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The park renovation was in the master plan that has had many community development meetings, I have seen plans for this renovation in various forms for the last 3+ years... I cannot think of any of the plans that did not include the removal of one large banyan (due to the proximity of the EPA mandated closed restroom has been the reason given).
I do not remember anyone questioning the removal at any of the community meetings.
That is why I really suspect that this is more an agitation than a community action... where were these people during the planning stages? Why do the protests come after the plans are vetted for years with the community, and after the plan that the community drafted is passed??
Sorry if my tone is off, but I really wonder where all of these people are when the time to comment is best during the draft stages of any proposal, and not after the final vote! (this is also when most community planning groups are begging people to step forward & get involved.... but it is only after the planning is done that Syd - and some others- always seem to come forward)
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Personally, I never heard about any community meetings about tree destruction or I would have been there dissenting. Thanks to Tim Reese for spreading the word at the Macuu Market yesterday. I'm not going to get into a political debate about the planning dept & who benefits financially.
My first trip to the Big Island, I left the airport, got a loco moco at Verna's & drove down the street to "discover" a beautiful Hawaiian beach where I could park in dense shade & view the picture postcard scene. I fell in love w/ Hilo in that moment. It distresses me greatly that the people w/ chainsaws can once again destroy that beauty. Why do we have to continually "pave over paradise"? Does everywhere have to look like Walmart's parking lot? Cutting down huge shade trees & planting 4' high saplings is crazy. The people that want pavement, parking space lines, do not signs, & blazing sun can go to Kona side. I like the local natural atmosphere of Reed's Bay. It's fine just the way it is, leave it alone!
There is a public meeting Sun Jan. 31 at 2PM at the Reed's Bay to try to save the banyan. I will be there. If you want to help, you can call & complain to Mayor Billy Kenoi at 961-8211 and Dept of Parks & Rec at 961-8311. Please get involved, don't leave it to "someone else".
Mahalo
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I attended a public meeting in Hilo about this project over two years ago. There was a reporter there who wrote an article for the Tribune Herald too. I'm pretty sure there has been at least one other meeting since. I also had some peripheral involvement in the post-design phase of this project. I do know that the decision to remove the banyan tree was carefully considered by the County and the designers. They didn't want to remove it just because it is an invasive species - there was really not another good option for an accessible walk, and (as I remember) the restroom was severely constrained by setbacks and pretty much had to go right where they put it. Banyans are fast growing trees, and from the historical angle - I don't think this tree was ever "labeled" with the name of its planter. I'm not sure that it's the oldest one either. The banyans there are one of Hawai'i's important historic landscapes are certainly worth preserving. But in this case, removing it actually made sense to me.
And yes - this reeks strongly of Syd Singer. Before you take what he has to say for fact, do some homework on your own and see what you come up with.
Uluhe Design
Native Landscape Design
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Personally, I have no issue with the removal of this single tree. Is a Banyan considered an invasive species or just a non-native one? However, I would like to be sure that this is ONE single tree being removed for the greater good, not a setting of precedence. If there is a way to move forward with the construction and keep it, I am all for that. I am in agreement with Mitzi on this issue. Do real homework on this issue and read out both sides. Don't just believe the hype. [  ]
Reeds Bay could use some user friendly improvements. I don't believe that "leaving everything the way it is" is always such a good idea. As I see Reeds Bay, it is a little funky and some of that funkiness comes from the odors of urine and other things around that very tree. Also the county has a timeline to work within or they will lose the federal funding.
Of course if there are really any tree advocates out there, they could do just like the Berkeley tree sitters and go up in the trees and live (more urine I am sure, but at least for a cause.)
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
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Dory, The public was notified of the development meetings (and many of them were even posted by either Mitzi or myself here on Punaweb) These meetings have been part of the 2005, 2010, 2025 and 2050 planning meetings... I do not know if any have been made since you moved here...
Devany:The tree removal was necessitated because of the improvements planned for the park (much like the tree removals that were done for the new park at Pohoiki that I know you and Noel have both enjoyed (many non-native trees were taken out for that county improvement, and like this, they were part of a development plan that went before the community in the YEARS before the build...
