Kaua‘i: Aloha ‘Aina!

[koloagirl]

Before I start, let me say that I love living here on the island of Kaua'i and wouldn't move from here unless you shot me from a cannon! I live in a very small, very old condo in the midst of huge luxury development projects - most of them gated!! From what? Geckos?

Having said that -- the HUGE amount of unchecked development that this island has seen in the last year or two just boggles the mind. I live on the South Shore and some parts are almost unrecognizable -- I went to work one day and realized something was different -- every plantation home on this street in Koloa had been razed...it looked like a war zone... to put up time-share, shopping, etc. I no longer use that street. This is only a small sample of what is a huge situation....our local government seems to rubber stamp everything that developers dangle in front of them. Everyday I hear explosions that rock my home from a huge thoroughfare going on behind me to connect to another huge development, luxury hotel, condos, shopping, restaurants, and turning our little boat/fishing harbor into a luxury yacht harbor. So many days I drive by places and really try to imprint the views in my mind because I know they most likely won't be there in another month or less.

I have attended meetings on the subject, but the county's answer always seems to be "well these things were approved back when the economy wasn't great, now it is, and the developers want to do it now."

Shame, shame -- no-one seems to be putting the 'aina first -- look at KaLoko dam early last year -- there was low talk at that time of the 'aina becoming unhappy with the sad treatment it had been getting lately.

Luxury homes, gated communities, humvees, mercedes, entitled mainland people rudely pushing their way around you in line -- all these things are new to us -- we can only pray and say "Aloha 'Aina"! - Auwe!

[Leo Lakio]

Granted, Janet, you were probably one of the few mainlanders who actually did her work before coming to Kaua`i (I know your connections were strengthened over many, many years before your move), and also knowing your commitment to hula, that's undoubtedly enhanced your love of the land and culture (your Kumu wouldn't have left that out of your education - she's wonderful) - but remember, some kanaka maoli could consider you to be part of the problem as well - just another haole mainlander who fell in love with a world that was not yours to begin with, no matter how much respect you have given.

I doubt that this describes you, but be careful that you don't come across as one of those who act as if you got there early enough to get your piece of paradise, now everyone else needs to stay away. I wonder what part of old Kaua`i gave way to make room for the condo where you now reside?

Not saying this out of meanness, just as something to respectfully think about (and I'm a non-Islander also working on a long-term path to live in Hawai`i someday.)

Also, there's a great thread going on here (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=11601), about development on Hawai`i island; you may want to express some thoughts in that area as well.

I live in a very small, very old condo in the midst of huge luxury development projects ... the HUGE amount of unchecked development that this island has seen in the last year or two just boggles the mind. I live on the South Shore and some parts are almost unrecognizable ... turning our little boat/fishing harbor into a luxury yacht harbor. So many days I drive by places and really try to imprint the views in my mind because I know they most likely won't be there in another month or less ...entitled mainland people rudely pushing their way around you in line -- all these things are new to us -- we can only pray and say "Aloha 'Aina"! - Auwe!

[1stwahine]

Aloha Koloagirl, As I read your post...I feel very sad. Both my grand-parents started in Koloa. My father's parents upon migrating from the Philippines and my maternal grand-parents married in Koloa. Summers were spent quite often in Koloa or on Maui with relatives. It was a given.

It is where I learned how to appreciate Hawaii's rich cultural and serene beauty. The closeness of one's community can not be found anyplace else like Koloa's from what I grew up with. The picnics at Poipu Beach filled with so much kaukau dat all the manangs wen cook. Ahhh..so much food and desserts!:D

As children we walked to each other's home. For there were no Buses. We didn't care. We didn't have to worry about being abused, raped, or whateva's. Everyone knew who we belonged to.

The houses ~ ah, yes...the houses. Many were plantation homes. Old or new, it didn't matter. We were always welcomed. That is the Koloa, I remember fondly.

Three years ago, my Aunty Rose passed on. She owned a big parcel of land across Koloa Elementary School. All around her property it is as you described. However, my cousin has decided not to do the same. Instead, she will turn it into cottages of sort for our relatives to use when we visit Koloa for Aunty's Legacy.

It's been three years since I went back. I saw the changes back then.:( Please continue to grumble for if you don't ~ all will be lost.

Koloa is worth fighting for!

Mahalo

Auntie Lynn

[koloagirl]

Dear Auntie Lynn:

Aloha ahiaihi and mahalo for your mana'o on the beautiful little town of Koloa.
I love to hear about the old days -- sometimes you can just about see it in places - especially by Sueoka store! And especially at night.

