have already, the article reports that “there is a great deal of support in Washington for measures that would, in effect, subsidize high-carbon fuels.”
So here we go, down another slippery slope of consume-consume-consume and never mind the cost, whether it’s environmental or social or even if the whole damn climate is at stake. After all, there's money to be made — and addictions to be satisfied.
In the weeks following Iniki, I had a generator that I turned on, once my earplugs were in place, to run the washing machine and vacuum cleaner and occasionally the toaster. But it was too loud, stinky and expensive to keep running all the time, so I did without refrigeration, hot water and lights and managed to survive just fine — once I realigned my expectations with reality.
It was a good lesson, having that mini power plant in my backyard, because it taught me just what it takes to have the luxuries of electricity. Now, though, with all that racket and stench confined to the big power plant at Port Allen and people I don’t know dying for oil in Iraq and places I’ve never been to being destroyed to extract coal and tar sands, it’s easy to forget the ugly, dirty, deadening side of my totally legal addiction.
Until the winds whip up again, and the lights flicker, then go off.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Musings: All Over the Place
It was more morning than night when Koko and I walked today, although Venus and the waning crescent moon still reigned over the sky.
Since it was lighter than usual, I got to see things I usually don’t, like the golf ball-sized toadstools growing alongside the road. A pink cloud released a sheet of gray rain over in the vicinity of the airport, and a rainbow arched out of the clouds atop Wailaleale.
Yesterday I saw a lot of rainbows — about six, if I recall correctly — on my way to and from Kalihiwai, where the surf was giant, but sloppy, prompting lookey-lous to double-line the road at the bend on the river side, making it dangerously hard to get by, much to the annoyance of people who down live there, some of whom I’d gone to visit.
They informed me that the bones of three persons — one of them in a casket — and a horse had been dug up as the ground was excavated for two septic tanks so a second house can be built on the site closest to the ocean. And for a cool $2 million, it can yours.
Great. Now we’ve moved beyond excavating ancient burials and are digging up modern ones, too. While we’re on that topic, I have a story in the current issue of Haleakala Times that merges the controversy over the excavation of burials at the Whole Foods site on Oahu with the concern over the natural foods giant coming to Maui. I couldn’t help noticing that the ad running right next to my story on the website was for the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, where 900 skeletons were uncovered in 1988.
The PR person for Whole Foods finally responded to my inquiry yesterday, a mere 15 days after I made it and the day after the story was published. I’m still waiting to hear back from the Department of Land Natural Resources public information officer on an inquiry I made last week for a story on a Kauai biofuel project that came out in yesterday’s Honolulu Weekly. (I’ll post the link when it comes on line next week.)
If a public corporation wants to blow off the media, it has the right, but I have a problem with first, being unable to speak directly to state officials who make decisions that affect the public and second, waiting for the PIO to ask the question for me, and not getting a timely response.
Do you ever get the feeling folks just don’t want to answer your questions, or even hear what you have to say? That’s the only explanation I can derive for scheduling a public hearing on proposed revisions to the state Water Resource Protection Plan for 6 tomorrow night in Lihue.
Now how many people want to attend a hearing on a Friday night? And it just so happens to coincide with the parade of lights down Rice Street, when all the roads leading to the meeting site at the civic center will be closed. Let’s hope they put more thought and planning into the revisions themselves, which I will try to read and synthesize for tomorrow’s post.
I’d meant to do that this morning, but experienced bloggus interruptus when I had to zip up to Kilauea again to pick up my health food order. I’m part of a buying club, which helps keep prices way down, and the monthly stockpile came in today.
Saw two more rainbows on the way there, and Crack 14 must be goin’ off because the highway was packed with cars. I wonder how much longer the surfers will be able to get in there, with that fancy new house going up alongside the old cane road. But that’s one good thing about surfers. They push the access issue.
Which reminds me of the next question that Superferry security watchdog Karen Anderson plans to pose: “Dear Superferry, I want to bring a car full of fireworks for my New Year's camping trip, plus tiki torch fluid, cans of lighter fluid, two 20 gallon propane tanks and some hunting rifles. What kinds of fireworks are allowed on board and in what quantity? Also, is it okay to store the fireworks next to the lighter fluid in my trunk?”
Awright. You go, grrrl!
And while we’re on the topic of Superferry security. I got another email directing me to this blog, and this link, which contained this nugget: “Large passenger ferries, such as the ones that carry citizens between Manhattan and Staten Island, New York, pose the greatest risk of terrorism in maritime transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security warn.
“According to a Coast Guard study, large ferries received the highest risk assessment score among 80 maritime terrorist scenarios, tying with a ship carrying hazardous cargo near an urban area. DHS has also issued a bulletin warning that terrorists are scouting U.S. ferry systems for possible attack.”
But hey, no worries. We’ve got the “Unified Command” keeping us, and the Superferry, safe from the “terrorists” — you know, da guys paddling surfboards and outrigger canoes at Nawiliwili and Kahului harbors.
Since it was lighter than usual, I got to see things I usually don’t, like the golf ball-sized toadstools growing alongside the road. A pink cloud released a sheet of gray rain over in the vicinity of the airport, and a rainbow arched out of the clouds atop Wailaleale.
Yesterday I saw a lot of rainbows — about six, if I recall correctly — on my way to and from Kalihiwai, where the surf was giant, but sloppy, prompting lookey-lous to double-line the road at the bend on the river side, making it dangerously hard to get by, much to the annoyance of people who down live there, some of whom I’d gone to visit.
They informed me that the bones of three persons — one of them in a casket — and a horse had been dug up as the ground was excavated for two septic tanks so a second house can be built on the site closest to the ocean. And for a cool $2 million, it can yours.
Great. Now we’ve moved beyond excavating ancient burials and are digging up modern ones, too. While we’re on that topic, I have a story in the current issue of Haleakala Times that merges the controversy over the excavation of burials at the Whole Foods site on Oahu with the concern over the natural foods giant coming to Maui. I couldn’t help noticing that the ad running right next to my story on the website was for the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, where 900 skeletons were uncovered in 1988.
The PR person for Whole Foods finally responded to my inquiry yesterday, a mere 15 days after I made it and the day after the story was published. I’m still waiting to hear back from the Department of Land Natural Resources public information officer on an inquiry I made last week for a story on a Kauai biofuel project that came out in yesterday’s Honolulu Weekly. (I’ll post the link when it comes on line next week.)
If a public corporation wants to blow off the media, it has the right, but I have a problem with first, being unable to speak directly to state officials who make decisions that affect the public and second, waiting for the PIO to ask the question for me, and not getting a timely response.
Do you ever get the feeling folks just don’t want to answer your questions, or even hear what you have to say? That’s the only explanation I can derive for scheduling a public hearing on proposed revisions to the state Water Resource Protection Plan for 6 tomorrow night in Lihue.
Now how many people want to attend a hearing on a Friday night? And it just so happens to coincide with the parade of lights down Rice Street, when all the roads leading to the meeting site at the civic center will be closed. Let’s hope they put more thought and planning into the revisions themselves, which I will try to read and synthesize for tomorrow’s post.
I’d meant to do that this morning, but experienced bloggus interruptus when I had to zip up to Kilauea again to pick up my health food order. I’m part of a buying club, which helps keep prices way down, and the monthly stockpile came in today.
Saw two more rainbows on the way there, and Crack 14 must be goin’ off because the highway was packed with cars. I wonder how much longer the surfers will be able to get in there, with that fancy new house going up alongside the old cane road. But that’s one good thing about surfers. They push the access issue.
Which reminds me of the next question that Superferry security watchdog Karen Anderson plans to pose: “Dear Superferry, I want to bring a car full of fireworks for my New Year's camping trip, plus tiki torch fluid, cans of lighter fluid, two 20 gallon propane tanks and some hunting rifles. What kinds of fireworks are allowed on board and in what quantity? Also, is it okay to store the fireworks next to the lighter fluid in my trunk?”
Awright. You go, grrrl!
And while we’re on the topic of Superferry security. I got another email directing me to this blog, and this link, which contained this nugget: “Large passenger ferries, such as the ones that carry citizens between Manhattan and Staten Island, New York, pose the greatest risk of terrorism in maritime transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security warn.
“According to a Coast Guard study, large ferries received the highest risk assessment score among 80 maritime terrorist scenarios, tying with a ship carrying hazardous cargo near an urban area. DHS has also issued a bulletin warning that terrorists are scouting U.S. ferry systems for possible attack.”
But hey, no worries. We’ve got the “Unified Command” keeping us, and the Superferry, safe from the “terrorists” — you know, da guys paddling surfboards and outrigger canoes at Nawiliwili and Kahului harbors.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Musings: Blown Away
Koko, usually calm in a storm, was agitated by last night’s blasting winds, and I kept wondering if she knew something I didn’t. I tried to calm her, but was slightly agitated myself after a giant centipede jabbed two spears into my foot, drawing blood. I guess I stepped on it while walking in the grass when I took Koko out before bed.
But by using the energy medicine I learned from Louise Mita, I was able to clear the pain and trauma and finally the dog and I both fell asleep.
I awoke to absoluteness stillness and silence — if you don’t count the crowing roosters. Koko and I ventured out, our shadows cast by a thin wedge of moon getting chummy with Venus. The sky was dense with stars and the air was fresh, scented lightly by camphor and eucalyptus.
Lightening flashed intermittently off to the southeast and two stars fell in the west, so that must be where the fish are biting. It was glorious in every respect of the word, and as I walked, the sky slowly brightened and the wind began to rise.
Ran into Andy, almost literally, as I couldn’t see him, but could hear him talking to the four dogs that were walking him today. We agreed the wind last night had that characteristic freight train sound we hadn’t heard since the hurricane.
Andy said he hoped the storm would hit Honolulu Harbor just about the time the Superferry was setting out, but I informed him the voyage had already been cancelled because it would take at least three days to repair and realign the barge used to load and unload vehicles at Kahului Harbor. Apparently conditions there Monday were the worst in recent memory. Katy Rose just sent me an email saying service has been delayed until Dec. 13, according to an email HSF sent to ticketed passengers. Thanks for the update.
Farmer Jerry, enroute to work, stopped long enough to call out cheerily: “What a wonderful windstorm!” I answered: “It was almost like the hurricane,” to which he replied: “Without the fear.”
Yes, the fear factor makes all the difference, and it’s played a big role in the “Unified Command’s” decision to ramp up Superferry security at both Kahului and Nawiliwili harbors. It’s interesting to see how the security zones were Gov. Lingle’s idea, but now the Coast Guard — accustomed to playing the hero — is cast in the role of bad guy enforcer, and it’s apparently not too happy with its part
But while all the focus is on protecting the big boat, under the guise of promoting public safely, there’s another security issue at stake, as Karen Anderson of Big Island Watch discovered when she attempted to find out how many guns she could bring aboard what she’s dubbed “Superscary.”
In an email to me, Anderson recounted an exchange she had with a woman in the Superferry "Passenger Experience Department" who reportedly “was unable to come up with an answer about the number of firearms you're allowed to bring onboard. She did say that ammo and guns must be separated. But when I asked her if the security people would actually check for a loaded gun, she said no. She also said that the firearm does not have to be in the trunk. It can be on your seat, as long as you declare it and that the ammo is in a separate container or bag, (bringing all new meaning to the concept of the honor system). Handguns, rifles and shotguns are allowed in an amount that is ‘reasonable’ for personal use. She said if you have a family of 10 going on a hunting trip with guns in the car, you must declare them when you pull up to board, but that it would be considered a ‘red flag’ if you have more than five guns on board and probably additional security would be alerted. So then I asked her how I could prevent in advance, a troublesome scene from occurring since I want to do everything by the book. She said it's just a matter of rolling down my window and talking to the screener person and telling him that I have 10 guns in the car. She also said you can't go back to your car once you're on the passenger deck, unless you've forgotten something ‘like medication.’
“Wow, I hope Terrorist Man doesn't forget to take his Prosac before boarding Superferry,” Carpenter concludes.
OK. Thanks for sharing, Karen. Let’s hope Superferry firms up its gun toting policy before service begins in earnest. I’ve also been impressed by Brad Parsons' frequent photo postings and wave calculations for Kahului Harbor, as well as his observation in an email yesterday: “Question, how much total money has the state spent on this barge problem the past three times that it has broken loose, and where exactly is that money coming from? This was all foreseeable and could have been planned for with a proper EIS.”
I'm blown away by all the good citizen minds that are busily identifying chinks in the Superferry armor. And yes, it’s all stuff that could have been addressed through an EIS, rather than the expensive and traumatic trial and error process that Superferry and the state chose instead.
But by using the energy medicine I learned from Louise Mita, I was able to clear the pain and trauma and finally the dog and I both fell asleep.
I awoke to absoluteness stillness and silence — if you don’t count the crowing roosters. Koko and I ventured out, our shadows cast by a thin wedge of moon getting chummy with Venus. The sky was dense with stars and the air was fresh, scented lightly by camphor and eucalyptus.
Lightening flashed intermittently off to the southeast and two stars fell in the west, so that must be where the fish are biting. It was glorious in every respect of the word, and as I walked, the sky slowly brightened and the wind began to rise.
Ran into Andy, almost literally, as I couldn’t see him, but could hear him talking to the four dogs that were walking him today. We agreed the wind last night had that characteristic freight train sound we hadn’t heard since the hurricane.
Andy said he hoped the storm would hit Honolulu Harbor just about the time the Superferry was setting out, but I informed him the voyage had already been cancelled because it would take at least three days to repair and realign the barge used to load and unload vehicles at Kahului Harbor. Apparently conditions there Monday were the worst in recent memory. Katy Rose just sent me an email saying service has been delayed until Dec. 13, according to an email HSF sent to ticketed passengers. Thanks for the update.