I addressed the county designation of 'non-native' in the posts above, but to reiterate: the ONE large banyan that has been in the centerpiece of this debate has been referred to as a non-native species in the county planning. This distinction is made because there are some native & endemic trees that require special environmental considerations due to their rare status. The county was making this distinction for the benefit of the planners to alert them that the tree was not a tree that need special status review (much like those that are on landmark status... they can be removed, but need special costly assessments before removal.
It is too bad that both you and Noel could not have been here during the initial years of planning for these parks. I do know that you have enjoyed the results of the changes to Pohoiki Beach park.... from the planning I have seen for this new park, it looks like the county is also planning to take a park that has unusable restroom features, as Pohoiki had, and make improvements for the enjoyment of many park users.
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Actually Carey, I have never been to Pohoiki ever, just driven past it while on the red road and now the road goes around it. I have heard too many stories about crime and people being harassed there, hence no reason to go there when there are so many beach parks closer to where we live.
I am all for making improvements in parks and for doing it in the best way possible. But I also have no desire to be involved in planning or politics. Like I said, removing a single tree when there is no other way to make improvements does not bother me. However, I do think Pohoiki looks stark, almost bare now in comparison to what it looked like before the "transformation".
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
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quote:
Originally posted by Devany
Actually Carey, I have never been to Pohoiki ever, just driven past it while on the red road and now the road goes around it. I have heard too many stories about crime and people being harassed there...
I too have heard this same rumor too many times but Seaside Bob and I have enjoyed this park many many times, especially since it is nearby. We have not experienced the crime nor harassment. The long board surf contest over 4th of July weekend set up by Jeff Hunt I believe was quite fun for every one - we had a nice time! (too bad waves were less than average size!)
The caveat is that we don't go down there late in the evening. And we do not leave a car parked there over night. and when we are there in the day we try to not act like tourists... and we get called "auntie" and "uncle" (referring to another thread) and one time some "kids" i.e. twenty somethings shared their smoked meat on the BBQ with Robert when he walked by and said "oh brah, wow - smells ono!" so we shared our picnic basket with them too!
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Update from Jan 26, 2010 Made my day [  ] [ ] [ ]
County Rethinks Killing Beautiful Banyan Tree
(Hilo) The majestic banyan tree in Reed's Bay Beach Park will be saved, according the the Hawaii County News. Robert Fitzgerald, director of the County Department of Parks & Recreation, said the County initially planned to remove the trees because they are close to the site for the new comfort station. However, Fitzgerald said it may be possible to trim the trees back and work around them.
The change in County plans came as a direct result of public pressure and outrage over the planned tree cutting, which was to be done in February. Planted in the 1930's, this banyan has enormous economic value, in addition to its aesthetic, ecological, and historical value. Cutting it down would have cost the County close to $100,000.
The real reason the banyan was on the chopping block was because it is non-native, since a native tree of this size and importance would never be cut down. Current County policy devalues non-native species. Other non-native trees in the park will be cut down, according the County News, “replacing some existing trees with shoreline-appropriate native tree species”, evidence of the native species supremacism that led to the proposed destruction of the banyan.
An emergency community meeting planned for Sunday, January 31, at 2PM will go on as scheduled under the banyan at Reed's Bay Beach Park on Banyan Drive, celebrating the saving of the banyan and rededicating it to, “The Aloha Spirit”. Group photo will be at 4PM. Come and be a part of history.
We are happy that the County has heard and listened to the will of the people. Come join in the celebration of our success, and let the County know that we are still watching. For more information, call 935-5563, or email SaveTheBanyan@gmail.com.
To see the Hawaii County News story, go here: http://www.hawconews.com/hawaii-county-n...trees.html
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Yipes! Hard to imagine a $100,000 tree removal being a real priority in times of tight budgets. Harder still to imagine a $100,000 contract to remove a Banyon.... but that's the way the county pays and plays.
Anyone know how much they are spending on the other tree removals?
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I don't get the cost either? In one sentence they claim it has enormous economic value - then state it would cost $100,000 to cut down.
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