08-31-2021, 07:50 PM
Mayor Mitch Roth recently put out a press release explaining why the 300-yards of unimproved public road leading to the Cape Kumukahi lighthouse covered by lava during the 2018 Kilauea eruption remains closed over two years after it was smothered. It seems that putting up garage-sized boulders and concrete barricades is necessary to keep grave robbers from disturbing the iwi kupuna buried in the cemetery at the base of the Kapoho cindercone. ("Iwi kupuna ", for those who don't know, is concerned-haole-speak for "old bones".) Apparently, some necromancers are actually daring to walk or drive around the roadblocks put up by his administration meant to stop this desecration. He claims property owners were also involved in this massive public works project, but you have to wonder where he found anybody that strong.
Sure, a private bulldozer operator has volunteered to reopen this gravel road for free, buy Mitch is having none of that. In just a few more years FEMA is expected to approve the final completion of the environmental and historic preservation plan Zendo-style consultants will be employed to produce once they finally get hired to do it. Which won't happen until federal funding for that lucrative make-work job is secured. That plan, naturally, will involve holding meetings with concerned citizens, area residents, and the dead people buried there. And then, after the scope of work is defined, we'll have to wait until someone is overpaid to draw up the blueprints. Followed by a solicitation of bids to do the actual construction. And after a careful review of the interested contractors, the lucky winner will finally start pushing around the rocks for this vastly cost-inflated and rigged project. (Hey, when there's lots of work to go around, contractors can afford to get chummy.) Meanwhile, the magnificent black sand beach we are not allowed to look at continues to erode into the ocean sight unseen. Unless, of course, you're a criminal.
Am I bitter? Yes. As and elderly cripple I'd really like to look at this spectacular coastline before my iwi are interred. But as it stands now, the alpha dog in charge of our County continues to take a bite out of our State-constitutionally guaranteed right to access the shore. And, given all the federal money he gets to hand out, Mitch McRoth, the Crime Cur, is sure to get voted the most popular Rotary Club keynote speaker of the year.
Arf, arf.
Cowabunga, Dudes!
Sure, a private bulldozer operator has volunteered to reopen this gravel road for free, buy Mitch is having none of that. In just a few more years FEMA is expected to approve the final completion of the environmental and historic preservation plan Zendo-style consultants will be employed to produce once they finally get hired to do it. Which won't happen until federal funding for that lucrative make-work job is secured. That plan, naturally, will involve holding meetings with concerned citizens, area residents, and the dead people buried there. And then, after the scope of work is defined, we'll have to wait until someone is overpaid to draw up the blueprints. Followed by a solicitation of bids to do the actual construction. And after a careful review of the interested contractors, the lucky winner will finally start pushing around the rocks for this vastly cost-inflated and rigged project. (Hey, when there's lots of work to go around, contractors can afford to get chummy.) Meanwhile, the magnificent black sand beach we are not allowed to look at continues to erode into the ocean sight unseen. Unless, of course, you're a criminal.
Am I bitter? Yes. As and elderly cripple I'd really like to look at this spectacular coastline before my iwi are interred. But as it stands now, the alpha dog in charge of our County continues to take a bite out of our State-constitutionally guaranteed right to access the shore. And, given all the federal money he gets to hand out, Mitch McRoth, the Crime Cur, is sure to get voted the most popular Rotary Club keynote speaker of the year.
Arf, arf.
Cowabunga, Dudes!