Farmer Jerry, enroute to work, stopped long enough to call out cheerily: “What a wonderful windstorm!” I answered: “It was almost like the hurricane,” to which he replied: “Without the fear.”
Yes, the fear factor makes all the difference, and it’s played a big role in the “Unified Command’s” decision to ramp up Superferry security at both Kahului and Nawiliwili harbors. It’s interesting to see how the security zones were Gov. Lingle’s idea, but now the Coast Guard — accustomed to playing the hero — is cast in the role of bad guy enforcer, and it’s apparently not too happy with its part
But while all the focus is on protecting the big boat, under the guise of promoting public safely, there’s another security issue at stake, as Karen Anderson of Big Island Watch discovered when she attempted to find out how many guns she could bring aboard what she’s dubbed “Superscary.”
In an email to me, Anderson recounted an exchange she had with a woman in the Superferry "Passenger Experience Department" who reportedly “was unable to come up with an answer about the number of firearms you're allowed to bring onboard. She did say that ammo and guns must be separated. But when I asked her if the security people would actually check for a loaded gun, she said no. She also said that the firearm does not have to be in the trunk. It can be on your seat, as long as you declare it and that the ammo is in a separate container or bag, (bringing all new meaning to the concept of the honor system). Handguns, rifles and shotguns are allowed in an amount that is ‘reasonable’ for personal use. She said if you have a family of 10 going on a hunting trip with guns in the car, you must declare them when you pull up to board, but that it would be considered a ‘red flag’ if you have more than five guns on board and probably additional security would be alerted. So then I asked her how I could prevent in advance, a troublesome scene from occurring since I want to do everything by the book. She said it's just a matter of rolling down my window and talking to the screener person and telling him that I have 10 guns in the car. She also said you can't go back to your car once you're on the passenger deck, unless you've forgotten something ‘like medication.’
“Wow, I hope Terrorist Man doesn't forget to take his Prosac before boarding Superferry,” Carpenter concludes.
OK. Thanks for sharing, Karen. Let’s hope Superferry firms up its gun toting policy before service begins in earnest. I’ve also been impressed by Brad Parsons' frequent photo postings and wave calculations for Kahului Harbor, as well as his observation in an email yesterday: “Question, how much total money has the state spent on this barge problem the past three times that it has broken loose, and where exactly is that money coming from? This was all foreseeable and could have been planned for with a proper EIS.”
I'm blown away by all the good citizen minds that are busily identifying chinks in the Superferry armor. And yes, it’s all stuff that could have been addressed through an EIS, rather than the expensive and traumatic trial and error process that Superferry and the state chose instead.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Musings: Where There's a Will, There's a Way
The wind was from the southwest, and gusting wildly, when I awoke just as day was breaking. I weighed my odds of getting wet and figured they were high — after all, it had been raining through the night, and in this kind of wind, an umbrella is useless — but decided to chance ‘em anyway.
I did get wet, and jogged in a few places to get ahead of the sheets of rain I could see flying in, but the drops tasted sweet on my lips, and overall, it was incredibly exhilarating.
I doubt the Hawaii Superferry folks would use the same adjective to describe the giant swells that again broke the lines of its barge at Kahului Harbor — for the third time — causing it to delay its test run until this afternoon.
Aw, gee, shucks, what a shame. And another big swell is forecast for Thursday, which could scuttle their arrival plans yet again. Poor tings, dem. Yet those plucky Superferry folks are still planning to proceed, according to today’s Advertiser.
You have to wonder just how many times Superferry can postpone sailing before ticket holders, excited though they may be to experience Hawaii’s version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride — “hold on to your hats, because away we goooooooo….” — will say, “enuf already” and book a flight on go!, Aloha or Hawaiian.
You also have to wonder just how, as one friend points out, they’re going to get people and cars on and off the ferry when it’s bobbing up and down crazily as those mammoth swells roll in, and so is the barge (“and never the twain shall meet”) — assuming, of course, the barge doesn’t come loose again while in use.
But hey, surfers are happy and Warriors fans are still happy — uh duh, do we really need a front page Advertiser article to tell us that? — so go ahead, Mr. Superferry CEO John Garibaldi, and put on a happy face.
I know a number of Superferry opponents are chortling as nature claims her due. I think by now I’d get the message that I wasn’t wanted in Kahului Harbor, but then, Hawaii Superferry never did ask for permission to come, and that’s the first step in Hawaiian protocol.
Of course, there are those non-believers who still scoff at such concepts as divine retribution and hoailona (heavenly signs), but whatevahs. If you know, you know. You no can fake da chicken skin.
I understand disbelief. Truly I do. I felt it myself when I started reading a front page article in Sunday’s Advertiser that ran under the headline: ”Big Island Winning Meth War.”
I’ve seen that kind of hype printed before, and still wasn’t convinced as I read through the first part, which reported the police statistics that are typically trotted out to convince the public that the cops are either doing their job, need more money or both. Drug wars are not won or lost by law enforcement alone; it’s a much more complicated issue than that.
But I pressed on, because I wondered if Mayor Harry Kim, whom I admire greatly (despite testifying on behalf of Superferry at the Maui trial) had made true progress since declaring war on crystal meth seven years ago.
Lo and behold, under the sub-heading “multi-pronged approach,” I read about new residential programs that had opened for children and adults, a drug treatment aftercare program for Native Hawaiian men, community-based initiatives, a new police lab, youth education and prevention programs, money spent to train and certify drug counselors and open Boys and Girls clubs in rural areas.
No, the problem hasn’t been eliminated, but the Big Island does appear to have made a major dent. Most important, it’s looking at the root cause of ice use, rather than following the tired of old model of lock ‘em up and throw away the key.
The article includes this quote from Jan Sears, co-coordinator with the North Hawaii Drug Free Coalition: "We've come up with a shift in our basic focus to now look at how we can create and maintain healthy communities, and not so much how do we fight crystal methamphetamine. We've grown out of a one-drug issue to an overall community health issue."
Wow, now that's major.
The piece ends with this comment from Billy Kenoi, Kim’s executive assistant and man who led the county-level effort to combat the ice problem: "We've got to stop making excuses for not helping our kids."
So I got to wondering, if the Big Island could do it, using mostly federal money, why is that Kauai still has no residential drug treatment center for kids — even though it's been five years since Mayor Bryan Baptiste took office and pronounced ice the island’s number problem?
Why is it that Baptiste chose to build the island’s first such facility at the old dog pound, which former Humane Society Director Sherry Hoe said wasn’t worth fixing up for animals, and so raised $5 million to build a new animal shelter instead?
Why is it that the project was so poorly planned and engineered that it is currently mired in such deep opposition from the Westside community that OHA Trustee Don Cataluna vowed, at a county council meeting, that he would fight the facility until his dying breath rather than let runoff from it destroy the Hanapepe salt pans, where Hawaiians have gathered salt for centuries?
Why is that the county has spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars converting the dog pound into a residential youth treatment center that is still unable to open precisely because of that salt pond controversy?
Why is it that the mayor’s office didn’t even send a representative to the council’s Aug. 1 committee meeting to update council members and the public on the issue?
And why is it that we don’t have all those other programs that have been implemented on the Big Island, even though we’ve also gotten federal grants and employ a county drug czar?
The answer is simple. It all comes down to political will, and the ability to execute it. In short, we’ve got Bryan Baptiste at the helm. And the Big Island has Harry Kim.
Auwe!
I did get wet, and jogged in a few places to get ahead of the sheets of rain I could see flying in, but the drops tasted sweet on my lips, and overall, it was incredibly exhilarating.
I doubt the Hawaii Superferry folks would use the same adjective to describe the giant swells that again broke the lines of its barge at Kahului Harbor — for the third time — causing it to delay its test run until this afternoon.
Aw, gee, shucks, what a shame. And another big swell is forecast for Thursday, which could scuttle their arrival plans yet again. Poor tings, dem. Yet those plucky Superferry folks are still planning to proceed, according to today’s Advertiser.
You have to wonder just how many times Superferry can postpone sailing before ticket holders, excited though they may be to experience Hawaii’s version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride — “hold on to your hats, because away we goooooooo….” — will say, “enuf already” and book a flight on go!, Aloha or Hawaiian.
You also have to wonder just how, as one friend points out, they’re going to get people and cars on and off the ferry when it’s bobbing up and down crazily as those mammoth swells roll in, and so is the barge (“and never the twain shall meet”) — assuming, of course, the barge doesn’t come loose again while in use.
But hey, surfers are happy and Warriors fans are still happy — uh duh, do we really need a front page Advertiser article to tell us that? — so go ahead, Mr. Superferry CEO John Garibaldi, and put on a happy face.
I know a number of Superferry opponents are chortling as nature claims her due. I think by now I’d get the message that I wasn’t wanted in Kahului Harbor, but then, Hawaii Superferry never did ask for permission to come, and that’s the first step in Hawaiian protocol.
Of course, there are those non-believers who still scoff at such concepts as divine retribution and hoailona (heavenly signs), but whatevahs. If you know, you know. You no can fake da chicken skin.
I understand disbelief. Truly I do. I felt it myself when I started reading a front page article in Sunday’s Advertiser that ran under the headline: ”Big Island Winning Meth War.”
I’ve seen that kind of hype printed before, and still wasn’t convinced as I read through the first part, which reported the police statistics that are typically trotted out to convince the public that the cops are either doing their job, need more money or both. Drug wars are not won or lost by law enforcement alone; it’s a much more complicated issue than that.
But I pressed on, because I wondered if Mayor Harry Kim, whom I admire greatly (despite testifying on behalf of Superferry at the Maui trial) had made true progress since declaring war on crystal meth seven years ago.
Lo and behold, under the sub-heading “multi-pronged approach,” I read about new residential programs that had opened for children and adults, a drug treatment aftercare program for Native Hawaiian men, community-based initiatives, a new police lab, youth education and prevention programs, money spent to train and certify drug counselors and open Boys and Girls clubs in rural areas.
No, the problem hasn’t been eliminated, but the Big Island does appear to have made a major dent. Most important, it’s looking at the root cause of ice use, rather than following the tired of old model of lock ‘em up and throw away the key.
The article includes this quote from Jan Sears, co-coordinator with the North Hawaii Drug Free Coalition: "We've come up with a shift in our basic focus to now look at how we can create and maintain healthy communities, and not so much how do we fight crystal methamphetamine. We've grown out of a one-drug issue to an overall community health issue."
Wow, now that's major.
The piece ends with this comment from Billy Kenoi, Kim’s executive assistant and man who led the county-level effort to combat the ice problem: "We've got to stop making excuses for not helping our kids."
So I got to wondering, if the Big Island could do it, using mostly federal money, why is that Kauai still has no residential drug treatment center for kids — even though it's been five years since Mayor Bryan Baptiste took office and pronounced ice the island’s number problem?
Why is it that Baptiste chose to build the island’s first such facility at the old dog pound, which former Humane Society Director Sherry Hoe said wasn’t worth fixing up for animals, and so raised $5 million to build a new animal shelter instead?
Why is it that the project was so poorly planned and engineered that it is currently mired in such deep opposition from the Westside community that OHA Trustee Don Cataluna vowed, at a county council meeting, that he would fight the facility until his dying breath rather than let runoff from it destroy the Hanapepe salt pans, where Hawaiians have gathered salt for centuries?
Why is that the county has spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars converting the dog pound into a residential youth treatment center that is still unable to open precisely because of that salt pond controversy?
Why is it that the mayor’s office didn’t even send a representative to the council’s Aug. 1 committee meeting to update council members and the public on the issue?
And why is it that we don’t have all those other programs that have been implemented on the Big Island, even though we’ve also gotten federal grants and employ a county drug czar?
The answer is simple. It all comes down to political will, and the ability to execute it. In short, we’ve got Bryan Baptiste at the helm. And the Big Island has Harry Kim.
Auwe!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Musings: Enforcing Security Zones
The rain, the chill and a small sore throat kept me in bed later than usual, and I’m still facing a major story deadline this morning, so I’m going to save the piece I’d planned to do — on political will, or rather, the lack of it — until tomorrow.
Instead, I wanted to bring your attention to an article in today’s Garden Island about an apparent change in the Coast Guard’s policy about the Nawiliwili “security zone.”
First, I find it quite interesting that the Coast Guard is now consistently using the word “temporary” in regard to the zone, a trend that began last week after Maui folks objected to the imposition of a similar zone in Kahului Harbor.
The latest twist on the Kauai zone is the CG won’t actually shut down the harbor when, and if, Hawaii Superferry ever returns, but “it will require that those aboard watercraft get its permission to enter and exit,” according to the article.
It includes this quote from Lt. John Tichen: “We have heard concerns that people won’t be able to surf, or access shoreline to fish. Our intention is to work with the state and county ensuring everyone has the opportunity to use that harbor.”
Apparently, surfers and swimmers still will have to stay out of the water for an hour prior to the ferry’s arrival until 10 minutes after it departs. But boats may be able to go in and out if they get approval.
“Officially, the Coast Guard says part of the temporary security zone permission could be as simple as a ‘radio-OK’ when coming and going,” the article reports. ”During the security zone enforcement period, the Coast Guard will request that all watercraft — including outrigger canoes — get permission by radio.”
This prompted Katy Rose, of the Kauai Alliance for Peace and Social Justice, to raise an intriguing point in an email: “Will there be discrimination in the granting of permission?”
It’s a good question, because unless the policy is cleared spelled out, it can be enforced in an arbitrary, and possibly discriminatory, manner. I’m not sure if such qualifying phrases as “could be as simple as a radio OK” came from the CG or the reporter. But with serious fines and jail time at stake, it’s important everyone is on the same page in this frequently rewritten book.
