10-02-2007, 06:08 AM
Kathy,
I totally agree with you about Mendocino. A lovely, incredible place until about 1986...then downhill all the way. I remember saying to a friend, when I first saw the wonderful Cookie Company (and the first place where you could get a good cup of coffee in town), "Watch. It's all downhill from here." That was Mendo's heigh day: five nights a week, you could walk from one venue/bar to another to hear and dance to live, local music. It was so much fun. There were also 5 dress shops in town, each one with great clothing. All gone now.
What killed Mendo was the influx of Southern Californians (I call them L.Aliens) who had their own idea of what Mendo should be. They didn't move in and see what was going on there and try to fit in, but rather, altered the place to fit their own limited experience and ideas. They could afford the high prices that drove the locals out of town. But they needed to make a living, not being content to be dirt poor like those of us who lived here. I now no longer even stop in Mendocino, but prefer to go to Ft. Bragg. In the 'old days' that was just the reverse. Now F.B. seems more 'real.' Mendocino resembles Disneyland--with the hold-out--Dick's.
But...if Pahoa does not do something, it will die and that will be a shame. It has a lot of potential. And it sounds like nothing has changed since the mid-80's. It's difficult to control 'progress'--we're so into 'freedom' of expression and capitalism. But Makawao, Maui, is still pretty cool, even though it's filled with touristy businesses. At least it's alive. It is not all shiny and new, still looks like a small Hawaiian town. But will it stay that way? Probably not forever. Paia has become a busy, happening place instead of the ghost town it was in the early '80's. Good and bad comes along with financial vibrancy.
Another issue is: you want businesses you like, but if the locals don't support them, they are likely to go under. A dilemma. Could the landlords be urged to work with store owners? Will the local population support new businesses?
If the citizens of Puna don't do something, some developer from out of town will come in, eventually, and, most likely, do something deplorable with the town.
Is there a Chamber of Commerce in Pahoa or any organization that addresses these issues?
april
I totally agree with you about Mendocino. A lovely, incredible place until about 1986...then downhill all the way. I remember saying to a friend, when I first saw the wonderful Cookie Company (and the first place where you could get a good cup of coffee in town), "Watch. It's all downhill from here." That was Mendo's heigh day: five nights a week, you could walk from one venue/bar to another to hear and dance to live, local music. It was so much fun. There were also 5 dress shops in town, each one with great clothing. All gone now.
What killed Mendo was the influx of Southern Californians (I call them L.Aliens) who had their own idea of what Mendo should be. They didn't move in and see what was going on there and try to fit in, but rather, altered the place to fit their own limited experience and ideas. They could afford the high prices that drove the locals out of town. But they needed to make a living, not being content to be dirt poor like those of us who lived here. I now no longer even stop in Mendocino, but prefer to go to Ft. Bragg. In the 'old days' that was just the reverse. Now F.B. seems more 'real.' Mendocino resembles Disneyland--with the hold-out--Dick's.
But...if Pahoa does not do something, it will die and that will be a shame. It has a lot of potential. And it sounds like nothing has changed since the mid-80's. It's difficult to control 'progress'--we're so into 'freedom' of expression and capitalism. But Makawao, Maui, is still pretty cool, even though it's filled with touristy businesses. At least it's alive. It is not all shiny and new, still looks like a small Hawaiian town. But will it stay that way? Probably not forever. Paia has become a busy, happening place instead of the ghost town it was in the early '80's. Good and bad comes along with financial vibrancy.
Another issue is: you want businesses you like, but if the locals don't support them, they are likely to go under. A dilemma. Could the landlords be urged to work with store owners? Will the local population support new businesses?
If the citizens of Puna don't do something, some developer from out of town will come in, eventually, and, most likely, do something deplorable with the town.
Is there a Chamber of Commerce in Pahoa or any organization that addresses these issues?
april
april