12-28-2007, 06:07 PM
Aloha to all....
This message is for all and is not meant to pinpoint any one individual or ethnic group:
This is in response to everyone's concern and complaints about growth, tourism and the affects on this area.....
When you drive down a neighborhood street, walk along the old Gov't road near Honolulu Landing, visit the Champagne ponds or simply peek at any vacant lot, what do you see??
Junk cars, litter, broken bottles (Heineken seems to be the preferred)
old appliances, green waste, slaughtered animal remains, the list goes on. My favorite find; dead dogs in buckets left on the side of old gov't road last month.
Here we are, amidst the most beautiful place on the planet, yet we seem to be complacent with trashing it. I have lived quietly amongst the people of Hawaii, where I dreamed of always being. My perception of a place where the people love the land and nature, yet, it is only a perception.
Yes, it would be easy to blame "tourists" and the tour operators, but we all know the truth. Tourists come here, fill our coffers with $$ and are very respectful of this place. The tour operators, like Kapohokine for example, while some may not agree with their practices, they do their best to educate and inform thus providing a "positive experience" for the visitors of Hawaii and I say hats off to them!
Before I became a resident of the Big Island, as on many of my journeys to all of the Hawaiian Islands, where I was just a simple tourist, I remember being reminded to respect the land and take only pictures, leave only footprints. That vision never left me..
There is a point to this topic and hopefully this is beginning to make sense.
Tourists don't party and camp at Honolulu Landing, they don't discard their abandoned vehicles along our roads, they don't leave trash along the beaches or at the Champagne Ponds and I am willing to bet that not one has ever dumped their old fridge in the jungle......
It is a truly sad sight to walk along and see the remnants of garbage left along the coast, the junk in front of homes and waterways.
We don't need laws, rules, EPA studies, DLNR reports or any other regulatory involvement to tell us what we should all be practicing here.
IT IS COMMON SENSE AND DECENCY
First, if you say you love Hawaii, show it. Clean up, begin within the bounds of your home. Slow down on the roads, be polite, wave to the visitors.
Second, why are you littering? Why can't you just put the empties in a bag and throw them away at the "MANY AND AVAILABLE FREE DUMP SITES"?
AGAIN, IT IS COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!
We need tourism, hands down, without it, this place would be worse than Hati or some other 3rd world toilet rat hole.
Yes, even those of you on welfare and without a job, your benefit check comes from our taxes, from which we pay, because we work, because people (tourists) visit Hawaii and bring us $$$, which is taxed, which stimulates the economy, which allows us to establish businesses, which we pay taxes, so you can have welfare, so you can drink all day and then you can toss your Heineken bottles along the road
So here is an idea, instead of everyone complaining, why don't we all begin by making this area a better place. Instead of wasting time, griping and pointing fingers, why don't we pitch in, clean up the area and spread some Aloha!!
yes, I know, it's easier to sit back and complain, blame someone else, blame the government, blame the haole, blame the tour operator, blame everyone, but yet, forget to look at your own actions.
I have lived, my entire life, in resort destinations, so yes, I know how it's easy to become fed up with feeling like you are being over run with tourists, but let's face it, WE NEED THEM...
The simple fact is, it is the residents who are destroying this place, not the people arriving for a short visit.
Shame on anyone here who litters, trashes, abandons vehicles or doesn't install proper septic systems without having to be told to do so. (Kapoho Beach Lot owners especially)
I know, I said I wouldn't target any group but please, that should only be decent of them, they are making some great $$ on those vacation rentals.
Yes, I see it everyday...the trash, the filth, the Ghettoness (new word of the day)and so do you all....
So everyone, old timers and newcomers alike, let's practice some Aloha because the only ones I see doing it for the most part are, THE TOURISTS!!
Oh, for those wanting so badly for the US to give back Hawaii or whatever the cause is, just remember; be careful what you wish for, you may just get it....
Bless you all and Mahalo for taking the time.
