Pahoa Woodland Center Protest

[Kahunascott]

The protest was friendly and held on the grass island in front of the Aloha Gas Station.
(6 in the morning and 14 at 6pm) I guess they really didn’t have the community support they were looking for.
Two things caught my eye.
One of the reasons they were protesting is to keep Pahoa rural and protect it from change. The funny part about this is that all the protesters I saw were haole. Don’t you think that by them moving to Puna has changed it from what it was and how it is and remembered by others?
Second and most important was the big sign in the middle of the island, “Geed is bad for the Community”. This land is owned by a local single person, not some mainland corporation that is exploiting the land for corporate benefits. He owns both gas stations at either end of Pahoa and quite a few buildings and land in the immediate area. He is real nice guy and can be seen most mornings in the back of the gas station watching the construction.
He jumped through all the hoops and is investing over 10 million dollars of his money to develop the land for all to use. No one should tell him how or what to build on his land as long as it meets all the codes. This is an investment for his family and I just wonder how long it will take him to break even. If you don’t like the stores don’t patronize them. So far it has produced numerous construction jobs and the purchase of quite a bit of local material.
Once opened it will provide close to 125 much needed jobs right in our back yard.
Paul we're behind you all the way[8D]

[mdd7000]

I would back almost any new business for the area - as long as the architecture fit in with the area. I will reiterate; form-based codes are needed in order to protect that "look and feel" that long-term residents want to keep.

[james weatherford]

Protest? That is one, legitmate, time-honored, tradition in free societies. Not one I personally have engaged in, for lack of confidence that is what I can do to help. That said, for those who find that visibility a useful tool, I might suggest that the County Council Circus yesterday worked against you. And, likely there will be more and better opportunities in the future. Opening day?
Be free, be civil, be heard, and be seen (if you want).

My interest here is in the minimal long-term economic benefit KFC and Buger King will have, especially compared to locally owned businesses. The construction jobs come and go and would be more or less the same if local businesses were being established there.
Research across the country shows that about 12 to 15 cents of a one dollar expenditure at chains remain in the local economy; while 40 to 50 cents of that dollar remains in the the local economy when the expenditure is at a smaller, locally owned independent store.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[PaulW]

Hooray, more investment in Puna, fewer reasons (for some) to drive to Hilo.

[csgray]

Scott,
It is a bit racist to assume that "haoles" are all recent arrivals. I have had in my classes Caucasian and Caucasian appearing students born here in Hawaii whose families have been here for anywhere from 1 to 100 generations. Some of the Hawaiian kids I've had were blond and blue eyed due to a quirk of recessive genes, and are "Hawaiian" enough to qualify for a Homelands lot when they grow up. And don't assume that all dready heads or young "hippie" looking kids were flown here either, many of them were also born here and want their kids to grow up in the Pahoa they knew while growing up.

If you want to disagree with them on points of information or tactics or general principles go for it, but to assume they are recent transplants based on the color of their skin, and that being recent transplants means they should not voice their opinions, is racist.


Carol

[Devany]

Amen Carol.



Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[james weatherford]

csgray, thank you, well done.
I taught two sessions of Economics at Kamehameha, Kapalamaa during summer school, 2002. Indeed, there were some blue eyes and light hair among the students.
And, right you are, there is a whole generation of young adults in Puna born here, raised here, educated here. Many have one parent born here and one not. Times change and Scott's comments are way, way too narrow minded.


James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Greg]

In Scott's (A Kahuna?) eyes the friendly demonstration was a failure.

I guess it hasn't brought development and health issues to discussion here.

Oh wait, yes it has. [] Thanks for the thread Kahuna.



punatoons

[oink]

Scott,
You made what was in all probability an accurate generalization based on appearances that may have been inaccurate in some instances. You insinuated that some people who claim to be defenders of native culture and interests may not actually voice the views of those who are of native lineage. You personally haven't lived in Hawaii or Puna long enough to have a valid opinion. You have dared to disagree with the prevailing PunaWeb consensus. You, being a haole, obviously don't have the right to use a screen name that references something related to Hawaiian culture. You are obviously an evil person beyond any redemption. Your only chance for moral salvation is to toss yourself into Halema`uma`u.


Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[janet]

Thank you, Oink, for bringing the discussion back where it belongs, and doing it so well.

Did any of the "critics" think to ask if Scott had spoken to the protesters to ascertain their origins? Or did they just assume that he had made an assumption?