Another interesting tidbit from the article: “The present zone extends to the end of December, Titchen said, and can be renewed into perpetuity for 30-day periods every first of the month.”
Lifting the zone “relies on several successful vessel transits first,” the article reports.
Finally, thanks to Larry Geller for posting the link to this Akaku interview with Coast Guard officials on Maui. Superferry is set to make a practice run tomorrow to re-align with the Kahului barge and do a training run in preparation for Thursday’s real voyage with cars and passengers.
Now that ought to be interesting.
Instead, I wanted to bring your attention to an article in today’s Garden Island about an apparent change in the Coast Guard’s policy about the Nawiliwili “security zone.”
First, I find it quite interesting that the Coast Guard is now consistently using the word “temporary” in regard to the zone, a trend that began last week after Maui folks objected to the imposition of a similar zone in Kahului Harbor.
The latest twist on the Kauai zone is the CG won’t actually shut down the harbor when, and if, Hawaii Superferry ever returns, but “it will require that those aboard watercraft get its permission to enter and exit,” according to the article.
It includes this quote from Lt. John Tichen: “We have heard concerns that people won’t be able to surf, or access shoreline to fish. Our intention is to work with the state and county ensuring everyone has the opportunity to use that harbor.”
Apparently, surfers and swimmers still will have to stay out of the water for an hour prior to the ferry’s arrival until 10 minutes after it departs. But boats may be able to go in and out if they get approval.
“Officially, the Coast Guard says part of the temporary security zone permission could be as simple as a ‘radio-OK’ when coming and going,” the article reports. ”During the security zone enforcement period, the Coast Guard will request that all watercraft — including outrigger canoes — get permission by radio.”
This prompted Katy Rose, of the Kauai Alliance for Peace and Social Justice, to raise an intriguing point in an email: “Will there be discrimination in the granting of permission?”
It’s a good question, because unless the policy is cleared spelled out, it can be enforced in an arbitrary, and possibly discriminatory, manner. I’m not sure if such qualifying phrases as “could be as simple as a radio OK” came from the CG or the reporter. But with serious fines and jail time at stake, it’s important everyone is on the same page in this frequently rewritten book.
Another interesting tidbit from the article: “The present zone extends to the end of December, Titchen said, and can be renewed into perpetuity for 30-day periods every first of the month.”
Lifting the zone “relies on several successful vessel transits first,” the article reports.
Finally, thanks to Larry Geller for posting the link to this Akaku interview with Coast Guard officials on Maui. Superferry is set to make a practice run tomorrow to re-align with the Kahului barge and do a training run in preparation for Thursday’s real voyage with cars and passengers.
Now that ought to be interesting.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Musings: Closing the Barn Door After the Cows Get Out
The weather report is calling for big rain today, but the clear skies and rosy dawn that greeted Koko and me this morning gave no hint of any deluge to come.
A friend called from the North Shore to report giant surf and the UH Warriors score, which I'd already heard from my neighbor Andy, whom I encountered on my walk, yet even after hearing it twice, I still can't remember what it is.
The fact that I, the antithesis of a sports fan, actually knew not only that the Warriors had a big game yesterday, but the first quarter score, is evidence of this year’s widespread Warriors mania. It’s sort of like Brittney Spears’ haircut — even if you don’t care, you can’t help but hear about it.
Of more interest to me, although I’m sure I’m outnumbered by football fans, is a report in today’s Garden Island about the planning commission passing a bill to impose a moratorium on ag subdivisions.
The action, which occurred Tuesday, was only today reported as a front-page story, which gets me wondering why TGI waited so long to run it. It’s not as if there was any earth-shattering news this past week that would have bumped it.
Anyway, it sounds great at first blush: a moratorium on ag subdivisions until the county can identify our prime farm lands and develop consistent policies for using those that aren’t. But we’re talking about Kauai County government here, and the Baptiste Administration, so there is a sizable catch.
Way back on Aug. 3, Mayor Bryan Baptiste issued a press release in which he stated: “After seeing the extent of the growth of agricultural subdivisions last year, I feel that we cannot wait any longer. We must take action now to maintain our rural identity in the best interest of the health and welfare of the residents of Kauai.”
But the bill passed by the planning commission includes an amendment “that removes the Aug. 3 ‘sunshine date’ and makes the moratorium effective upon County Council’s approval of the ordinance,” the article reports.
The amendment was proposed by the planning department, whose director, of course, is appointed by Baptiste. But the article fails to help the reader connect those dots, creating instead the impression that Baptiste still favors a speedy end to ag subdivisions.
Or maybe he does, and he’s just lost control of his own planning director, Ian Costa. However, my sense is that Baptiste caved under pressure from the big landowners and real estate industry. Still, it’s impossible to tell from the article, which includes these two fascinating paragraphs:
“The Planning Department signed off on the bill last week, but recommended changing the effective date of the law despite the administration’s intent to prevent a flood of subdivision applications.
“’Historically, this has been the practice for any type of legislation since there is uncertainty with the length of the approval and whether the legislation will be approved,’ states a Planning Department letter sent Tuesday to the commissioners.”
The long and the short of it is that despite Baptiste’s well-publicized move to stop ag subdivisions, it will continue to be business as usual for as long as it take for land owners to get their applications in.
And that, dear readers, is how government works on Kauai, and why either nothing ever gets done, or by the time it does, it’s too late to be useful.
Tomorrow, we’ll continue that same theme, on a different subject.
Until then, there's plenty of Warriors chit chat to keep you entertained.
A friend called from the North Shore to report giant surf and the UH Warriors score, which I'd already heard from my neighbor Andy, whom I encountered on my walk, yet even after hearing it twice, I still can't remember what it is.
The fact that I, the antithesis of a sports fan, actually knew not only that the Warriors had a big game yesterday, but the first quarter score, is evidence of this year’s widespread Warriors mania. It’s sort of like Brittney Spears’ haircut — even if you don’t care, you can’t help but hear about it.
Of more interest to me, although I’m sure I’m outnumbered by football fans, is a report in today’s Garden Island about the planning commission passing a bill to impose a moratorium on ag subdivisions.
The action, which occurred Tuesday, was only today reported as a front-page story, which gets me wondering why TGI waited so long to run it. It’s not as if there was any earth-shattering news this past week that would have bumped it.
Anyway, it sounds great at first blush: a moratorium on ag subdivisions until the county can identify our prime farm lands and develop consistent policies for using those that aren’t. But we’re talking about Kauai County government here, and the Baptiste Administration, so there is a sizable catch.
Way back on Aug. 3, Mayor Bryan Baptiste issued a press release in which he stated: “After seeing the extent of the growth of agricultural subdivisions last year, I feel that we cannot wait any longer. We must take action now to maintain our rural identity in the best interest of the health and welfare of the residents of Kauai.”
But the bill passed by the planning commission includes an amendment “that removes the Aug. 3 ‘sunshine date’ and makes the moratorium effective upon County Council’s approval of the ordinance,” the article reports.
The amendment was proposed by the planning department, whose director, of course, is appointed by Baptiste. But the article fails to help the reader connect those dots, creating instead the impression that Baptiste still favors a speedy end to ag subdivisions.
Or maybe he does, and he’s just lost control of his own planning director, Ian Costa. However, my sense is that Baptiste caved under pressure from the big landowners and real estate industry. Still, it’s impossible to tell from the article, which includes these two fascinating paragraphs:
“The Planning Department signed off on the bill last week, but recommended changing the effective date of the law despite the administration’s intent to prevent a flood of subdivision applications.
“’Historically, this has been the practice for any type of legislation since there is uncertainty with the length of the approval and whether the legislation will be approved,’ states a Planning Department letter sent Tuesday to the commissioners.”
The long and the short of it is that despite Baptiste’s well-publicized move to stop ag subdivisions, it will continue to be business as usual for as long as it take for land owners to get their applications in.
And that, dear readers, is how government works on Kauai, and why either nothing ever gets done, or by the time it does, it’s too late to be useful.
Tomorrow, we’ll continue that same theme, on a different subject.
Until then, there's plenty of Warriors chit chat to keep you entertained.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Musings: Rainbows, a Piglet and Lingle
Went swimming yesterday afternoon, jonesing for a salty fix after two days without, and the ocean was clear and green and cool. A vibrant half rainbow, first shining south to north, then reversing, north to south, was good company the entire time.
On the way there, a piglet crossed the road, cute as a button and about the size and coloring of a large, tortoise-shell cat. It scampered in front of my car, with that distinctive sideways piggy gait, and disappeared into the brush.
Speaking of animals, Gov Linda Lingle will make her first public appearance on Kauai since the Sept. 20 boo-fest when she addresses the Humane Society luncheon on Dec. 12.
I can only wonder why she was invited, since I’ve never known her to be a particular friend of animals, especially whales, but then, why is often a question that comes to mind when I ponder the actions of the Humane Society.
That’s it for today. as I still need to eat breakfast before an interview this morning.
On the way there, a piglet crossed the road, cute as a button and about the size and coloring of a large, tortoise-shell cat. It scampered in front of my car, with that distinctive sideways piggy gait, and disappeared into the brush.
Speaking of animals, Gov Linda Lingle will make her first public appearance on Kauai since the Sept. 20 boo-fest when she addresses the Humane Society luncheon on Dec. 12.
I can only wonder why she was invited, since I’ve never known her to be a particular friend of animals, especially whales, but then, why is often a question that comes to mind when I ponder the actions of the Humane Society.
That’s it for today. as I still need to eat breakfast before an interview this morning.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Musings: The Bottom Line
It’s been a few days since the moon and stars were visible during my morning walk, but they were today, at least for a while, although clouds streaming up from the south slowly obscured the overhead moon. To the northeast, the sky showed streaks of blue and gold, but otherwise, was the color of a bruise.
More rain is coming — in fact, it’s dripping off the eaves right now — and that’s good news for anybody who is growing stuff — except, of course, flower-laden pakalolo. But that is not a plant found among the kalo, kale and lemon grass in my backyard garden.
I’m working on an article about agriculture, and it’s got me thinking about the likelihood of Hawaii being able to feed itself.
We know it’s possible, because it’s been done before, both by the kanaka maoli and following Western contact, when agriculture, not tourism, dominated the economy. Hawaii definitely has the physical components — fertile land, water and sunshine — to produce large quantities of food year-round.
And even though I hear that people don’t want to work the land anymore, I don’t buy it. I think there’s tremendous interest among folks of all ages, including the youth. But why get all excited about it when tenant farming is rapidly becoming the only real option?
As land prices continue to escalate, and the big private landowners raise rents and shorten lease terms, it becomes unattractive to invest tremendous sweat equity into a farming venture that could suddenly end in a couple of years when your lease is terminated. And that’s if you manage to get a lease in the first place.
With food security finally becoming a topic of discussion under the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan, the state needs to be taking giant steps forward to open up more public lands for long-term farming ventures, including ag parks that offer housing.
It’s also time to crack down hard on the shibai “ag subdivisions” that are turning thousands of acres of good farmland across the state into rolling lawns around a manor house owned frequently by someone who lives somewhere else.
A case in point is the recently approved 2,000-acre Kealanani “ag subdivision,” which lies between Anahola and Kealia, across the highway from oceanfront Kealia Kai, another high-end “ag subdivision” that apparently isn’t selling well.
The developers got it through the county planning commission and state Land Use Commission by claiming it would be a true agricultural subdivision, with covenants requiring the owners to actually grow something, or lease it out to others if they didn’t want to dirty their hands themselves.
But with the CPR lots priced at $500,000 to $2.5 million, it didn’t seem too likely, at least to me, that many bonafide farmers, or even aspiring ones, would be making it through escrow.
With approvals secured, the developers are now making clear their true intentions — scoring big bucks — by running advertisements for Kealanani in that favored publication of farmers, the Wall Street Journal.
Just how much profit is possible speculating in Kauai ag land? Well, about this time last year, Kauai Realtor Paul Kyno, who partnered with San Francisco developer Peter Lynch to make their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow dreams come true, told me that total project costs at Kealanani were estimated at about $120 million — with sales projected at $200 million.
“The bottom line is, people will be farming,” Kyno told me, and the rules governing the subdivision “will be very strict,” with the homeowners association empowered to levy fines against people who don’t comply.
It sounds good, and I want to believe, but somehow, I don’t think farming is the true bottom line at Kealanani, or the many “ag subdivisions” just like it across the state.
More rain is coming — in fact, it’s dripping off the eaves right now — and that’s good news for anybody who is growing stuff — except, of course, flower-laden pakalolo. But that is not a plant found among the kalo, kale and lemon grass in my backyard garden.
I’m working on an article about agriculture, and it’s got me thinking about the likelihood of Hawaii being able to feed itself.
We know it’s possible, because it’s been done before, both by the kanaka maoli and following Western contact, when agriculture, not tourism, dominated the economy. Hawaii definitely has the physical components — fertile land, water and sunshine — to produce large quantities of food year-round.
And even though I hear that people don’t want to work the land anymore, I don’t buy it. I think there’s tremendous interest among folks of all ages, including the youth. But why get all excited about it when tenant farming is rapidly becoming the only real option?
As land prices continue to escalate, and the big private landowners raise rents and shorten lease terms, it becomes unattractive to invest tremendous sweat equity into a farming venture that could suddenly end in a couple of years when your lease is terminated. And that’s if you manage to get a lease in the first place.
With food security finally becoming a topic of discussion under the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan, the state needs to be taking giant steps forward to open up more public lands for long-term farming ventures, including ag parks that offer housing.
It’s also time to crack down hard on the shibai “ag subdivisions” that are turning thousands of acres of good farmland across the state into rolling lawns around a manor house owned frequently by someone who lives somewhere else.
