Moloka'i, the most "Hawaiian" of the Hawaiian islands, is facing another dilemma: should one part of the land be sacrificed so that other parts of the island are spared the effects of development?
What's in dispute is Molokai Ranch's plans to develop 200 house lots on La'au Point. In return, Molokai Ranch will not develop its properties elsewhere and will in fact give up some of that land to be protected from development.
The OHA representative from Moloka'i is in favor of the proposal because she believes sacrificing that land will save the rest of the land for the kanaka maoli, while long time kanaka maoli activists like Walter Ritte are dead set against allowing any development which would bring more wealthy outsiders to their island. Another sticking point in the eyes of the protesters (who have set up a base camp near La'au to stage their protest) is that that particular area has been used by the kanaka maoli and other local residents as a place to gather fish and seaweed, and they fear that La'au Pt. will turn into another gated community which will keep locals away from the area.
Personally, I LOVE Moloka'i the way it is right now, as do most of its residents. I also know that citizens of Moloka'i are more vocal and politically active than just about any other group of people in Hawai'i (they stopped NCL from making Moloka'i a port of call). Maybe there can be a compromise between what Molokai Ranch wants and what the citizens of Molokai want, but in the end, I think the citizens will lose what they have because the dollar speaks louder than any protests ever will.
Miulang
What's in dispute is Molokai Ranch's plans to develop 200 house lots on La'au Point. In return, Molokai Ranch will not develop its properties elsewhere and will in fact give up some of that land to be protected from development.
The OHA representative from Moloka'i is in favor of the proposal because she believes sacrificing that land will save the rest of the land for the kanaka maoli, while long time kanaka maoli activists like Walter Ritte are dead set against allowing any development which would bring more wealthy outsiders to their island. Another sticking point in the eyes of the protesters (who have set up a base camp near La'au to stage their protest) is that that particular area has been used by the kanaka maoli and other local residents as a place to gather fish and seaweed, and they fear that La'au Pt. will turn into another gated community which will keep locals away from the area.
Personally, I LOVE Moloka'i the way it is right now, as do most of its residents. I also know that citizens of Moloka'i are more vocal and politically active than just about any other group of people in Hawai'i (they stopped NCL from making Moloka'i a port of call). Maybe there can be a compromise between what Molokai Ranch wants and what the citizens of Molokai want, but in the end, I think the citizens will lose what they have because the dollar speaks louder than any protests ever will.
Miulang
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