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But we're there already aren't we?
Big Island has two resources: geothermal, and a mountaintop suitable for telescopes.
Protectors have formed around both.
On the plus side: if they succeed, the Big Island will become completely irrelevant.
On the minus side: once irrelevant, our taxes will skyrocket to make up for the missing revenue.
All of which makes the "vast private 'agricultural' subdivisions without infrastructure" problem seem like a warm-up exercise.
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quote:
Originally posted by kalakoa
Even a restored Hawaiian State (Kingdom or otherwise) will need income and economic activity.
No, I'm sure all subjects of the reconstituted Kingdom will work the land to provide food and shelter, just like they did in the pre-contact days.
I actually spoke with some "protectors" who favored restoration of the Kingdom. They told me that their economic needs would be taken care of by the reparations they were sure the "former occupiers" would pay. The conversation took place in the Safeway parking lot where they were loading their Chevy with bag after bag of Doritos and other mainland produced junk food.
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Some interesting video's being shared by BigIslandvideo.
I watched the beginning of the first video with a petitioner/practitioner/protector questioning someone about the foundation of the TMT. Let me sum it up in a few words: rocks, rocks, rocks.
As our President might say, "c'mon, man." The Big Island has far more rocks than anything else on the island. We have an overflowing abundance of rocks, and Pele is making more every day. We have so much rock we have to pile it up 13,000 feet high just so it can all fit on the island. Not just once, but twice, Mauna Kea AND Mauna Loa. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks. The only larger pile of rocks in the entire solar system is on Mars, Olympus Mons. We get it. Rocks are important. But we've easily got the market cornered on them.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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Who makes the final decision in these proceedings? There is no jury.
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkP
Who makes the final decision in these proceedings? There is no jury.
The hearing officer makes the final decision on the issuance of the CDUP. It took the previous hearing officer almost a year to issue a decision, which the petitioners had the opportunity to contest before it was finalized in 2013. In short, it took from 2011 to 2013 to complete the first contested case hearing process. The latter decision can be appealed through the courts.
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If she is sane it seems certain the hearing officer will approve it. It seems equally certain that her decision will be appealed. If so there won't be enough time to go around again. All this seems inevitable. Is there really any light at the end of this tunnel?
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Is there really any light at the end of this tunnel?
So far all I can see are more rocks in and around the tunnel.
Something is wrong, I know it, if I don't keep my attention on eternity. Mary Oliver
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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quote:
Originally posted by HereOnThePrimalEdge
We'll probably never know, but perhaps their attorney, Mr. Wurdeman, quit representing his clients not specifically to delay the proceedings, but because he just gave up on trying to get them to present credible arguments to the court.
After watching the first day, I'm more convinced that he colluded to quit because now they get 5 redirects instead of 1 and their fumbling their way up the learning curve also wastes everyone's time. I have a feeling he is still involved heavily. Also their might be some arguments in appeals based on their representational issues.
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Mark,
"If she is sane it seems certain the hearing officer will approve it. It seems equally certain that her decision will be appealed. If so there won't be enough time to go around again. All this seems inevitable. Is there really any light at the end of this tunnel?"
There is light, but it's getting a little dimmer I think. Although publicly the TMT have said they need to make a decision about the final location early next year, I've heard via the grapevine the date might actually be about this time next year.
Assuming the contested case hearing 1) ends this year, 2) gets appealed and 3) construction can't start during the appeal process, then that'll likely leave about 9 or 10 months for that process to run its course. However, since I believe the law has changed to allow appeals to go straight to the Hawaii Supreme Court, that should significantly speed up the appeal process.
There are still lots of "ifs" and "buts" and "what ifs", but it's still possible could be built here, just not likely in my opinion.