A case in point is the recently approved 2,000-acre Kealanani “ag subdivision,” which lies between Anahola and Kealia, across the highway from oceanfront Kealia Kai, another high-end “ag subdivision” that apparently isn’t selling well.
The developers got it through the county planning commission and state Land Use Commission by claiming it would be a true agricultural subdivision, with covenants requiring the owners to actually grow something, or lease it out to others if they didn’t want to dirty their hands themselves.
But with the CPR lots priced at $500,000 to $2.5 million, it didn’t seem too likely, at least to me, that many bonafide farmers, or even aspiring ones, would be making it through escrow.
With approvals secured, the developers are now making clear their true intentions — scoring big bucks — by running advertisements for Kealanani in that favored publication of farmers, the Wall Street Journal.
Just how much profit is possible speculating in Kauai ag land? Well, about this time last year, Kauai Realtor Paul Kyno, who partnered with San Francisco developer Peter Lynch to make their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow dreams come true, told me that total project costs at Kealanani were estimated at about $120 million — with sales projected at $200 million.
“The bottom line is, people will be farming,” Kyno told me, and the rules governing the subdivision “will be very strict,” with the homeowners association empowered to levy fines against people who don’t comply.
It sounds good, and I want to believe, but somehow, I don’t think farming is the true bottom line at Kealanani, or the many “ag subdivisions” just like it across the state.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Musings: Things Change
Maui folks are pissed, with good reason, after getting smacked with a federal security zone (thanks, Larry Geller for the link) as stringent as the one imposed at Kauai’s Nawiliwili Harbor — even though they’ve largely opposed Hawaii Superferry in the courts, and not along the jetty.
“So this is Maui's reward for following the rules — to be deprived of the use of our harbor,” says Karen Chun at SaveKahuluiHarbor.com. “Our fishermen cannot use the small boat ramp, our canoes cannot go outside one small area, our surfers cannot surf a popular winter break. We are expected to give up our harbor for the arrogant Superferry. And give it up for even longer when the planned second, third, fourth and fifth ferries arrive. We warned law enforcement that we could not keep a lid on civil disobedience if they closed the harbor to us.”
Guess it just goes to show that playing by the “rules” doesn’t count for much when you’re in a game with rule-breakers.
Faced with public outcry to the rule, the Coast Guard immediately began to backpedal, according to a report in today's Honolulu Advertiser.
“Coast Guard officials yesterday tried to reassure surfers, paddlers and other recreational users of Kahului Harbor that a security zone for the Hawaii Superferry will be lifted as soon as it is apparent there is no threat to public safety and port security from protesters opposing the new interisland service,” the article begins.
It seems to me that already is apparent, given that Maui opposition groups met with police specifically to ensure that their planned demonstrations would be legal.
The Advertiser article continues: “Coast Guard Lt. John Titchen said the security zone is meant as a temporary measure, and how long it remains in effect will depend on the extent and nature of any protests.
“Titchen said the security zone was established at Kahului Harbor because the Coast Guard believes ‘there are people who will demonstrate unlawfully’ when the Superferry returns to Maui next week.”
The article doesn’t explain the basis for that Coast Guard belief. Does it have its own intelligence-gathering network providing it with such information? Or can it close down the harbor on a hunch?
And why hasn’t the Coast Guard made a similar statement about the temporary nature of the security zone at Nawiliwili? Or are we going to be stuck with it forever, even if everybody is “good?”
Funny, how both the Coast Guard and Maui cops keep claiming the zone will be enforced to “protect public safety.” Does that same concern extend to ensuring that the “unified command” patrolling land and sea won’t be armed with loaded guns, tasers, billy clubs and tear gas that might harm or kill citizens? Somehow, I don’t think so.
Given the difficulties the ferry is having with the harbor surge and loading dock, I’ve been wondering why they don’t put the “unified command” to work figuring out how to actually get the boat safely into Kahului Harbor, instead of keeping demonstrators out of it.
Meanwhile, Kauai Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura has been urging Hawaii Superferry to actually include some members of the Kauai community in its so-called community outreach, rather than just meeting with elected officials.
It seems this would be the time that Mayor Baptiste, who claimed a couple of months ago that he was remaining neutral precisely so he could bring the warring factions together, would step forward and do just that. Assuming, of course, that he really is neutral.
Still, we have to remember that the world isn’t all bad. I had one surfer tell me yesterday that he’s been fervently wishing for a winter of blasting trades that will make the Superferry ride rough enough to get passengers heaving — even though such conditions will adversely affect the surf.
It just goes to show the high degree of personal sacrifice that some Kauai folks are willing to make in their efforts to derail the ferry. And they say surfers think only of themselves….
While we’re on the subject of selflessness, the Advertiser also reports today that “Melanie Chinen, the embattled head of the state Historic Preservation Division, is resigning effective Dec. 7, citing the physical toll the job has taken on her and the emotional strain on her family from job-related controversy and litigation.”
The article states that Chinen said she gave five weeks' notice early this month, before former archaeology branch chief David Brown filed a lawsuit (hat tip to Ian Lind for posting the pdf) against the state claiming his contract wasn’t renewed after nine months on the job because he spoke up about "illegal, unethical or culturally insensitive" things that were occurring at SHPD.
In an article in this month’s Honolulu Magazine on the controversy over the burials discovered at the Ward Village Shops and the agency’s disarray, reporter Ronna Bolante specifically asked Chinen why she didn’t just leave and got this reply:
“I went to Maryknoll High School, and the motto there is, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’” she says. “It certainly is not fair, but in order to survive in this job, you have to be confident in what you’re doing. I knew people would try to destroy me, but the type of leader I am, my personal comfort does not come before this position.”
I guess things change. Like those harbor security zones that are only “temporary measures.” And Superferry’s arrival date.
“So this is Maui's reward for following the rules — to be deprived of the use of our harbor,” says Karen Chun at SaveKahuluiHarbor.com. “Our fishermen cannot use the small boat ramp, our canoes cannot go outside one small area, our surfers cannot surf a popular winter break. We are expected to give up our harbor for the arrogant Superferry. And give it up for even longer when the planned second, third, fourth and fifth ferries arrive. We warned law enforcement that we could not keep a lid on civil disobedience if they closed the harbor to us.”
Guess it just goes to show that playing by the “rules” doesn’t count for much when you’re in a game with rule-breakers.
Faced with public outcry to the rule, the Coast Guard immediately began to backpedal, according to a report in today's Honolulu Advertiser.
“Coast Guard officials yesterday tried to reassure surfers, paddlers and other recreational users of Kahului Harbor that a security zone for the Hawaii Superferry will be lifted as soon as it is apparent there is no threat to public safety and port security from protesters opposing the new interisland service,” the article begins.
It seems to me that already is apparent, given that Maui opposition groups met with police specifically to ensure that their planned demonstrations would be legal.
The Advertiser article continues: “Coast Guard Lt. John Titchen said the security zone is meant as a temporary measure, and how long it remains in effect will depend on the extent and nature of any protests.
“Titchen said the security zone was established at Kahului Harbor because the Coast Guard believes ‘there are people who will demonstrate unlawfully’ when the Superferry returns to Maui next week.”
The article doesn’t explain the basis for that Coast Guard belief. Does it have its own intelligence-gathering network providing it with such information? Or can it close down the harbor on a hunch?
And why hasn’t the Coast Guard made a similar statement about the temporary nature of the security zone at Nawiliwili? Or are we going to be stuck with it forever, even if everybody is “good?”
Funny, how both the Coast Guard and Maui cops keep claiming the zone will be enforced to “protect public safety.” Does that same concern extend to ensuring that the “unified command” patrolling land and sea won’t be armed with loaded guns, tasers, billy clubs and tear gas that might harm or kill citizens? Somehow, I don’t think so.
Given the difficulties the ferry is having with the harbor surge and loading dock, I’ve been wondering why they don’t put the “unified command” to work figuring out how to actually get the boat safely into Kahului Harbor, instead of keeping demonstrators out of it.
Meanwhile, Kauai Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura has been urging Hawaii Superferry to actually include some members of the Kauai community in its so-called community outreach, rather than just meeting with elected officials.
It seems this would be the time that Mayor Baptiste, who claimed a couple of months ago that he was remaining neutral precisely so he could bring the warring factions together, would step forward and do just that. Assuming, of course, that he really is neutral.
Still, we have to remember that the world isn’t all bad. I had one surfer tell me yesterday that he’s been fervently wishing for a winter of blasting trades that will make the Superferry ride rough enough to get passengers heaving — even though such conditions will adversely affect the surf.
It just goes to show the high degree of personal sacrifice that some Kauai folks are willing to make in their efforts to derail the ferry. And they say surfers think only of themselves….
While we’re on the subject of selflessness, the Advertiser also reports today that “Melanie Chinen, the embattled head of the state Historic Preservation Division, is resigning effective Dec. 7, citing the physical toll the job has taken on her and the emotional strain on her family from job-related controversy and litigation.”
The article states that Chinen said she gave five weeks' notice early this month, before former archaeology branch chief David Brown filed a lawsuit (hat tip to Ian Lind for posting the pdf) against the state claiming his contract wasn’t renewed after nine months on the job because he spoke up about "illegal, unethical or culturally insensitive" things that were occurring at SHPD.
In an article in this month’s Honolulu Magazine on the controversy over the burials discovered at the Ward Village Shops and the agency’s disarray, reporter Ronna Bolante specifically asked Chinen why she didn’t just leave and got this reply:
“I went to Maryknoll High School, and the motto there is, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’” she says. “It certainly is not fair, but in order to survive in this job, you have to be confident in what you’re doing. I knew people would try to destroy me, but the type of leader I am, my personal comfort does not come before this position.”
I guess things change. Like those harbor security zones that are only “temporary measures.” And Superferry’s arrival date.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Musings: Looking Back
After a night of heavy, steady rain — with such vivid dreams of being in a Tibetan monastery that I began to wonder about astral travel — it kindly let up long enough this dark morning for Koko and me to walk.
Saw farmer Jerry first thing; he’s another person who loves the rain. We talked about when we each lived in houses that had tin roofs and the glorious racket of a rainstorm would drown out the television, make talking on the phone impossible, remind us, as Jerry so wisely noted, who’s really in charge here.
He got to reminiscing a bit about how rural our neighborhood was during the war, with a few whore houses up here in the sticks that were frequented by servicemen delivered in taxis. As a kid, he and his friends used to play in abandoned military installations on Nounou Ridge and along the beaches, and remnants of them still remain.
He said he heard a caller on KKCR yesterday talking about the militarization of Kauai as if it were a new phenomenon. The armed forces have played a big role in Hawaii for a long time, he said, dating way back to the 1893 overthrow.
Speaking of the overthrow, got an email from Nani Rogers and Ka`iulani Huff that tomorrow, Nov. 28, is Ka La Ku`oko`a — Hawaii's official day of Independence — and they’ll be chanting it in before sunrise at Kealia Beach. (oops, that was today, and shoots, I missed it.)
After talking to Jerry and reading Nani’s email, I was reminded again of how much of Hawaii’s history is unknown to newcomers — and probably even some old-timers, too.
I recall after the Kaloko dam break hearing that some fairly recent transplants to the North Shore were angry about the heavy rain — which that region was always known for — because they’d moved here during a dry spell and had no inkling about past weather patterns.
It was also reported to me that some new North Shore residents thought no one had lived in Wainiha and Haena until John Ferry and the other Realtors began selling lots up there. Now that’s not only ignorant, it’s insulting to the folks that have lived in those parts for generations.
And recently, a woman whom I thought really ought to know better, told me there’d been no real activist movement on Kauai until the Superferry issue hit. The struggles at Niumalu, Nukolii, Nohili, and before that, unionizing at the plantation camps — it was all unknown to her.
As a history major, I recognize the value of understanding the past, and yet there’s still a lot I don’t know about Hawaii Nei of even the 20th Century, to say nothing of the centuries before that. Maybe my neighbor Andy, a retired history professor, will offer some crash courses in Kauai history for activists and the merely curious, just to give us all a better perspective about what’s come before.
Finally, I got my first threatening comment — on yesterday’s post — from an apparent Superferry supporter. A few friends had warned me about that possibility, and one person said I shouldn’t allow anonymous comments, although I’ve been reluctant to eliminate that option. Those who know me know I don’t scare easy, and I’ve never been afraid to say what I think. That said, I’m returning that comment — with love — to “Uncle Buck,” the sender.
Saw farmer Jerry first thing; he’s another person who loves the rain. We talked about when we each lived in houses that had tin roofs and the glorious racket of a rainstorm would drown out the television, make talking on the phone impossible, remind us, as Jerry so wisely noted, who’s really in charge here.
He got to reminiscing a bit about how rural our neighborhood was during the war, with a few whore houses up here in the sticks that were frequented by servicemen delivered in taxis. As a kid, he and his friends used to play in abandoned military installations on Nounou Ridge and along the beaches, and remnants of them still remain.
He said he heard a caller on KKCR yesterday talking about the militarization of Kauai as if it were a new phenomenon. The armed forces have played a big role in Hawaii for a long time, he said, dating way back to the 1893 overthrow.
Speaking of the overthrow, got an email from Nani Rogers and Ka`iulani Huff that tomorrow, Nov. 28, is Ka La Ku`oko`a — Hawaii's official day of Independence — and they’ll be chanting it in before sunrise at Kealia Beach. (oops, that was today, and shoots, I missed it.)
After talking to Jerry and reading Nani’s email, I was reminded again of how much of Hawaii’s history is unknown to newcomers — and probably even some old-timers, too.
