Offending Letter To The Editor About Puna

[Genxor]

Pork,

Your awfully suspicious.... seems you really would prefer Puna citizens not to have any voice ?

Interesting.

I prefer not the status quo.

For those that prefer a middle ground in this and other issues, checkout the Punahele column in Puna News, recent May issue.

Greg

[charsui pork]

Good Morning Greg;

Go have your voice, I won't stand in your way. It is simply a matter of perspective. In my situation, in my world, in my circle of friends, I chose to assimilate, acclimate and embrace the differences here rather than try to change them.

Why do I do this? Let's see....nothing has ever gotten stolen from me, I have an endless supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, I get to go fishing on someone's else's boat anytime I want, I get my food quickly in restaurants, I get invited to a lot of family luaus, I don't get a lot of stink eye or road rage AND most importantly, I get waves. There is an analogy about a nail sticking up that escapes me now (not enough coffee) but I am sure you are familiar with it.

In short, I am fine with the current situation. You apparently, are not. Nothing suspicious about that, we are just at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Good luck in your future endeavors. Which is code for "our conversation is over"










Edited by - charsui pork on 05/31/2007 06:47:19

[Genxor]

Great to hear !

You don't live here anyway.

Go harass other boards.

[Beachboy]

the only sure thing to happen to Puna is more growth. We,nobody can stop that. Nor does anybody have a right to try and stop that growth. I look at HPP where I currently live, the majority of the so-called locals that I have met,neighbors, etc, are mostly from(80%) Oahu,not the Big Island! I mean look how much HPP has grown alone in the past 3 yrs. Like them, I moved here because it was affordable, and considered a good place to raise kids. I can tell you more people from Oahu will move here too. I can even promise you more "Baby Boomers" retired from the west coast and moving here in greater numbers than isalanders relocating to afford the chance at the "American Dream"(Homeownership). But who cares?

Puna is gonna change, so we all have to get over it. Whether or not infrastructure follows, well that's another story entirely! But if you can't hang...Puerto Escondido is still pretty damn rurual..



Edited by - beachboy on 05/31/2007 10:24:13

[bystander]

Yes change is inevitable but I'm hoping for a change for the worse. The more people come here the worse the situation will get. Eventually the tide will turn and people will start moving away. The population of Hawaii actually declined during the 70s. There is no reason this could not happen again. It could be 50 years from now but it could happen.

[thornpicker]

Chances are that it will get worse
I don't live there yet, but I have seen Puna explode with growth over the past few years

I do, however live in a part of the mainland that is experiencing just what you all are talking about--Tucson Arizona. There is a huge parallel between Puna and Tucson in regards to runaway growth.

We just passed the million mark in terms of population here.
When I first moved here 14 years ago, we had about 500,000 people. We STILL don't have a freeway that goes through our city of a million people. Think traffic is bad on the 130?? Come out here for a visit sometime in the winter when tourists and snowbirds take over the town. Newcomers are buying properties far outside of the city limits, the developers are providing SOME infrastructure but the fact remains that these people who bought homes in these remote areas are now becoming the "whiners" you all describe. It is really annoying for me to hear people talk about how they wish all the services they want wuould come to them. Most drive on a two lane highway for 45 minutes just to get into the city limits.
I ask people all the time why they bought a home so far out (especially the retirees) and then complain how far they have to drive. Most responses are about the cost of their home vs. the cost of a home in the city. You can still get a brand new 1700 sq. ft home for under $200,000 here--but you're going to have to drive far to get anywhere.

I really hope Puna stays the way it is--what a special place I have loved for many years and hope to be living there in the next couple years. I would hate to see HPP become a gated community and have Costco open up in Pahoa.

So, that letter was far from offensive in my opinion, it was right on. If the "whiners" have their way there will be strip malls that go from Prince Kuhio Plaza all the way to Leilani.

[Aaron S]

quote:

---

So, that letter was far from offensive in my opinion, it was right on. If the "whiners" have their way there will be strip malls that go from Prince Kuhio Plaza all the way to Leilani.

---

I don't think that was the point of the letter. Puna people want safer roads which
will also alleviate the traffic problems.
I think its enormously offensive to criticize
when people want basic things such as that.

[missydog1]

Late to this topic, finally read the letter...

I can agree that the private subdivisions need to improve their own roads if they want that.

But when the County approved the subdivisions, that created a foreseeable future when all those TMK's would have residents on them, residents who arrive at the County road and can't make a safe turn.

Puna residents deserve safer roads. People are going way too fast down 130, and while I wish they would let up on the gas pedal, it's a state highway and they can.

The County allowed all those private roads to feed into a highway, and yes I think they should use some funds to make the traffic flow more safely.

I don't care about fast. I care about my family not getting broadsided because there's no traffic signal at Orchidland Drive. (and if they put one there, that creates flow problems).

How is that whining? I live in Hilo near an EMS station and I hear how many times a day the ambulances head towards Puna. Lots. Too often.