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Obie,
Since I don't surf or wear a bikini, I never have and probably never will need to go there, and it is on the fringes of "downtown" Pahoa anyway. I just picked 2 businesses that are only a block apart and a person in a wheelchair can't move between them, plus the idea of drinks at one restaurant and dinner at another is not unheard of.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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quote:
Originally posted by james weatherford
Contradictions of Historic Preservation and Sustainability in Pahoa
My own association with, and love for, Pahoa began 40 years ago this month, April, 1974. Newly discharged from the military, I came to Hawaii Island looking for a new start. At that time, Pahoa Village and the surrounding area was dominated by the sugar industry. Cane fields came right up to the back of the houses in the alleys behind the stores. Giant trucks, nearly as tall as the storefronts and laden with cane, rumbled through town rattling windows. Mud poured out of the trucks onto the road. There was no bypass; and the cane was harvested by ripping it out of the ground, roots, soil and all.
I, like many other people around the world, have come to be concerned about the impact of human activities on the Earth’s living systems. The focal point of this concern that developed globally in the latter 20th and early 21st centuries has frequently been couched in terms of “sustainability”.
With the coming of the 21st century, the wooden boardwalks and storefront facades along Pahoa Village Road have captured the sentimental attention of well-meaning, civic-minded folks. The cry has gone out for “historic preservation”.
The history of the Pahoa Village we see today was created by logging Ohia Lehua and producing sugar cane – both done in an extractive manner destructive to the land. Neither logging nor sugar cane production were what any genuine description would describe as “sustainable”, which is defined by Merriam-Webster.com as “1. : capable of being sustained. 2. a : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged b : of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods.”
Sentimentalizing those wooden boardwalks and storefront facades ignores, or worse, honors, the environmentally destructive activities that brought those boardwalks and storefront facades into existence.
In the most basic and material way, resources committed to historic preservation are not used for future sustainability. Moreover, historic preservation, at least in the case of Pahoa, may well even glorify a very unsustainable past and turn well-intended civic action away from sustainability.
I see a serious contradiction between historic preservation and sustainability in Pahoa.
Where to from here, preservation of an unsustainable history or generation of a sustainable future?
I just don't understand why everyone thinks they should have input about other people's business. I think it should be up to the business owners on how they want to maintain their business.
If the community feels like something should be preserved for history, then let people come together and put their money and time to maintain it. Forcing a business to maintain a "look" because it reminds some people of the good old days is just absurd.
I am amazed that in Puna there is a such a strong NIMBY mentality coupled with a "This is what you should do with your property" attitude. It just doesn't make sense to me.
As long as it's not a public safety concern, why should anyone but the owner of the business have any business telling them what they should do?
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quote:
Originally posted by Mtviewdude
I just don't understand why everyone thinks they should have input about other people's business. I think it should be up to the business owners on how they want to maintain their business.
Welcome to Hawaii my friend - 15 minutes out of baggage claim and they can tell you what organic foods you "should" be selling (and buying), what to plant in your fields (or garden), and you can't grow or cut down any but the "right" trees, or burn your cane fields, or put up a wind mill, can't run you business from your home, and... It's all about aloha - and my way or the highway...
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quote:
Originally posted by pahoated
The solution? Give Pahoa old village a theme and repaint the town, have open picnic tables at the entrance with ono grinds and banners.
Yes, and allow more commercial zoning along the main strip, with regulations that new and existing buildings maintain that character and allow for parking behind the buildings. There is no reason to have residential zoning along the main strip.
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quote:
There is no reason to have residential zoning along the main strip.
Inappropriate zoning is how County keeps the lid on development.
See also: "agricultural subdivisions" with 7500sf lots.
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It was a commercial zoning application, next door to TIffany Edwards shop, where Tiffany crossed the line and went anti business to protect her self interests. I found it all very offensive. She brought every resource to bear to keep out what she considered to be competition. And the sad part is she succeeded. So much for her Libertarian leanings. Miss NIMBY. And a sorry event for the applicants.
The whole corridor should be pre approved for commercial. Puna is starved for commercial zoning. That is what forces people to bend the code and try to eke out a living in the wrong zones. The current zoning rules are designed for manipulation. Tiffany Edwards is a great example of that.
Another great example of self interest was Councilwoman Emily Naeole - who Tiffany eventually became legislative assistant for. Emily got hooked by a mainland corporation to approve a "self storage facility" on highway 130 right next to what is now the Pahoa Police Station. This occurred just as the PCDP decided that strip mall development was not desired. The corp promised Emily they would give her the old house on the property. She was thrilled.
Emily was less than thrilled when Mainstreet Pahoa Assoc (I was president then) launched a campaign of opposition against the plan. It was a pretty public battle that went on for some weeks. Dominic Yagong was the key vote against Emily's support. From that day on Emily punished Yagong at council and definitely didn't care for me. Frankly I can see the same thing happening with Tiffany Edwards. Tiffany has thin skin and holds a grudge too. If you don't agree with her she thinks you're an idiot... and will tell you so.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Well; That's somewhat "Grudgelike".
Tiffany's "mistake to positive" ratio is probably 1/10 (better than mine). I prefer to look at the good things she does for our community.
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quote:
Originally posted by geochem
quote:
Originally posted by Mtviewdude
I just don't understand why everyone thinks they should have input about other people's business. I think it should be up to the business owners on how they want to maintain their business.
Welcome to Hawaii my friend - 15 minutes out of baggage claim and they can tell you what organic foods you "should" be selling (and buying), what to plant in your fields (or garden), and you can't grow or cut down any but the "right" trees, or burn your cane fields, or put up a wind mill, can't run you business from your home, and... It's all about aloha - and my way or the highway...
I don't think it's a Hawaii thing, I have only ever really seen it in Puna.
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quote:
It was a commercial zoning application, next door to TIffany Edwards shop, where Tiffany crossed the line and went anti business to protect her self interests. ... she succeeded.
Isn't that (still vacant) lot now the proposed entrance road to the $20M park?
quote:
Puna is starved for commercial zoning. That is what forces people to bend the code and try to eke out a living in the wrong zones.
Those who would not "bend the code" are now commuting to Hilo. Every day. From as far away as Volcano. Sustainability at its finest...
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Different lot. The one I was discussing is adjacent to Hunt's Surf Shop.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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