I recall after the Kaloko dam break hearing that some fairly recent transplants to the North Shore were angry about the heavy rain — which that region was always known for — because they’d moved here during a dry spell and had no inkling about past weather patterns.
It was also reported to me that some new North Shore residents thought no one had lived in Wainiha and Haena until John Ferry and the other Realtors began selling lots up there. Now that’s not only ignorant, it’s insulting to the folks that have lived in those parts for generations.
And recently, a woman whom I thought really ought to know better, told me there’d been no real activist movement on Kauai until the Superferry issue hit. The struggles at Niumalu, Nukolii, Nohili, and before that, unionizing at the plantation camps — it was all unknown to her.
As a history major, I recognize the value of understanding the past, and yet there’s still a lot I don’t know about Hawaii Nei of even the 20th Century, to say nothing of the centuries before that. Maybe my neighbor Andy, a retired history professor, will offer some crash courses in Kauai history for activists and the merely curious, just to give us all a better perspective about what’s come before.
Finally, I got my first threatening comment — on yesterday’s post — from an apparent Superferry supporter. A few friends had warned me about that possibility, and one person said I shouldn’t allow anonymous comments, although I’ve been reluctant to eliminate that option. Those who know me know I don’t scare easy, and I’ve never been afraid to say what I think. That said, I’m returning that comment — with love — to “Uncle Buck,” the sender.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Musings: Divine Retribution
The sky was so spectacular this morning that it literally took my breath away when I went outside and looked up. The moon, rising later each evening, was still bright and high overhead, alongside Venus, and glowing stars were scattered across wispy fan-like clouds. On the eastern edge, there was a hint of apricot-pink.
Returning, I got my icing on the cake: mist rising from the pastures. To borrow the first line from an article I wrote for the current Spirit of Aloha magazine, I’ve got this thing about mist….
I never tire of walking the same route, because each day it’s so different, and on heavenly mornings like this, I feel immersed in a sort of prayer.
I’ve been wondering if the prayers prayed at last Friday’s candlelight vigil at Nawiliwili Harbor had any effect on the inability of the state DOT to get the barge at Kahului Harbor repaired in time for Hawaii Superferry to meet its Dec. 1 projected relaunch. It seems as good an explanation as any.
I find it so ironic that HSF, after claiming it couldn’t hold out much longer if others, like environmentalists, continued to cause it delays, is now having to wait another five days for its champion, the state DOT, to fix the storm-damaged barge used to load vehicles on and off the ferry.
The Advertiser article on the delay led with a pitying statement: “The Hawaii Superferry just can't seem to catch a break.” But somehow, I don’t think the latest setback is going to generate much sympathy among folks on Maui and Kauai.
There's kind of this sense that they have it coming, what with all their penchants for half-truths. The company's bogus “community outreach” efforts on Kauai are just the latest example. The Garden Island finally picked up on that story today, leading with this observation: “After publicly announcing efforts to ‘reach out’ to Kaua‘i, Hawaii Superferry officials have yet to point at specific plans, prompting concern among legislators who say they expect more than empty promises.”
It also contained this little nugget: “Lori Abe, Superferry spokeswoman, could not offer comment on the community outreach issue but did say via e-mail that [CEO John] Garibaldi was off island.”
That’s all rather interesting, seeing as how the Star-Bulletin ran a story on Nov. 24 that included this quote: ““The specific goals (of the community outreach program) is to put everyone in a better place,” Abe added. “I think it’s all been positive.”
Mmm hmmm. Yeah, right.
It’s stuff like this that prompted David Dinner, president of 1000 Friends of Kauai, to tell The Garden Island: “Everything they’ve said — the whale program, speed, use of fuel — they’ve never even said an accurate date they’re coming. They haven’t responded in an ethical way. So we have come to expect that. It’s too bad, too, because when I deal with others my expectation is they’re going to give us the best and an honest response.”
Funny, how Superferry gets sympathy from the media, but those who oppose the way it does business get snarky comments, like the cynical jab from the Star-Bulletin’s Mary Adamski, who wrote about the candlelight vigil: “Could there be plotting behind the praying?”
I don’t think there’s much hope of clearing up the many misconceptions that are held about those who have spoken up against Hawaii Superferry and the governor’s strong arm tactics to get it running.
But we can still pray for peace — and divine retribution.
Returning, I got my icing on the cake: mist rising from the pastures. To borrow the first line from an article I wrote for the current Spirit of Aloha magazine, I’ve got this thing about mist….
I never tire of walking the same route, because each day it’s so different, and on heavenly mornings like this, I feel immersed in a sort of prayer.
I’ve been wondering if the prayers prayed at last Friday’s candlelight vigil at Nawiliwili Harbor had any effect on the inability of the state DOT to get the barge at Kahului Harbor repaired in time for Hawaii Superferry to meet its Dec. 1 projected relaunch. It seems as good an explanation as any.
I find it so ironic that HSF, after claiming it couldn’t hold out much longer if others, like environmentalists, continued to cause it delays, is now having to wait another five days for its champion, the state DOT, to fix the storm-damaged barge used to load vehicles on and off the ferry.
The Advertiser article on the delay led with a pitying statement: “The Hawaii Superferry just can't seem to catch a break.” But somehow, I don’t think the latest setback is going to generate much sympathy among folks on Maui and Kauai.
There's kind of this sense that they have it coming, what with all their penchants for half-truths. The company's bogus “community outreach” efforts on Kauai are just the latest example. The Garden Island finally picked up on that story today, leading with this observation: “After publicly announcing efforts to ‘reach out’ to Kaua‘i, Hawaii Superferry officials have yet to point at specific plans, prompting concern among legislators who say they expect more than empty promises.”
It also contained this little nugget: “Lori Abe, Superferry spokeswoman, could not offer comment on the community outreach issue but did say via e-mail that [CEO John] Garibaldi was off island.”
That’s all rather interesting, seeing as how the Star-Bulletin ran a story on Nov. 24 that included this quote: ““The specific goals (of the community outreach program) is to put everyone in a better place,” Abe added. “I think it’s all been positive.”
Mmm hmmm. Yeah, right.
It’s stuff like this that prompted David Dinner, president of 1000 Friends of Kauai, to tell The Garden Island: “Everything they’ve said — the whale program, speed, use of fuel — they’ve never even said an accurate date they’re coming. They haven’t responded in an ethical way. So we have come to expect that. It’s too bad, too, because when I deal with others my expectation is they’re going to give us the best and an honest response.”
Funny, how Superferry gets sympathy from the media, but those who oppose the way it does business get snarky comments, like the cynical jab from the Star-Bulletin’s Mary Adamski, who wrote about the candlelight vigil: “Could there be plotting behind the praying?”
I don’t think there’s much hope of clearing up the many misconceptions that are held about those who have spoken up against Hawaii Superferry and the governor’s strong arm tactics to get it running.
But we can still pray for peace — and divine retribution.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Musings: So What You Think?
The moon was opposite Venus — one in front of me, the other behind — and all the mountains were clear when Koko and I set out on our walk this chilly morning.
No, it wasn’t the 30 degrees and rainy/sleeting kind of chill that my friend in Illinois reported yesterday, but it was enough to make me wish briefly for a thicker sweatshirt. The clouds were of the cirrus variety: thin and quilted around the moon, wispy and pink in the pre-dawn light that etched the Sleeping Giant in gold.
It was the sort of exquisite morning that made me want to dawdle, so I did.
Sometime in the night I was roused by what sounded like an encounter between a stalking cat and roosting chicken in the valley behind my house. I’m not sure which emerged the victor, as I heard the cat let loose with a ferocious snarl/howl as a hen — a tough opponent when protecting young chicks — cackled indignantly. A rooster — typically slow to defend his brood — crowed long and loud after all the action was over, and then all was quiet, save for the forlorn sound of cheeping chicks separated from their mother.
I’m pretty sure the hungry wild cat got a meal.
I’ve had animals on my mind more than usual after reading Ian Lind’s touching blog post this morning and hearing an excellent interview with author Sy Montgomery yesterday on the New Dimensions radio program. (You can listen free until Dec. 5.)
Montgomery noted that many animals "are born knowing everything they need to know. We dismiss that as 'just instinct.' That's crazy. What's wrong with knowing everything? We think we're so great because we humans think. Well, animals know. And knowing is better."
Those of us plagued with over-active minds understand that knowing is preferable to thinking, which can get into us all sorts of trouble, trauma and grief.
I’ve often wondered why humans put themselves at the top of the evolutionary scale just because we think our thinking is superior to the thinking done by animals. Sure, we’re super predators, but we can’t fly without airplanes, pull material out of our bodies that helps us catch food, love without all sorts of conditions attached.
We still haven’t figured out how to live in synch with everything else on the planet — including species that have been around millions of years, compared to our measly 200,000 years or so.
And most of us don’t have a clue about what we really need to survive — and thrive — in this world. We keep looking for it at the shopping malls and big box stores, and garans, it’s not there.
As Montgomery advises, and I agree: “We cripple ourselves by inventing these fake needs. Have more fun and less stuff.”
No, it wasn’t the 30 degrees and rainy/sleeting kind of chill that my friend in Illinois reported yesterday, but it was enough to make me wish briefly for a thicker sweatshirt. The clouds were of the cirrus variety: thin and quilted around the moon, wispy and pink in the pre-dawn light that etched the Sleeping Giant in gold.
It was the sort of exquisite morning that made me want to dawdle, so I did.
Sometime in the night I was roused by what sounded like an encounter between a stalking cat and roosting chicken in the valley behind my house. I’m not sure which emerged the victor, as I heard the cat let loose with a ferocious snarl/howl as a hen — a tough opponent when protecting young chicks — cackled indignantly. A rooster — typically slow to defend his brood — crowed long and loud after all the action was over, and then all was quiet, save for the forlorn sound of cheeping chicks separated from their mother.
I’m pretty sure the hungry wild cat got a meal.
I’ve had animals on my mind more than usual after reading Ian Lind’s touching blog post this morning and hearing an excellent interview with author Sy Montgomery yesterday on the New Dimensions radio program. (You can listen free until Dec. 5.)
Montgomery noted that many animals "are born knowing everything they need to know. We dismiss that as 'just instinct.' That's crazy. What's wrong with knowing everything? We think we're so great because we humans think. Well, animals know. And knowing is better."
Those of us plagued with over-active minds understand that knowing is preferable to thinking, which can get into us all sorts of trouble, trauma and grief.
I’ve often wondered why humans put themselves at the top of the evolutionary scale just because we think our thinking is superior to the thinking done by animals. Sure, we’re super predators, but we can’t fly without airplanes, pull material out of our bodies that helps us catch food, love without all sorts of conditions attached.
We still haven’t figured out how to live in synch with everything else on the planet — including species that have been around millions of years, compared to our measly 200,000 years or so.
And most of us don’t have a clue about what we really need to survive — and thrive — in this world. We keep looking for it at the shopping malls and big box stores, and garans, it’s not there.
As Montgomery advises, and I agree: “We cripple ourselves by inventing these fake needs. Have more fun and less stuff.”
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bits and Pieces
I’ve been slowly clearing off my desk for the past couple of days, so it seemed appropriate today to pass along a few bits and pieces forwarded to me from others.
First, the persistent encroachment on American’s privacy and civil liberties continues, with msnbc.com reporting firefighters and paramedics — who can enter homes without search warrants — are being trained as “lookouts for terrorism” in some major U.S. cities.
“The trial program with Homeland Security opens a clear information-sharing channel — which did not exist before — between the fire service and Homeland Security’s intelligence division,” the article states.
“Even before the federal program began, New York firefighters and inspectors had been training to recognize materials and behavior the government identifies as 'signs of planning and support for terrorism'.
“When going to private residences, for example, they are told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States; unusual chemicals or other materials that seem out of place; ammunition, firearms or weapons boxes; surveillance equipment; still and video cameras; night-vision goggles; maps, photos, blueprints; police manuals, training manuals, flight manuals; and little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress.”
So now you have it: hostility, expressing discontent with the U.S., having still and video cameras and living in a sparsely furnished home could be enough to get you on that dreaded terrorist watch list.
Meanwhile, the CIA — experts at propaganda and disinformation — is using some of those tools to brainwash the youth with a special kids’ page on its website.
Among its nuggets:
“You may have heard about the Central Intelligence Agency. But, do you know what we really do and how we do it? The people of the CIA do very important work. They help keep our country safe. They give our leaders information so they can make good decisions. And they take pride in their important jobs.
“We have a lot of different jobs here. We have analysts, doctors, lawyers, scientists, geographers, and librarians, to name just a few. A lot of people still think that our employees lurk around in trench coats, send coded messages, and use exotic equipment like hidden cameras and secret phones to do their job. (You know, all those things you see in the movies or read about in spy novels.) There is a little of that, but that’s only part of the story.”
Interestingly, the graphic used to illustrate the kids’ page is a woman in a trench coat and dark glasses, talking on a phone in her high heel.
I could find no information about the agency’s role in assassinations, torture and special renditions. But it did ‘fess up to “in some cases, we spread disinformation to confuse them [opponents]” in the section for kids in grades 6-12.
The site also helpfully provides five lesson plans for teachers, as well as tips on how to help kids say no to drugs. The site proclaims: “The CIA is proud to be at the forefront of the War on Drugs, but we only win this war with everyone’s help.” However, it left out the part about its own role in drug running.
On the home front, an open letter to Hawaii Superferry CEO John Garibaldi and state officials is now circulating and seeking signatories. It states, in part:
“We, the undersigned residents of Kaua`i respectfully decline to participate in any of the reported 'outreach' efforts of the Hawai`i Superferry (HSf).
“The law may or may not say that it is legal for the HSf to come to Kaua`i. But even if the HSf can come to Nawiliwili, we Kaua`i residents don't have to either like or acquiesce to it.