No, I realize that in some people's eyes I am just another "mainlander" who came over with stars in their eyes....but I came over with expectation of hard work - both in willing to take whatever job/jobs I could find that would keep me here and working hard to continue to learn about the culture through a hula halau that I had been with on the mainland (a sister to one here on Kaua'i)...I'm not saying I'm "special"...but I have worked hard to try to be a good neighbor and caretaker of the 'aina. Am I a haole? Sure, but I try not to be one of the **** haoles! Haole? I'm fine with that!

I am sure that if you go back far enough, all this land in Koloa where I live was seded land -- the overthrow was illegal, it was absolutely unconstitutional and should never have happened. But let's move on and make things better for all of us living here now. Let us not lose sight that our neighbors who have lived here for generations can no longer afford to live here - Vegas anyone?

Something that I see now that I never used to see before are deep rifts occurring between the so-called "have" and "have-nots" -- before about 5/6 years ago, you never noticed any difference -- everybody's home was just that, and while there were some rich folks around, it wasn't stuck in your face. People were generally friendly and had the "aloha" spirit - no worries!Now, you can't drive from Kapa'a to Kilauea without being confronted by "Kealia Kai" a ungodly gated, development where they patrol the beaches to keep the public off THEIR patch of sand. They even cooked up a way to bypass the building up of the land in front of the developement to block the view of the ocean from the road -- found a loophole and now all you can see is a big dirt bern and scraggly trees. These people sure don't want to be part of any community but their little gilded one.

You also see the "have" and "have nots" symdrome in other places such as stores, pushy people who without a smile on their face, push in front of others, or on the road, cut in front of you. These people are not here because they love Kaua'i -- they are here because they want a trophy home in a luxury area that they can entertain and show off at for a couple months of the year -- and of course it has to be gated! No bus' up trucks or junka cars can come through their area.

Sorry, getting kinda worked up! The truth is that this island is worth fighting for -- and all of us who live here have a very heavy load in the future if we are to keep it from becoming just another developer's nightmare. What will it take? Another Iniki? I sure hope not!

Please kokua each other and malama the 'aina!

[Miulang]

Sorry, getting kinda worked up! The truth is that this island is worth fighting for -- and all of us who live here have a very heavy load in the future if we are to keep it from becoming just another developer's nightmare. What will it take? Another Iniki? I sure hope not!

Please kokua each other and malama the 'aina!
Koloagirl: You have every reason in the world to get huhu over what's happening on the Garden Isle. The very first time I visited Kauai was in the 1960's. Lihue didn't even have a stop light then. I hadn't visited Kauai again until 3 years ago. Auwe! Gridlock from Lihue to Kapa'a! Kauai is experiencing what happened to Maui beginning in the late 60's-early 70's. I don't think there's any hope left for Maui...it's already too late to stop the rampant growth there. But hopefully the people of the Garden Isle and the Big Island still have time to plan growth wisely and not allow what makes Hawai'i Hawai'i disappear forever.

Malama pono,
Miulang

[Palolo Joe]

Now, you can't drive from Kapa'a to Kilauea without being confronted by "Kealia Kai" a ungodly gated, development where they patrol the beaches to keep the public off THEIR patch of sand.

Isn't that illegal?

[craigwatanabe]

When I was a kid in the late 60's I used to go to Kahala Beach but the guards there would kick us out in the areas fronting the hotel saying the beachfront was for hotel patrons only. We still kept playing there and they still kept trying to kick us out but in the long run they left us alone.

[Miulang]

When I was a kid in the late 60's I used to go to Kahala Beach but the guards there would kick us out in the areas fronting the hotel saying the beachfront was for hotel patrons only. We still kept playing there and they still kept trying to kick us out but in the long run they left us alone.

It's one thing to have patrols but it's a whole 'nother thing when rich folk in their gated communities build gates that are locked and deny access to the beach to the public.

Miulang

[Leo Lakio]

No, I realize that in some people's eyes I am just another "mainlander" who came over with stars in their eyes....but I came over with expectation of hard work - both in willing to take whatever job/jobs I could find that would keep me here and working hard to continue to learn about the culture through a hula halau that I had been with on the mainland (a sister to one here on Kaua'i)...I'm not saying I'm "special"...but I have worked hard to try to be a good neighbor and caretaker of the 'aina. Am I a haole? Sure, but I try not to be one of the **** haoles! Haole? I'm fine with that!Somehow, sister, I knew this about you, even though we've never met. (Must be a hula connection, yeah?)

One of my radio co-hosts grew up on Kaua`i, and was just back visiting his family at New Year's, and he returned with many similar stories about what's happening there. He said that many of his classmates have gotten rather wealthy these days, because they've subdivided and sold off portions of their family's land - the offers were just too valuable to pass up, especially if it meant financial security for their families.

