10-14-2022, 04:26 AM
. The sixth Revitalize Puna Community Activation Meeting held on Tuesday certainly filled up the Pahoa gym. The crowd included greeters, presenters, half the County Building employees, child-care providers, specialists, consultants, an entire Civil Defense team, politicians, FEMA representatives, enough co-chairs to swamp a racing canoe, and the cutest costumed little red fire ant imaginable. Unfortunately, audience attendance declines with every event, and for the first time ever there were more salaried officials than interested Puna residents. At the current rate, if they have a couple more meetings the only members of the community showing up will be me and three screwy old ladies.
Not surprisingly, the introductions took up a huge chunk of the allotted time. The congratulations, praise, and applause went on and on. But eventually a few speakers did fill us in on what's currently being accomplished.
The Pohoiki boat ramp consultant explained that all the options presented at the August community meeting have been scrapped, and now the new plan is to convince next year's State legislature to spend a gazillion dollars removing all the sand from the only accessible beach in Puna. It's called the "Air Quotes, Dredge Everything Alternative" and could be a biddable project by July 2023. Or it could be a huge waste of time and money that goes absolutely nowhere.
Mayor Mitch made a short speech. If he didn't look and act so darn much like Dopey in the original, animated Snow White movie, I might be able to take him a little more seriously. But personally, I've never seen a former County prosecutor with less cojones. He didn't have a clue what to do with the Mauna Kea blockaders, he's floundering in the shorebreak at Waipio Valley, and he still won't let anybody look at the spectacular, four-year-old beaches at Kapoho. My theory is that the humongous red cinder balls blocking the road down to the Kumukahi lighthouse are Freudian.
The Hawaii Tourism Association guy gave us some encouraging statistics and explained that managing tourism includes such things as urging visitors to shop local, not hassle the turtles, obey No Trespassing signs, and avoid dining anywhere that lists roasted nene and creme of honu soup on the menu.
Finally, with a few minutes left to go, we got to the question-and-answer part. Boy, was I every excited when my submission was one on the only ones selected to be read out loud: "Why has public access to the southern half of the beach at Isaac Hale Park been shut off?" Unfortunately, nobody knew.
I might not get very revitalized at these meetings, but I sure do find them entertaining.
Cowabunga, Dudes!
Not surprisingly, the introductions took up a huge chunk of the allotted time. The congratulations, praise, and applause went on and on. But eventually a few speakers did fill us in on what's currently being accomplished.
The Pohoiki boat ramp consultant explained that all the options presented at the August community meeting have been scrapped, and now the new plan is to convince next year's State legislature to spend a gazillion dollars removing all the sand from the only accessible beach in Puna. It's called the "Air Quotes, Dredge Everything Alternative" and could be a biddable project by July 2023. Or it could be a huge waste of time and money that goes absolutely nowhere.
Mayor Mitch made a short speech. If he didn't look and act so darn much like Dopey in the original, animated Snow White movie, I might be able to take him a little more seriously. But personally, I've never seen a former County prosecutor with less cojones. He didn't have a clue what to do with the Mauna Kea blockaders, he's floundering in the shorebreak at Waipio Valley, and he still won't let anybody look at the spectacular, four-year-old beaches at Kapoho. My theory is that the humongous red cinder balls blocking the road down to the Kumukahi lighthouse are Freudian.
The Hawaii Tourism Association guy gave us some encouraging statistics and explained that managing tourism includes such things as urging visitors to shop local, not hassle the turtles, obey No Trespassing signs, and avoid dining anywhere that lists roasted nene and creme of honu soup on the menu.
Finally, with a few minutes left to go, we got to the question-and-answer part. Boy, was I every excited when my submission was one on the only ones selected to be read out loud: "Why has public access to the southern half of the beach at Isaac Hale Park been shut off?" Unfortunately, nobody knew.
I might not get very revitalized at these meetings, but I sure do find them entertaining.
Cowabunga, Dudes!