“We undersigned will not and cannot ‘put behind us’ the disrespect and violation of our constitutional right to a safe and healthy environment, as both Honolulu newspapers have editorially suggested. It is, in fact, still in front of us.”
It also calls upon “the Kaua`i County Council to declare HSf a public nuisance under State law (HRS § 46-17) due to the ‘dust, pollution, vibrations, noise and smoke’ of up to 560 cars coming on and off the HSf as well as many as 200 more picking up and dropping off passengers all converging upon the dock.”
The letter is reportedly going to be released publicly on Monday.
So far, however, I still have seen and heard no evidence that Superferry actually is engaging in any community outreach on Kauai — despite public statements that it is. Maybe one of these days a reporter will actually ask Superferry to describe just what that outreach entails, and precisely who they are reaching out to.
First, the persistent encroachment on American’s privacy and civil liberties continues, with msnbc.com reporting firefighters and paramedics — who can enter homes without search warrants — are being trained as “lookouts for terrorism” in some major U.S. cities.
“The trial program with Homeland Security opens a clear information-sharing channel — which did not exist before — between the fire service and Homeland Security’s intelligence division,” the article states.
“Even before the federal program began, New York firefighters and inspectors had been training to recognize materials and behavior the government identifies as 'signs of planning and support for terrorism'.
“When going to private residences, for example, they are told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States; unusual chemicals or other materials that seem out of place; ammunition, firearms or weapons boxes; surveillance equipment; still and video cameras; night-vision goggles; maps, photos, blueprints; police manuals, training manuals, flight manuals; and little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress.”
So now you have it: hostility, expressing discontent with the U.S., having still and video cameras and living in a sparsely furnished home could be enough to get you on that dreaded terrorist watch list.
Meanwhile, the CIA — experts at propaganda and disinformation — is using some of those tools to brainwash the youth with a special kids’ page on its website.
Among its nuggets:
“You may have heard about the Central Intelligence Agency. But, do you know what we really do and how we do it? The people of the CIA do very important work. They help keep our country safe. They give our leaders information so they can make good decisions. And they take pride in their important jobs.
“We have a lot of different jobs here. We have analysts, doctors, lawyers, scientists, geographers, and librarians, to name just a few. A lot of people still think that our employees lurk around in trench coats, send coded messages, and use exotic equipment like hidden cameras and secret phones to do their job. (You know, all those things you see in the movies or read about in spy novels.) There is a little of that, but that’s only part of the story.”
Interestingly, the graphic used to illustrate the kids’ page is a woman in a trench coat and dark glasses, talking on a phone in her high heel.
I could find no information about the agency’s role in assassinations, torture and special renditions. But it did ‘fess up to “in some cases, we spread disinformation to confuse them [opponents]” in the section for kids in grades 6-12.
The site also helpfully provides five lesson plans for teachers, as well as tips on how to help kids say no to drugs. The site proclaims: “The CIA is proud to be at the forefront of the War on Drugs, but we only win this war with everyone’s help.” However, it left out the part about its own role in drug running.
On the home front, an open letter to Hawaii Superferry CEO John Garibaldi and state officials is now circulating and seeking signatories. It states, in part:
“We, the undersigned residents of Kaua`i respectfully decline to participate in any of the reported 'outreach' efforts of the Hawai`i Superferry (HSf).
“The law may or may not say that it is legal for the HSf to come to Kaua`i. But even if the HSf can come to Nawiliwili, we Kaua`i residents don't have to either like or acquiesce to it.
“We undersigned will not and cannot ‘put behind us’ the disrespect and violation of our constitutional right to a safe and healthy environment, as both Honolulu newspapers have editorially suggested. It is, in fact, still in front of us.”
It also calls upon “the Kaua`i County Council to declare HSf a public nuisance under State law (HRS § 46-17) due to the ‘dust, pollution, vibrations, noise and smoke’ of up to 560 cars coming on and off the HSf as well as many as 200 more picking up and dropping off passengers all converging upon the dock.”
The letter is reportedly going to be released publicly on Monday.
So far, however, I still have seen and heard no evidence that Superferry actually is engaging in any community outreach on Kauai — despite public statements that it is. Maybe one of these days a reporter will actually ask Superferry to describe just what that outreach entails, and precisely who they are reaching out to.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Musings: Meeting of Minds?
Followed that big full moon down the street this morning, toward the mountains, which were nearly clear and bathed in an exquisite silver light that gave everything the magical luminosity of a Maxfield Parrish painting. The scent of mock orange blossoms and a Hong Kong orchid tree — dense with sweetly fragrant purple flowers — contributed to the idyllic scene.
Koko was happy because twice dogs emerged from their yards to play, and I was happy, because how could I be anything else under the glow of such a gorgeous moon? Still, I recognize my own perceptions cause my happiness, and others witnessing the same scene might feel very differently.
And so it is with more mundane matters, like the news. People often tell me they can’t understand how newspapers can publish such different accounts of the same event. It’s a phenomenon I frequently noticed as a daily news reporter, covering stories and reading what the competition had written. Everyone had his or her own take on things, and sometimes even our quotes didn’t match exactly.
I was reminded of that phenomenon when I received a press release from the county yesterday about a meeting that occurred earlier this month between Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi representatives Daren and Dayne Gonsalves (also known as Dayne Aipoalani) and Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry, Deputy Police Chief Mark Begley, Assistant Chief Gordon Isoda and Assistant Chief Roy Asher.
The meeting was held at the request of Gonsalves the Kingdom’s high chief, to discuss the arrest of him and Robert Pa, the Kingdom’s customary chief, on charges of obstructing government operations during the Aug. 27 Nawiliwili Harbor demonstration against the Superferry. They were also cited with impersonating police officers, ostensibly because of the Kingdom marshal badges they carry. At the time of the arrest, police announced they would be moving against other Kingdom members, as well.
The Kingdom had previously sent out its own press release, which characterized the Nov. 8 sit down with the cops as “a cordial meeting of minds,” while noting: “Needless to say there is a difference in perception between state and kingdom of who owns what and who is breaking whose laws.”
“The police for their part were willing to discuss these matters,” the Kingdom’s press release continued. “Officer Asher stated that there would now be no reason to arrest 'kingdom guys.' They were willing to work the current situation out if stopping short of absolute recognition on their part. The High Chief [Gonsalves] said it was not in his interest to shut down county, state or federal governments, only to exercise oversight authority as the representative of the ‘first people’ and the preservation of their endangered culture, to ensure the well being of future generations of their keiki. He also pointed out that on the badges the police wear is a representative figure of a Hawaiian Ali'i which in fact is representation of himself. He further asked the Police Department to issue an apology for his arrest to be published in the Garden Island to clear his name. They agreed to this.
“The police will now examine the documents presented to them and go through their protocol ‘so as to protect the Kingdom's foundation so no one else gets arrested,"’ The Kingdom release continued. “Chief Dayne also received an E-Mail from Governor Lingle's liaison Loke Kin stating the same thing and calling for further discussion.
“The promise of the Kauai Police and the Office of the Governor to sincerely review these issues perhaps denotes someone is finally listening after all,” the Kingdom’s release concludes.
The county press release, however, tells a rather different story, stating: “[Police Chief] Perry told Gonsalves that he would review the documents and would also ask County Attorney Matthew Pyun, Jr. to review them and provide a determination on their validity. KPD officials told Gonsalves that his presentation lacked supporting documentation. Gonsalves assured them that those documents would be forthcoming, but he has not yet provided county officials with the documents.
“Perry informed Gonsalves that there was no credible reason for an apology, and that the Judiciary would make the final determination on their guilt or innocence," the county release continued.
“In addition, Perry advised Gonsalves that KPD would continue to enforce state and county laws, including the offense of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
“Gonsalves was also told that his badge would remain in police custody as evidence," the county release concluded.
So much for a “cordial meeting of minds,” and Gonsalves hope that “someone is finally listening after all.”
Koko was happy because twice dogs emerged from their yards to play, and I was happy, because how could I be anything else under the glow of such a gorgeous moon? Still, I recognize my own perceptions cause my happiness, and others witnessing the same scene might feel very differently.
And so it is with more mundane matters, like the news. People often tell me they can’t understand how newspapers can publish such different accounts of the same event. It’s a phenomenon I frequently noticed as a daily news reporter, covering stories and reading what the competition had written. Everyone had his or her own take on things, and sometimes even our quotes didn’t match exactly.
I was reminded of that phenomenon when I received a press release from the county yesterday about a meeting that occurred earlier this month between Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi representatives Daren and Dayne Gonsalves (also known as Dayne Aipoalani) and Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry, Deputy Police Chief Mark Begley, Assistant Chief Gordon Isoda and Assistant Chief Roy Asher.
The meeting was held at the request of Gonsalves the Kingdom’s high chief, to discuss the arrest of him and Robert Pa, the Kingdom’s customary chief, on charges of obstructing government operations during the Aug. 27 Nawiliwili Harbor demonstration against the Superferry. They were also cited with impersonating police officers, ostensibly because of the Kingdom marshal badges they carry. At the time of the arrest, police announced they would be moving against other Kingdom members, as well.
The Kingdom had previously sent out its own press release, which characterized the Nov. 8 sit down with the cops as “a cordial meeting of minds,” while noting: “Needless to say there is a difference in perception between state and kingdom of who owns what and who is breaking whose laws.”
“The police for their part were willing to discuss these matters,” the Kingdom’s press release continued. “Officer Asher stated that there would now be no reason to arrest 'kingdom guys.' They were willing to work the current situation out if stopping short of absolute recognition on their part. The High Chief [Gonsalves] said it was not in his interest to shut down county, state or federal governments, only to exercise oversight authority as the representative of the ‘first people’ and the preservation of their endangered culture, to ensure the well being of future generations of their keiki. He also pointed out that on the badges the police wear is a representative figure of a Hawaiian Ali'i which in fact is representation of himself. He further asked the Police Department to issue an apology for his arrest to be published in the Garden Island to clear his name. They agreed to this.
“The police will now examine the documents presented to them and go through their protocol ‘so as to protect the Kingdom's foundation so no one else gets arrested,"’ The Kingdom release continued. “Chief Dayne also received an E-Mail from Governor Lingle's liaison Loke Kin stating the same thing and calling for further discussion.
“The promise of the Kauai Police and the Office of the Governor to sincerely review these issues perhaps denotes someone is finally listening after all,” the Kingdom’s release concludes.
The county press release, however, tells a rather different story, stating: “[Police Chief] Perry told Gonsalves that he would review the documents and would also ask County Attorney Matthew Pyun, Jr. to review them and provide a determination on their validity. KPD officials told Gonsalves that his presentation lacked supporting documentation. Gonsalves assured them that those documents would be forthcoming, but he has not yet provided county officials with the documents.
“Perry informed Gonsalves that there was no credible reason for an apology, and that the Judiciary would make the final determination on their guilt or innocence," the county release continued.
“In addition, Perry advised Gonsalves that KPD would continue to enforce state and county laws, including the offense of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
“Gonsalves was also told that his badge would remain in police custody as evidence," the county release concluded.
So much for a “cordial meeting of minds,” and Gonsalves hope that “someone is finally listening after all.”
Friday, November 23, 2007
Musings: Homegrown "Terrorism"
Well, the holiday season is officially upon us, with its over-emphasis on buy-buy, spend-spend. Yawn…… Every year, I pull further out of that whole scene, trying to distill my observance down to the essence, and away from all that hyper-materialism.
Mine is kind of an anti-American attitude, when you get down to it, because our economy is so consumerism-based. So far, however, it’s not illegal to speak disparagingly about shopping.
But with the U.S. Senate now poised to consider The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1955), all kinds of unpopular thought, speech and action now protected by the First Amendment could be at risk.
As I read an article by Jessica Lee on the proposed act published in The Indypendent, I was struck by how some of the concerns expressed about the bill are already playing out here in Hawaii with Gov. Lingle’s response to the Superferry opposition.
First, some background.
The bill, which passed the House Oct. 23 in a 404-6 vote (Rep. Abercrombie voted no, while Rep. Mazie Hirono voted yes), “would establish a ‘National Commission on the prevention of violent radicalization and ideologically based violence’ and a university-based ‘Center for Excellence’ to ‘examine and report upon the facts and causes of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism and ideologically based violence in the United States’ in order to develop policy for ‘prevention, disruption and mitigation,’” according to the article.
While a simple study may sound harmless enough, Lee’s article goes on to quote Hope Marston, a regional organizer with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC), who expresses concerns about the bill’s definition of terrorism: “It is about the ‘use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence to intimidate or coerce the government.’ This is often the language that refers to political activity.”
Marston is later quoted as saying: "The definition does not make clear what force is.”
The article states: “One pressing concern is definitions contained in the bill. For example, ‘violent radicalization’ is defined as ‘the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.”
The article quotes Alejandro Queral, executive director of the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center, who asks: “What is an extremist belief system? Who defines this? These are broad definitions that encompass so much. … It is criminalizing thought and ideology.”
The article also quotes a Nov. 6 press release by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), which states: “The National Commission [will] propose to both Congress and [Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael] Chertoff initiatives to intercede before radicalized individuals turn violent.”
The article then quotes David Price, a professor of anthropology at St. Martin’s University who studies government surveillance and harassment of dissident scholars, who maintains: “This bill is trying to bridge the gap between those with radical dissenting views and those who engage in violent acts. It’s a form of prior restraint.”
Now here’s where it starts to get good, and I’m still referencing Lee’s article:
Price explains how this may work, citing an example in his home town of Olympia, Wash., where a peaceful blockade took place in early November at the Port of Olympia to prevent the shipment of war materials between the United States and Iraq. He says, “It will be these types of things that will start getting defined as terrorism, including Quakers and indigenous rights’ campaigns.”
