Civil Beat article about Puna

[kalakoa]

nothing but articles on how bad Hawaii in general sucks

No, it's teasers for articles about how bad everything on Oahu sucks, with a link about how you can "subscribe" to "learn more".

[EvilOctopus]

ha! Good point Kalakoa.

[Punatic007]

We've definitely got stressors that did not exist before. If you are relatively new to Puna consider yourself very lucky. Those of us who have been here all or most of our lives remember the not too distant past when Puna was the true Paradise. Yes everywhere has issues but they were miniscule compared to the current stressors.

This is how I found Punaweb, came home after being out of the country for a while to the aftermath of Iselle and the beginning of the Pahoa Lava flow. Checking in a few times a day for survival info, there are some intelligent and very helpful posters here. Then hurricane and insane humidity and heat season which is hopefully ending any day now. I'm grateful to all the posters who continue to post helpful info.

I have great reverence for the old days of Kalapana when the kahunas and kapunas would drag out the big cauldron on sundays, set it up on an open fire next to the church and chant all morning around the boiling kava root. Then graciously offer it to those of us peacefully sitting back and enjoying the amazing vibe. All kava since then pales in comparison.

As a nature lover my needs are more than met here still. Culturally and socially east Hawaii has always been lacking IMO, but we were sparsely populated back then and people left you alone, seemed to be the theme, respect privacy. Why else would folk move to one of the most remote areas of the most remote island chain in the world?

I suspect it's not just us but the entire world is dealing with the climate and geographical anomalies, so no need to move, that stress is everywhere. And besides we may even be safer here.

[MarkP]

I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately but it has as much to do with the reality of my aging parents setting in as anything else. The coqui frogs don't bother me anymore although I sometimes ask myself what that says about me. Do I just not care enough? Fire ants could be a real downer. I have to admit that seeing the state practically encouraging the protesters to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs (TMT) has shaken me.

It is interesting that the link is to so many generally anti-hawaii stories but the main character still just moved to another part of hawaii.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

the main character still just moved to another part of hawaii.

Yes, moving to Kona side is just six of one, half dozen of the other:

Subdivisions:
Hawaiian Acres for HOVE

Hurricanes:
Arrive 1 hour later on the Kona side

Lava:
Kilauea for Mauna Loa

Coquis & Fire Ants:
If they're not there yet, they will be soon

[dakine]

Actually HOTPE he moved to Kohala. No lava threat and by far the least likely area to be disturbed by any direct contact with a high wind centrifugal weather system. It's also protected, at least in part, from all the social ills that come with wide spread poverty that haunt Puna. It is a very nice area.

I think Graham's opinion piece is pretty right on, and for the reason he says he wrote it, we should all be grateful he did. Further, I hope that those with the power to do something about it all see it and take heed, and that others with similar observations contribute to the discussion.

Things do not stay as they are, life is change. For those of us that have been here for most of our lives, as 007 points out, the Puna we found when we got here has changed considerably. So imagine the Puna of 20 to 30 years into the future and if you don't like what you envision, what about Graham's piece is a violation of our confidence? For real, what does this melting pot of issues become when it's been given a while to mature? Especially without responsible guidance.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

he moved to Kohala

I do agree, Kohala is quite nice. I almost bought a property near Hawi 15 years ago, but didn't want to drive 50 miles to Kona every day for work. I don't know where Graham is living in Kohala, but he did say South Kohala in his article, a large part of which is in lava zone 3 from Mauna Loa. As far as protection from a hurricane goes, whether it is protection because of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, or centrifugal weather systems... I think Iselle let us know that some of the folk wisdom about Big Island never getting hit by a hurricane might need to be reevaluated.

I think Graham's opinion piece is pretty right on... I hope that those with the power to do something about it all see it and take heed

There are problems in Puna, and Graham spent 30 years trying to address some of them. I agree dakine, we should take heed, and hope others will step in to fill his shoes, and not be fought every inch of the way.

[2liveque]

For all good and bad. I love this place.

[terracore]

To me it just sounded like a bunch of whining that things change. Things change everywhere. I loved the place that I grew up in, but it's been Californicated. Alaska changed faster than I could. Sure I love it here, but if things start to suck, the world is a whole lot bigger than this 4,000 square mile island.

[Lodestone]

quote:

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Originally posted by pahoated

These malihini meltdown stories are entertaining and informative.

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He moved here in 1984. That's 31 years ago. What's the expiration date on "malihini" status?