Match Reynolds
This message is for all and is not meant to pinpoint any one individual or ethnic group:
This is in response to everyone's concern and complaints about growth, tourism and the affects on this area.....
When you drive down a neighborhood street, walk along the old Gov't road near Honolulu Landing, visit the Champagne ponds or simply peek at any vacant lot, what do you see??
Junk cars, litter, broken bottles (Heineken seems to be the preferred)
old appliances, green waste, slaughtered animal remains, the list goes on. My favorite find; dead dogs in buckets left on the side of old gov't road last month.
Here we are, amidst the most beautiful place on the planet, yet we seem to be complacent with trashing it. I have lived quietly amongst the people of Hawaii, where I dreamed of always being. My perception of a place where the people love the land and nature, yet, it is only a perception.
Yes, it would be easy to blame "tourists" and the tour operators, but we all know the truth. Tourists come here, fill our coffers with $$ and are very respectful of this place. The tour operators, like Kapohokine for example, while some may not agree with their practices, they do their best to educate and inform thus providing a "positive experience" for the visitors of Hawaii and I say hats off to them!
Before I became a resident of the Big Island, as on many of my journeys to all of the Hawaiian Islands, where I was just a simple tourist, I remember being reminded to respect the land and take only pictures, leave only footprints. That vision never left me..
There is a point to this topic and hopefully this is beginning to make sense.
Tourists don't party and camp at Honolulu Landing, they don't discard their abandoned vehicles along our roads, they don't leave trash along the beaches or at the Champagne Ponds and I am willing to bet that not one has ever dumped their old fridge in the jungle......
It is a truly sad sight to walk along and see the remnants of garbage left along the coast, the junk in front of homes and waterways.
We don't need laws, rules, EPA studies, DLNR reports or any other regulatory involvement to tell us what we should all be practicing here.
IT IS COMMON SENSE AND DECENCY
First, if you say you love Hawaii, show it. Clean up, begin within the bounds of your home. Slow down on the roads, be polite, wave to the visitors.
Second, why are you littering? Why can't you just put the empties in a bag and throw them away at the "MANY AND AVAILABLE FREE DUMP SITES"?
AGAIN, IT IS COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!
We need tourism, hands down, without it, this place would be worse than Hati or some other 3rd world toilet rat hole.
Yes, even those of you on welfare and without a job, your benefit check comes from our taxes, from which we pay, because we work, because people (tourists) visit Hawaii and bring us $$$, which is taxed, which stimulates the economy, which allows us to establish businesses, which we pay taxes, so you can have welfare, so you can drink all day and then you can toss your Heineken bottles along the road
So here is an idea, instead of everyone complaining, why don't we all begin by making this area a better place. Instead of wasting time, griping and pointing fingers, why don't we pitch in, clean up the area and spread some Aloha!!
yes, I know, it's easier to sit back and complain, blame someone else, blame the government, blame the haole, blame the tour operator, blame everyone, but yet, forget to look at your own actions.
I have lived, my entire life, in resort destinations, so yes, I know how it's easy to become fed up with feeling like you are being over run with tourists, but let's face it, WE NEED THEM...
The simple fact is, it is the residents who are destroying this place, not the people arriving for a short visit.
Shame on anyone here who litters, trashes, abandons vehicles or doesn't install proper septic systems without having to be told to do so. (Kapoho Beach Lot owners especially)
I know, I said I wouldn't target any group but please, that should only be decent of them, they are making some great $$ on those vacation rentals.
Yes, I see it everyday...the trash, the filth, the Ghettoness (new word of the day)and so do you all....
So everyone, old timers and newcomers alike, let's practice some Aloha because the only ones I see doing it for the most part are, THE TOURISTS!!
Oh, for those wanting so badly for the US to give back Hawaii or whatever the cause is, just remember; be careful what you wish for, you may just get it....
Bless you all and Mahalo for taking the time.
Match Reynolds
Match Reynolds