Kamau Franklin, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), is also concerned at the targeting of peaceful protests. He says the “Commission’s broad mandate can lead to the ability to turn civil disobedience, a form of protest that is centuries old, into a terrorist act.” It’s possible, he says, “that someone who would have been charged with disorderly conduct or obstruction of governmental administration may soon be charged with a federal terrorist statute.”
“My biggest fear is that they [the commission] will call for some new criminal penalties and federal crimes,” says Franklin. “Activists are nervous about how the broad definitions could be used for criminalizing civil disobedience and squashing the momentum of the left.”
I find Franklin’s comment incredibly astute, seeing as how a federal “security zone” at Nawiliwili Harbor, with its attendant hefty penalties, has already been implemented here on Kauai precisely to turn civil disobedience into a terrorist act — with the goal of quashing protests against the Superferry.
As I’ve noted previously, the sole purpose of Lingle’s Sept. 20 visit to Kauai was to advise citizens about the zone and its penalties in order to deter the kind of peaceful, yet extremely effective, protest that resulted in a water blockade that kept the ferry from entering the harbor.
Before the zone, those who were arrested in the Superferry demonstrations were charged with various misdemeanor offenses that carry light fines and little or no jail time.
After the zone, those engaging in the very same “offenses” could suddenly be charged with federal crimes that carry lengthy federal prison terms and substantial fines.
The citizen actions would be the same, but the response from government would be radically different — with much more serious consequences as a result.
We’ve already seen the deliberate rhetorical build-up that allows the government to get away with this kind of heavy-handed approach. Those who gathered for two nights at Nawiliwili to express their concerns about what they perceived as illegal action by the Superferry have been branded as radical environmentalists, extremists, a vocal minority, a fringe element and special interest groups.
They’ve also been depersonalized, through the use of language that demeans them as newcomer haoles, hippies, druggies, unruly, rowdy, rude, violent, obstructionists, anti-Oahu and devoid of aloha.
In America, the big fear is Arabs and Islamic groups. In Hawaii, the big fear is environmentalists and Hawaiian sovereignty groups.
And the really big fear in both places are those who oppose rampant capitalism and seek to dispel the mindset that promotes unending growth.
Lee’s article quotes a 2005 RAND report, “Trends in Terrorism,” which devotes one chapter to a non-Muslim “homegrown terrorist” threat — anti-globalists: “Anti-globalists directly challenge the intrinsic qualities of capitalism, charging that in the insatiable quest for growth and profit, the philosophy is serving to destroy the world’s ecology, indigenous cultures and individual welfare,” stated the report.
If any of this is starting to hit uncomfortably close to home — or you simply don’t want to see America edge even closer to a police state — I urge you to contact your Senators right away and ask them to defeat this bill. It has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, chaired by Joe Lieberman.
But first take a few minutes to read Lee’s article, which does an excellent job of exploring both the bill and the broader issue of what constitutes violence and terrorism.
You might be surprised to find that the definitions could apply to some of your own cherished beliefs.
Mine is kind of an anti-American attitude, when you get down to it, because our economy is so consumerism-based. So far, however, it’s not illegal to speak disparagingly about shopping.
But with the U.S. Senate now poised to consider The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1955), all kinds of unpopular thought, speech and action now protected by the First Amendment could be at risk.
As I read an article by Jessica Lee on the proposed act published in The Indypendent, I was struck by how some of the concerns expressed about the bill are already playing out here in Hawaii with Gov. Lingle’s response to the Superferry opposition.
First, some background.
The bill, which passed the House Oct. 23 in a 404-6 vote (Rep. Abercrombie voted no, while Rep. Mazie Hirono voted yes), “would establish a ‘National Commission on the prevention of violent radicalization and ideologically based violence’ and a university-based ‘Center for Excellence’ to ‘examine and report upon the facts and causes of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism and ideologically based violence in the United States’ in order to develop policy for ‘prevention, disruption and mitigation,’” according to the article.
While a simple study may sound harmless enough, Lee’s article goes on to quote Hope Marston, a regional organizer with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC), who expresses concerns about the bill’s definition of terrorism: “It is about the ‘use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence to intimidate or coerce the government.’ This is often the language that refers to political activity.”
Marston is later quoted as saying: "The definition does not make clear what force is.”
The article states: “One pressing concern is definitions contained in the bill. For example, ‘violent radicalization’ is defined as ‘the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.”
The article quotes Alejandro Queral, executive director of the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center, who asks: “What is an extremist belief system? Who defines this? These are broad definitions that encompass so much. … It is criminalizing thought and ideology.”
The article also quotes a Nov. 6 press release by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), which states: “The National Commission [will] propose to both Congress and [Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael] Chertoff initiatives to intercede before radicalized individuals turn violent.”
The article then quotes David Price, a professor of anthropology at St. Martin’s University who studies government surveillance and harassment of dissident scholars, who maintains: “This bill is trying to bridge the gap between those with radical dissenting views and those who engage in violent acts. It’s a form of prior restraint.”
Now here’s where it starts to get good, and I’m still referencing Lee’s article:
Price explains how this may work, citing an example in his home town of Olympia, Wash., where a peaceful blockade took place in early November at the Port of Olympia to prevent the shipment of war materials between the United States and Iraq. He says, “It will be these types of things that will start getting defined as terrorism, including Quakers and indigenous rights’ campaigns.”
Kamau Franklin, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), is also concerned at the targeting of peaceful protests. He says the “Commission’s broad mandate can lead to the ability to turn civil disobedience, a form of protest that is centuries old, into a terrorist act.” It’s possible, he says, “that someone who would have been charged with disorderly conduct or obstruction of governmental administration may soon be charged with a federal terrorist statute.”
“My biggest fear is that they [the commission] will call for some new criminal penalties and federal crimes,” says Franklin. “Activists are nervous about how the broad definitions could be used for criminalizing civil disobedience and squashing the momentum of the left.”
I find Franklin’s comment incredibly astute, seeing as how a federal “security zone” at Nawiliwili Harbor, with its attendant hefty penalties, has already been implemented here on Kauai precisely to turn civil disobedience into a terrorist act — with the goal of quashing protests against the Superferry.
As I’ve noted previously, the sole purpose of Lingle’s Sept. 20 visit to Kauai was to advise citizens about the zone and its penalties in order to deter the kind of peaceful, yet extremely effective, protest that resulted in a water blockade that kept the ferry from entering the harbor.
Before the zone, those who were arrested in the Superferry demonstrations were charged with various misdemeanor offenses that carry light fines and little or no jail time.
After the zone, those engaging in the very same “offenses” could suddenly be charged with federal crimes that carry lengthy federal prison terms and substantial fines.
The citizen actions would be the same, but the response from government would be radically different — with much more serious consequences as a result.
We’ve already seen the deliberate rhetorical build-up that allows the government to get away with this kind of heavy-handed approach. Those who gathered for two nights at Nawiliwili to express their concerns about what they perceived as illegal action by the Superferry have been branded as radical environmentalists, extremists, a vocal minority, a fringe element and special interest groups.
They’ve also been depersonalized, through the use of language that demeans them as newcomer haoles, hippies, druggies, unruly, rowdy, rude, violent, obstructionists, anti-Oahu and devoid of aloha.
In America, the big fear is Arabs and Islamic groups. In Hawaii, the big fear is environmentalists and Hawaiian sovereignty groups.
And the really big fear in both places are those who oppose rampant capitalism and seek to dispel the mindset that promotes unending growth.
Lee’s article quotes a 2005 RAND report, “Trends in Terrorism,” which devotes one chapter to a non-Muslim “homegrown terrorist” threat — anti-globalists: “Anti-globalists directly challenge the intrinsic qualities of capitalism, charging that in the insatiable quest for growth and profit, the philosophy is serving to destroy the world’s ecology, indigenous cultures and individual welfare,” stated the report.
If any of this is starting to hit uncomfortably close to home — or you simply don’t want to see America edge even closer to a police state — I urge you to contact your Senators right away and ask them to defeat this bill. It has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, chaired by Joe Lieberman.
But first take a few minutes to read Lee’s article, which does an excellent job of exploring both the bill and the broader issue of what constitutes violence and terrorism.
You might be surprised to find that the definitions could apply to some of your own cherished beliefs.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Musings: Prayer of Gratitude
Walked down the dark street this morning, beneath a canopy of stars, past the orange glow of a neighbor’s inflatable pilgrim-turkey, and along the trail, to the place where I could look out over the pasture and see the ocean, and the notch in the mountains beneath the Sleeping Giant’s chin.
With Venus reigning over a soft blue sky, I watched the horizon turn gold as the first rays of day sent up shafts of pink that stained the clouds, traveling south, and fast, and listened to the birds awaken, singing, the way I like to do, although mine is the silent kind of the soul.
And then in an instant all the color vanished, the sky washed pale, the clouds gone gray, waiting for the sun, which rose, as I retraced my steps home, in a burst of orange near the Giant’s feet, and Wailaleale was clear, save for a rosy halo.
My neighbor Andy pronounced it an exquisite morning, and I could only agree.
Yesterday afternoon I went to my favorite beach, where a stiff north wind riled up a sea that was already roaring with the force of its own swell, and took a cautious dip in the foamy shallows near the shoreline. I wanted to linger in the ocean's salty froth, but it was too rough, and I am always cautious in that place, where the water is swept, fast and furious, toward a narrow channel in the reef.
Returning to the parking lot, I encountered a couple, visiting from Honolulu, and the man recognized the carved-bone pendant I wear around my neck — a gift from a friend — as one of his own creations.
Life is so fascinating, full of chance encounters, unexpected events, like a friend who called last night, enroute to the Midwest, with news that her dear friend had taken his own life in Oakland.
We never know what lies around each corner, when joy and abundance will be given, or taken. All we can do is love, and appreciate each moment. And remember, always, the prayer of gratitude.
Mahalo ke Akua.
Sending love to S., grieving in Cleveland.
With Venus reigning over a soft blue sky, I watched the horizon turn gold as the first rays of day sent up shafts of pink that stained the clouds, traveling south, and fast, and listened to the birds awaken, singing, the way I like to do, although mine is the silent kind of the soul.
And then in an instant all the color vanished, the sky washed pale, the clouds gone gray, waiting for the sun, which rose, as I retraced my steps home, in a burst of orange near the Giant’s feet, and Wailaleale was clear, save for a rosy halo.
My neighbor Andy pronounced it an exquisite morning, and I could only agree.
Yesterday afternoon I went to my favorite beach, where a stiff north wind riled up a sea that was already roaring with the force of its own swell, and took a cautious dip in the foamy shallows near the shoreline. I wanted to linger in the ocean's salty froth, but it was too rough, and I am always cautious in that place, where the water is swept, fast and furious, toward a narrow channel in the reef.
Returning to the parking lot, I encountered a couple, visiting from Honolulu, and the man recognized the carved-bone pendant I wear around my neck — a gift from a friend — as one of his own creations.
Life is so fascinating, full of chance encounters, unexpected events, like a friend who called last night, enroute to the Midwest, with news that her dear friend had taken his own life in Oakland.
We never know what lies around each corner, when joy and abundance will be given, or taken. All we can do is love, and appreciate each moment. And remember, always, the prayer of gratitude.
Mahalo ke Akua.
Sending love to S., grieving in Cleveland.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Musings: Meeting the Bag Man
A sky full of brilliant stars greeted Koko and me this morning, although Makalii was hazy in clouds over the mountains. The eastern sky turned gold, and the western sky lavender-pink, as the sun rose unobstructed, crowning a glorious day.
Farmer Jerry stopped to tell me that The Nature Conservancy negotiated a deal with A&B to buy Wainiha Valley, above the intake for the hydropower plant, thus ensuring that a vast tract of relatively pristine native forest will remain undisturbed. [correx: it's not a purchase, but a 10-year management deal affecting some 7,050 acres] For someone who eschews politics, Jerry is incredibly dialed in.
Less so is Hawaii Superferry, which despite a statement on its website and a report in yesterday’s Honolulu Advertiser
still has taken no noticeable steps to smooth ruffled feathers on Kauai.
The Advertiser story states: “The company has put Kaua'i service on hold while it continues efforts to calm community concerns and prevent the kind of protests that blocked the ferry from docking at Nawiliwili Harbor on Aug. 27.”
It does not elaborate further on those efforts, most likely because none are under way. I talked to Sen. Gary Hooser and Rep. Mina Morita the other day, and they said Superferry CEO John Garibaldi met individually with each of them last week, as well as Kauai Reps. Jimmy Tokioka and Roland Sagum, to ask their thoughts on how to handle the opposition.
Both Gary and Mina suggested company officials meet with Jimmy Trujillo of Hui-R, Keone Kealoha of Malama Kauai and Rich Hoeppner of People for the Preservation of Kauai. But when I checked with those guys, not one had heard a peep from Hawaii Superferry.
Mina, not one to mince words, said she told Garibaldi: “You just destroyed people’s trust in government.” Mina said she had little advice to offer because “they blew it in the first place. I couldn’t give them any suggestions because to me, they’re liars, and I don’t trust them. All I could think of looking at him (Garibaldi) is, he’s the bag man.”
Gary said that although there was no direct request, “part of me felt like he was trying to enroll us in some of kind of team effort, and I’m not going to be part of that.
Added Mina: “The only thing I said I would do is ask everyone to protest peacefully and legally.”
Gary said he has been getting some emails from people in Kauai’s business community asking him to be more aggressive in deterring protests, but he feels he’s “already been speaking up about that.”
