09-30-2007, 03:28 AM
I support your efforts to get involved in the community. That's great. I am off-island and I have no experience with helicopters in Puna. I imagine they go straight from the airport to the Volcano, which would take them over certain areas.
As Lee mentions above, the Volcano is a major tourist attraction, and there is only one way to see. I tried to book to take a flight two trips ago, but there was no seat available. People love it.
I certainly understand how horses could be spooked by a helicopter.
I would recommend you go to the meeting armed with a thorough understanding of any legal restrictions on such flights. You can certainly ask that they conform to the law.
You might also consider joining forces with other groups that focus on this. Helicopter flights have been a subject of great concern in Kaua'i, which has seen a number of crashes (we appear to have better machines and pilots....or luck.)
Beyond that, this may be a difficult cause.
Those who want to preserve peace and tranquility in the environment should be applauded. The Sierra Club has preserved vast tracts of beautiful land in a state of nature, which includes preserving the sounds of nature. Its members are not sheep. Just the opposite. Sheep do what their masters tell them. The Sierra Club is fighting the herd mentality, which would destroy all of nature, if we let it.
I don't think these helicopters are detroying nature though. They are annoying some people on the ground.
There will need to be balance so that people can come and be awe-inspired by one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Many of those who do will return home an ecologist.
As Lee mentions above, the Volcano is a major tourist attraction, and there is only one way to see. I tried to book to take a flight two trips ago, but there was no seat available. People love it.
I certainly understand how horses could be spooked by a helicopter.
I would recommend you go to the meeting armed with a thorough understanding of any legal restrictions on such flights. You can certainly ask that they conform to the law.
You might also consider joining forces with other groups that focus on this. Helicopter flights have been a subject of great concern in Kaua'i, which has seen a number of crashes (we appear to have better machines and pilots....or luck.)
Beyond that, this may be a difficult cause.
Those who want to preserve peace and tranquility in the environment should be applauded. The Sierra Club has preserved vast tracts of beautiful land in a state of nature, which includes preserving the sounds of nature. Its members are not sheep. Just the opposite. Sheep do what their masters tell them. The Sierra Club is fighting the herd mentality, which would destroy all of nature, if we let it.
I don't think these helicopters are detroying nature though. They are annoying some people on the ground.
There will need to be balance so that people can come and be awe-inspired by one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Many of those who do will return home an ecologist.