03-16-2017, 07:56 PM
quote:This is nothing new, and has been exacerbated by the lava tours, especially nowadays. I feel for the fishermen who are trying to make a living, whose income pales in comparison to the lava tours.
Originally posted by Justin
Saw on Shane's FB that there is a 300 yard (1000 feet) distance limit that is scheduled to go into effect as a "temporary" measure. I know safety generally was discussed on a different thread, but I wanted to start a separate one for this particular measure. I'm curious to hear people's thoughts.
My two cents is that if people assume the risk, the government really has no business getting involved in this. If Shane were getting too close, and/or if people were getting too uncomfortable, reviews would be bad, injuries would happen, and people would stop taking the tour. In other words, the market governs itself. That hasn't happened, however, and in the thousands of trips taken, nothing major has occurred, so why should the government get involved other than to just inject itself into private enterprise?
Shane is one that also needs to pay attention (given the amount of money he makes, with very little regard to rules and regulations). His record isn't exactly stellar, given the precarious circumstances his operation has been in (not just at the dock). Frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't been more closely scruntized by DLNR (lol...DLNR; what a joke.). His operation is an accident waiting to happen.
The sign there is for liability purposes ("NO SWIMMING"), thank you, State of Hawaii/DLNR. Nothing is going to change the swimming there...nothing. The damn State better get their act together, and provide our community with a safe, clean, and enjoyable beach park, which includes a swimming area for all.
What we had (a few generations ago) is no longer. Understanding between the keiki (and everyone else) swimming and the boats was never a problem; Boat coming, get the hell out of the way...everyone knew the routine. Today, it's a problem.
Well, as Puna grows, what has the State done to improve the dock/harbor? Not a damn thing of substance. The County can only do so much; and they have (as to the Beach Park which is under their jurisdiction). The State has control over the dock area, and has done not a damn thing towards resolving this continuing, and growing, problem.
Oh, and thanks for the $250K to "study" the problem, with no support from the Army Corp. of Engineers, nor the DLNR (as per their testimony). Unbelievable. SMH.
JMO.