How do you address something like that? Development brought about with the blessings of Kaua`i families who have owned the land for some time? Is it good, bad, or somewhere in-between? Can we fault them for doing what's best for their children, even if it doesn't mesh with our own opinions about how the land should be treated? There's no easy way to answer.

[Miulang]

Somehow, sister, I knew this about you, even though we've never met. (Must be a hula connection, yeah?)

One of my radio co-hosts grew up on Kaua`i, and was just back visiting his family at New Year's, and he returned with many similar stories about what's happening there. He said that many of his classmates have gotten rather wealthy these days, because they've subdivided and sold off portions of their family's land - the offers were just too valuable to pass up, especially if it meant financial security for their families.

How do you address something like that? Development brought about with the blessings of Kaua`i families who have owned the land for some time? Is it good, bad, or somewhere in-between? Can we fault them for doing what's best for their children, even if it doesn't mesh with our own opinions about how the land should be treated? There's no easy way to answer.
What's sad is when historical areas, like the Menehune Fishpond on the Garden Island, or Ili'iliopae heiau on Molokai, are put up for sale. I never did hear if anyone eventually bought the Menehune Fishpond property. I know the family that was selling it was asking for some big bucks. Hopefully, though, there were ordinances in place that stipulated that the pond itself and the areas immediately surrounding the pond were kapu to development. And for a while, McAfee had his eye on that Molokai property, but backed off when he realized that the locals and the State were not going to let him do what he wanted to do on the land.

Miulang

[koloagirl]

It is a very difficult subject indeed re: local folks selling off land in order to help their families. Of course they have every right to do so...and I'm sure in some cases it is the only way that they can afford to live here....so there are no easy answers....just try to address the more blatant cases of mistreatment of the 'aina and do what you can seems to be the answer for me.

Auwe....there goes the siren...there is a huge development going in mauka of the massive Kukuiula project....pretty close by me...they are blasting roads almost every day and I swear that everytime an explosion goes off, not only does my cat run and hide, but the house seems to move a few inches too! They usually blast the horn once or twice and then you sit tight for the explosion. Here it comes....yikes!

On the positive side of things (nice for a change!!) there is a wonderful
grass-roots group here on the South Shore called "Malama Maha'ulepu" which was formed way back in the late 70's to try and preserve the beautiful, comparatively untouched coastline of Maha'ulepu....they are a great bunch of caring and informed folks who have managed to successfully (and of course not them alone!) keep a huge development of luxury hotels, condos, golf courses, etc. from going in and ruining this incredible area. I see that they are having another "clean-up" day...this time it is at the sinkhole that the archeologists are still working on....and they just had one to clean up beach debris (mostly fishing rubbish) that came in from some winter storms. So not all is uncaring people making fast bucks off the 'aina...plenty of caring folks out there also who are trying their best to preserve what they can. I'm proud to belong to their group.

Trying to stay positive...after all this still the best place to live in the world!

[greentara]

I absolutely agree with everything you have said about the development of Kauai. I have been visiting on a regular basis for the last six years and I will be moving there in September. I have seen the changes in the last six years; I can imagine what it is like for people that have seen the progression for the last 20 years!!!! I have visited all of the Islands and chose Kauai because of its lack of development. Ok, so I will be a new resident but anyone with any sensitivity to the land can see how precious it is and what a delectate balance there is between development and lifestyle. I was also there when the levy broke last year and now that I have seen the 20/20 special on why it broke I see the need to become active in preserving what is left of this incredible place. People will probably view me as just another radical moving to Kauai to “get back to nature” (not the case) but I’ve seen other Islands completely ruined by development. If people don’t step up and preserve this Island it will go the way of Maui…and very soon.:(

[WindwardOahuRN]

I absolutely agree with everything you have said about the development of Kauai. I have been visiting on a regular basis for the last six years and I will be moving there in September. I have seen the changes in the last six years; I can imagine what it is like for people that have seen the progression for the last 20 years!!!! I have visited all of the Islands and chose Kauai because of its lack of development. Ok, so I will be a new resident but anyone with any sensitivity to the land can see how precious it is and what a delectate balance there is between development and lifestyle. I was also there when the levy broke last year and now that I have seen the 20/20 special on why it broke I see the need to become active in preserving what is left of this incredible place. People will probably view me as just another radical moving to Kauai to “get back to nature” (not the case) but I’ve seen other Islands completely ruined by development. If people don’t step up and preserve this Island it will go the way of Maui…and very soon.:(

Curious---what do you do for a living?