07-28-2008, 01:24 PM
OK, I give.
Good luck with the PCDP. I hope to hell it has the effect that it is intended to have. I don't buy that for a moment, but in the environment I expect it will create, I see no reason why I won't personally profit from it. That can be some consolation. It is possible, of course, I'm wholly wrong with what I see as the result. The proof will be evident soon enough.
Have any of you ever read Willa Cather's book, "My Antonia"? In it she describes the death of the American frontier, and the effect the closing and the loss of the frontier had on the American dream. Puna, by rights, is, for another couple of days, the absolute last of that frontier. We bemoan the lack of law enforcement, of feral dogs, meth heads and all the rest. We be-moan the "wild west" nature of the place. Yet, it is indeed that nature that has drawn us all here. It is a place yet, where one of sensible--or even minimal-- means, and deliberate application of skill, could have carved out a place of the land for oneself. Some did. I did. The PCDP will gut the "wild west" nature of Puna to the core. There is no question, that the little cabin I have been able to build for myself, with the utter deliberate care and respect I have payed to the land itself, its traditions, and its heritage, and its ecology, would be absolutely, completely impossible under the "plan." The fees and permits and surveys and else wise alone would cost more money than the structure I inhabit. The cost of the place will completely prohibit any fleeting chance of covering my carbon footprint. I understand the fact that the "goal" is to preserve Hawaii. It will possibly preserve a few things, but the "lifestyle" of the place, which is as precious as the mountains, the sea, and the koa trees, will clearly be lost for ever.
I had the miserable experience of shopping at KTA a couple of hours ago. Struggling through the waddling cart pushers, I asked myself--how many of "these" people will have a positive impact in their quality of life due to the PCDP? I'd encourage a few here to ask that question too. My answer. None. That question is up to conjecture, and obviously I didn't craft a survey, but by and large I see no trend to offer quality jobs, and I see a deliberate attempt to destroy the small shops, logging operations, cabinetmakers, who work under the radar in illegal operations trying to create for themselves a quality dignified life. . .those selling poi, smoked ahi, sausage and such. . .I would HATE to lose that. Once you unleash the hounds of war "regulation"--this character of the island only left here in Puna will go up in a puff of smoke. I would personally hate to think my actions, or my advocacy, would be the source of that loss. I would encourage a few here to think about that personally as well. Frankly, if the lifestyle in Puna as it is, requires sketchy building, meth heads, and feral dogs to RETAIN the spirit of the place, I'm all for that. Really. No hyperbole.
I understand change occurs. One cannot understand beauty without a twinge of sadness--all beauty has an expiration date. I simply feel very sorry for that young couple a year from now, with minimal money, but a hope to get ahead in a hard world, and they look at Puna, and realize that they'll need to pay a 2500 dollar development fee before they even think about starting to put up a tent.
Good luck with the PCDP. I hope to hell it has the effect that it is intended to have. I don't buy that for a moment, but in the environment I expect it will create, I see no reason why I won't personally profit from it. That can be some consolation. It is possible, of course, I'm wholly wrong with what I see as the result. The proof will be evident soon enough.
Have any of you ever read Willa Cather's book, "My Antonia"? In it she describes the death of the American frontier, and the effect the closing and the loss of the frontier had on the American dream. Puna, by rights, is, for another couple of days, the absolute last of that frontier. We bemoan the lack of law enforcement, of feral dogs, meth heads and all the rest. We be-moan the "wild west" nature of the place. Yet, it is indeed that nature that has drawn us all here. It is a place yet, where one of sensible--or even minimal-- means, and deliberate application of skill, could have carved out a place of the land for oneself. Some did. I did. The PCDP will gut the "wild west" nature of Puna to the core. There is no question, that the little cabin I have been able to build for myself, with the utter deliberate care and respect I have payed to the land itself, its traditions, and its heritage, and its ecology, would be absolutely, completely impossible under the "plan." The fees and permits and surveys and else wise alone would cost more money than the structure I inhabit. The cost of the place will completely prohibit any fleeting chance of covering my carbon footprint. I understand the fact that the "goal" is to preserve Hawaii. It will possibly preserve a few things, but the "lifestyle" of the place, which is as precious as the mountains, the sea, and the koa trees, will clearly be lost for ever.
I had the miserable experience of shopping at KTA a couple of hours ago. Struggling through the waddling cart pushers, I asked myself--how many of "these" people will have a positive impact in their quality of life due to the PCDP? I'd encourage a few here to ask that question too. My answer. None. That question is up to conjecture, and obviously I didn't craft a survey, but by and large I see no trend to offer quality jobs, and I see a deliberate attempt to destroy the small shops, logging operations, cabinetmakers, who work under the radar in illegal operations trying to create for themselves a quality dignified life. . .those selling poi, smoked ahi, sausage and such. . .I would HATE to lose that. Once you unleash the hounds of war "regulation"--this character of the island only left here in Puna will go up in a puff of smoke. I would personally hate to think my actions, or my advocacy, would be the source of that loss. I would encourage a few here to think about that personally as well. Frankly, if the lifestyle in Puna as it is, requires sketchy building, meth heads, and feral dogs to RETAIN the spirit of the place, I'm all for that. Really. No hyperbole.
I understand change occurs. One cannot understand beauty without a twinge of sadness--all beauty has an expiration date. I simply feel very sorry for that young couple a year from now, with minimal money, but a hope to get ahead in a hard world, and they look at Puna, and realize that they'll need to pay a 2500 dollar development fee before they even think about starting to put up a tent.