“Obviously, I don’t want people to ruin their lives or get hurt, but I don’t want to tell people not to demonstrate,” said Gary, who is hoping that people “won’t get in the water or be unruly or obnoxious” because he doesn’t want to see a confrontation between demonstrators and the police.
Gary said he advised Garibaldi to “delay (service) as long as possible and reach out to the community and meet with as many people as you can.” He also reiterated that it would be wise to pursue “an independent, third-party dispute resolution.”
Garibalidi was “basically non-committal as far as what their outreach would look like,” Gary said. “I was very clear with him that it would be very difficult because there was no trust.”
Gary also suggested that Superferry “bring something — not money or donations, but maybe tighter operating standards, go slower in the whale sanctuary, do something to show good faith and demonstrate a willingness to be a good neighbor.”
Gary said that Garibaldi “talked about a lot of misinformation and wanted to get correct information out to people. I told him it’s moved beyond that already. It’s not about whales and invasive species, it’s a corrupt process. That’s where a lot of this animosity is coming from.”
Now all eyes will be on Maui when ferry service resumes there Dec. 1. Gary said that if the vessel is met by protests, that might embolden people if the boat comes to Kauai, whereas if things go smoothly, it might ease tensions on the Garden Island.
I’ve heard reports that some Kauai folks are planning to travel to Maui to join demonstrations there, but overall, I’ve picked up no sense that people want to engage the police in violent protests.
In fact, I received an announcement for a “full moon, candlelight prayer vigil and water blessing, for the protection of Kaua’i, her people, and the Hawaiian waters, and in solidarity with our Neighbor Islands” at Nawiliwili Harbor on Friday. Folks are asked to gather at sunset, with prayers to begin at 7 p.m.
“We see this gathering as a “kick-off” for those who will continue to hold this consciousness of Peace and Harmony through Dec. 1, when the Hawaii Superferry resumes its schedule to Maui,” the announcement stated.
It seems that when it comes to community outreach, the people are at least one step ahead of Hawaii Superferry.
Farmer Jerry stopped to tell me that The Nature Conservancy negotiated a deal with A&B to buy Wainiha Valley, above the intake for the hydropower plant, thus ensuring that a vast tract of relatively pristine native forest will remain undisturbed. [correx: it's not a purchase, but a 10-year management deal affecting some 7,050 acres] For someone who eschews politics, Jerry is incredibly dialed in.
Less so is Hawaii Superferry, which despite a statement on its website and a report in yesterday’s Honolulu Advertiser
still has taken no noticeable steps to smooth ruffled feathers on Kauai.
The Advertiser story states: “The company has put Kaua'i service on hold while it continues efforts to calm community concerns and prevent the kind of protests that blocked the ferry from docking at Nawiliwili Harbor on Aug. 27.”
It does not elaborate further on those efforts, most likely because none are under way. I talked to Sen. Gary Hooser and Rep. Mina Morita the other day, and they said Superferry CEO John Garibaldi met individually with each of them last week, as well as Kauai Reps. Jimmy Tokioka and Roland Sagum, to ask their thoughts on how to handle the opposition.
Both Gary and Mina suggested company officials meet with Jimmy Trujillo of Hui-R, Keone Kealoha of Malama Kauai and Rich Hoeppner of People for the Preservation of Kauai. But when I checked with those guys, not one had heard a peep from Hawaii Superferry.
Mina, not one to mince words, said she told Garibaldi: “You just destroyed people’s trust in government.” Mina said she had little advice to offer because “they blew it in the first place. I couldn’t give them any suggestions because to me, they’re liars, and I don’t trust them. All I could think of looking at him (Garibaldi) is, he’s the bag man.”
Gary said that although there was no direct request, “part of me felt like he was trying to enroll us in some of kind of team effort, and I’m not going to be part of that.
Added Mina: “The only thing I said I would do is ask everyone to protest peacefully and legally.”
Gary said he has been getting some emails from people in Kauai’s business community asking him to be more aggressive in deterring protests, but he feels he’s “already been speaking up about that.”
“Obviously, I don’t want people to ruin their lives or get hurt, but I don’t want to tell people not to demonstrate,” said Gary, who is hoping that people “won’t get in the water or be unruly or obnoxious” because he doesn’t want to see a confrontation between demonstrators and the police.
Gary said he advised Garibaldi to “delay (service) as long as possible and reach out to the community and meet with as many people as you can.” He also reiterated that it would be wise to pursue “an independent, third-party dispute resolution.”
Garibalidi was “basically non-committal as far as what their outreach would look like,” Gary said. “I was very clear with him that it would be very difficult because there was no trust.”
Gary also suggested that Superferry “bring something — not money or donations, but maybe tighter operating standards, go slower in the whale sanctuary, do something to show good faith and demonstrate a willingness to be a good neighbor.”
Gary said that Garibaldi “talked about a lot of misinformation and wanted to get correct information out to people. I told him it’s moved beyond that already. It’s not about whales and invasive species, it’s a corrupt process. That’s where a lot of this animosity is coming from.”
Now all eyes will be on Maui when ferry service resumes there Dec. 1. Gary said that if the vessel is met by protests, that might embolden people if the boat comes to Kauai, whereas if things go smoothly, it might ease tensions on the Garden Island.
I’ve heard reports that some Kauai folks are planning to travel to Maui to join demonstrations there, but overall, I’ve picked up no sense that people want to engage the police in violent protests.
In fact, I received an announcement for a “full moon, candlelight prayer vigil and water blessing, for the protection of Kaua’i, her people, and the Hawaiian waters, and in solidarity with our Neighbor Islands” at Nawiliwili Harbor on Friday. Folks are asked to gather at sunset, with prayers to begin at 7 p.m.
“We see this gathering as a “kick-off” for those who will continue to hold this consciousness of Peace and Harmony through Dec. 1, when the Hawaii Superferry resumes its schedule to Maui,” the announcement stated.
It seems that when it comes to community outreach, the people are at least one step ahead of Hawaii Superferry.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Musings: Dollars & Sense
Venus shone intermittently and stars were scarce when Koko and I set out this morning under a cloudy sky that was slow to brighten.
Dodging garbage cans, and the garbage truck, we made it to one of my favorite places — the thicket of eucalyptus and ironwood — and I felt that primal, electric excitement induced by gusty wind in the darkness. Along the way, an occasional waft of coffee, toast, a cigarette in a passing car, mixed with the peppery scents of blossoms I couldn’t identify and the musky-sweet smell of hinano — the phallic-shaped, ivory-colored hala flower.
I’ve been noticing that shades of yellow and white seem to be the predominant flower colors this time of year: snowbush gleams brightly even in the pre-dawn shadows, and bursts of gold cats claw interrupt the green foliage along the road. I stopped on Kawaihau Road the other day and picked a bouquet of orange daisies growing wild.
Neighbor Andy, with a pack of four dogs anxious to get on with their walk, paused long enough to say that cars had been vandalized on this street, too, and mailboxes, so trashing cars isn’t unique to my pending new neighborhood in Anahola. And I saw two vehicles that had been graffiti-tagged, their windows smashed, along the Pooku stables road in Princeville yesterday.
And they say there's nothing for the youth to do on Kauai....
Passed farmer Jerry on his way to work — like many farmers, he has a regular job in addition to his earthy passion — and he slowed to say, “We going miss you!” He reads this blog "to keep up with the sunrises and weather reports, follow that great cosmic wheel. I don’t care about the politics.”
Yet I know he’s deeply involved in politics, albeit reluctantly, much like myself. You don’t really want to immerse yourself in that muck, not when there’s neat stuff that’s alive to capture your attention, but you can't ignore it, either.
So, as promised, here’s my rough tally of what Hawaii Superferry has cost the State of Hawaii — aka, the taxpayers — thus far. And we’re just talking dollars here, not aggravation and grief.
First, there’s the $40 million for the harbor construction projects — and untold millions more are pending so the ferry can dock at Kawaihae, on the Big Island. Then there’s $1 million for the EIS to study the impact of these harbor “improvements” — the barges and ramps that were built solely to benefit Hawaii Superferry, and to its specifications, and wouldn’t be needed if the vessel weren’t running.
Legal fees are another big cost that I haven’t been able to fully calculate, but we can get a general idea from Superferry claims that it was spending $100,000 week during the month-long Maui trial. Of course, Superferry attorney Lisa Munger probably earns more than Attorney General Mark Bennett, but Deputy AG William Wynhoff has also been working this case, and others behind the scenes.
The state may have to pick up the full tab of Isaac Hall’s legal fees, too, if Superferry can worm its way out of the assessment by claiming it had been acting under the advice of the state — a tactic that Munger already hinted at — while fighting Hall’s appeal of the constitutionality ruling will also cost some money.
Another heavy expense that I haven’t been able to totally tally is “harbor security” provided by the Coast Guard, police and DOCARE officers, but we do know there was an emergency appropriation of $18,936.33 to buy extra riot gear. And if demonstrations occur when the boat returns to Kahului and Nawiliwili, those costs will keep climbing.
The special session cost somewhere between about $30,000, near as I can figure, which paid the airfare and per diem of Neighbor Island legislators, and also to send the Senate committee chairs out to hear testimony off Oahu.
Then there was the expense of flying Gov. Lingle and members of her Administration and the Coast Guard over to Kauai for the infamous town hall meeting, as well as overtime to pay KPD and DOCARE officers providing security there.
The cost of providing transportation and per diem for the ferry oversight committee is another expense that taxpayers are still facing, while the pending audit of the Administration’s decision to exempt the Superferry harbor work from an EA likely will be covered by the state auditor’s existing budget.
Still, the audit will increase that agency’s workload, just as Superferry stuff has placed an extra burden on the governor’s office, legislators and their staff, and the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation and Land and Natural Resources.
If the ferry goes belly up, much of its debt will be covered by the federal loan guarantees. But state taxpayers will have little to show for the big investment they’ve made in a private corporation that has promised so much, but so far, delivered nothing.
Dodging garbage cans, and the garbage truck, we made it to one of my favorite places — the thicket of eucalyptus and ironwood — and I felt that primal, electric excitement induced by gusty wind in the darkness. Along the way, an occasional waft of coffee, toast, a cigarette in a passing car, mixed with the peppery scents of blossoms I couldn’t identify and the musky-sweet smell of hinano — the phallic-shaped, ivory-colored hala flower.
I’ve been noticing that shades of yellow and white seem to be the predominant flower colors this time of year: snowbush gleams brightly even in the pre-dawn shadows, and bursts of gold cats claw interrupt the green foliage along the road. I stopped on Kawaihau Road the other day and picked a bouquet of orange daisies growing wild.
Neighbor Andy, with a pack of four dogs anxious to get on with their walk, paused long enough to say that cars had been vandalized on this street, too, and mailboxes, so trashing cars isn’t unique to my pending new neighborhood in Anahola. And I saw two vehicles that had been graffiti-tagged, their windows smashed, along the Pooku stables road in Princeville yesterday.
And they say there's nothing for the youth to do on Kauai....
Passed farmer Jerry on his way to work — like many farmers, he has a regular job in addition to his earthy passion — and he slowed to say, “We going miss you!” He reads this blog "to keep up with the sunrises and weather reports, follow that great cosmic wheel. I don’t care about the politics.”
Yet I know he’s deeply involved in politics, albeit reluctantly, much like myself. You don’t really want to immerse yourself in that muck, not when there’s neat stuff that’s alive to capture your attention, but you can't ignore it, either.
So, as promised, here’s my rough tally of what Hawaii Superferry has cost the State of Hawaii — aka, the taxpayers — thus far. And we’re just talking dollars here, not aggravation and grief.
First, there’s the $40 million for the harbor construction projects — and untold millions more are pending so the ferry can dock at Kawaihae, on the Big Island. Then there’s $1 million for the EIS to study the impact of these harbor “improvements” — the barges and ramps that were built solely to benefit Hawaii Superferry, and to its specifications, and wouldn’t be needed if the vessel weren’t running.
Legal fees are another big cost that I haven’t been able to fully calculate, but we can get a general idea from Superferry claims that it was spending $100,000 week during the month-long Maui trial. Of course, Superferry attorney Lisa Munger probably earns more than Attorney General Mark Bennett, but Deputy AG William Wynhoff has also been working this case, and others behind the scenes.
The state may have to pick up the full tab of Isaac Hall’s legal fees, too, if Superferry can worm its way out of the assessment by claiming it had been acting under the advice of the state — a tactic that Munger already hinted at — while fighting Hall’s appeal of the constitutionality ruling will also cost some money.
Another heavy expense that I haven’t been able to totally tally is “harbor security” provided by the Coast Guard, police and DOCARE officers, but we do know there was an emergency appropriation of $18,936.33 to buy extra riot gear. And if demonstrations occur when the boat returns to Kahului and Nawiliwili, those costs will keep climbing.
The special session cost somewhere between about $30,000, near as I can figure, which paid the airfare and per diem of Neighbor Island legislators, and also to send the Senate committee chairs out to hear testimony off Oahu.
Then there was the expense of flying Gov. Lingle and members of her Administration and the Coast Guard over to Kauai for the infamous town hall meeting, as well as overtime to pay KPD and DOCARE officers providing security there.
The cost of providing transportation and per diem for the ferry oversight committee is another expense that taxpayers are still facing, while the pending audit of the Administration’s decision to exempt the Superferry harbor work from an EA likely will be covered by the state auditor’s existing budget.
Still, the audit will increase that agency’s workload, just as Superferry stuff has placed an extra burden on the governor’s office, legislators and their staff, and the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation and Land and Natural Resources.
If the ferry goes belly up, much of its debt will be covered by the federal loan guarantees. But state taxpayers will have little to show for the big investment they’ve made in a private corporation that has promised so much, but so far, delivered nothing.
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