02-07-2015, 07:03 AM
Southernmost, how right you are when you mention how nice it was back in the day. Yet most the folks I grew up here with moved away or are now on this welfare program, even many Hawaiian friends. The transition from cane to tourism happened fast in Kona, slower in hilo, only now with the addition of the lava flow has Puna really seen the tourism effects. Places down south like Pahala, wiohinu, hove, na'alehu, those are the country towns now. Pahala, wood valley, punalu'u have been abandoned treasures since cane was taken away in those parts.
Out in the wild east of Puna times are changing quickly, as is the land with the additional lava flows. The tourist are wanting to stay longer and possibly get a chance to see the lava. Our state for years has made this our number 1 industry, so now is the time to make sure these tourists and state get what they want. This area of Puna needs the jobs and added revenue that tourism brings, right now the tourists are here using our roads and bathrooms yet not spending much, and we have a lot of young able bodied folks on EBT.
Out in the wild east of Puna times are changing quickly, as is the land with the additional lava flows. The tourist are wanting to stay longer and possibly get a chance to see the lava. Our state for years has made this our number 1 industry, so now is the time to make sure these tourists and state get what they want. This area of Puna needs the jobs and added revenue that tourism brings, right now the tourists are here using our roads and bathrooms yet not spending much, and we have a lot of young able bodied folks on EBT.