Time to begin discussing Puna lava viewing site

[Lodestone]

MarkD, you have to give people time to process their grief before you talk about the future. For example, "Sorry about your wife... but now you might be able to land a younger and hotter woman!", while logical, doesn't play well at a funeral.

Viewing lava from a helicopter is one thing, but wading in among grieving refugees to gawk a the source of their misery... I don't see the appeal.

[MarkD]

I appreciate the point about a grieving period. Still, we ought to explore the idea in fairly short order. It can be done without tourists roaming all around.

One (or two) out of the way sites, entry by tourist bus only (initially). If done right, most evacuees would not be aware of the tourists' presence.

But many hard-hit East Hawaii residents, possibly including some who lost their homes, would benefit from the visitors' spending.

[Punatic007]

MarkD it seems you may be in the tour business. I'm in the tourist business as well, which is on hold including my income. For those of us who stay it's time to hunker down, stay safe, help others and be helped. It is what it is.

[LazyLehua]

I always wanted to take a lava boat tour to see the lava when it was flowing thru VNP into the ocean. However this time it is different...it is heartbreaking. I loved going to Kapoho and am grieving the unimaginable destruction that has occurred. So many lives have been effected by this tragedy that I hope not to see any tours of any kind to the area.

[Monkey C]

I am also a tour operator. The park being closed and no accessible lava has really hurt me financially, same as a whole lot of other tour companies. I may even have to hang it up if it goes on much longer but even so, I would not take tourists to this eruption site. Period. First of all, it's very dangerous. A fissure eruption is significantly different from any lava that tour companies have taken people to see here ever. Situations can change very quickly, the gas is very bad to breathe and quick egress is not even possible with all the roads blocked. But the main reason I wouldn't do tours there is that I am part of this community and I have a lot of friends whose lives have just been shattered. I had to evacuate my own home, which is thankfully, still standing for now. Everyone could use money but I say this is not a time to invite tourists into Puna. It's a dangerous situation and all of the meager resources our County can provide us should be used to help people who live here and not to manage potential emergencies involving tourists.

[kalakoa]

when HVNP reopens

HVNP suffered enough damage that it may never recover.

I would not take tourists to this eruption site. Period. First of all, it's very dangerous.

Someone else will. Make a safe way to view it or people get hurt.

So many lives have been effected by this tragedy that I hope not to see any tours of any kind to the area.

Right, tourists can view the lava as long as it's "away from someone's house". Just like everything else here.

Tragedy has only just begun, the insurance companies will make sure of that.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

when HVNP reopens
...
HVNP suffered enough damage that it may never recover.

Welcome to Hawaii County's newest subdivision, Volcano Estates. Three acre ag lots.
For a limited time, we have a special reduced price on Crater View parcels. Live life on the edge!

I alternate between thinking of the planet as home — dear and familiar stone hearth and garden — and as a hard land of exile in which we are all sojourners. Today I favor the latter view. The word “sojourner”... invokes a nomadic people’s sense of vagrancy, a praying people’s knowledge of estrangement, a thinking people’s intuition of sharp loss: “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.” - Annie Dillard

[glassnumbers]

Honestly, Hawai'i should be allowed to have a federal exemption to the federal cannabis laws because its technically still a sovereign nation, either that, or they should put up casinos in Oahu and Kona. I disagree with casinos in literally any other part of Hawai'i, and I'd much rather we just farm weed than any casino be built anywhere on the islands, but realistically, casinos would bring in tourism for people who want to do nothing *but* spend money. Casinos could probably be built right now, whereas a federal cannabis exemption due to sovereign land is much more of a pipe dream. I'm not a fan of casinos, either, but it would be so helpful if we could reliably draw tourists who are more willing to spend. From what I've encountered, tourists are kinda cheap, and I don't blame them for that. I just want to get people spending more of their money here, rather then Vegas or Laughlin etc. Those places are doing just fine, we need more money badly for basic projects like green energy and rail.

Aloha

[MarkD]

"Honestly, Hawai'i should be allowed to have a federal exemption to the federal cannabis laws...."

glass numbers, your comments about cannabis and casinos are fair points, but they are barely relevant to the discussion we are having. Did you accidentally post in the wrong place?

kalakoa: "HVNP suffered enough damage that it may never recover."

Meaning permanent closure of the park? A very serious outcome in many ways.

I thought the continuing fumes and ash clouds are the main problem.

Has there been some official statement from HVNP personnel that permanent park closure is a possibility? If so, that subject is worth its own thread.

- - - -

ETA:

Star Advertiser article today (6/11)

Headline: Opening viewing points might shore up Big Island’s visitor industry

County, state and visitor industry officials are discussing opening fissure areas to public viewing...

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/06/11...-industry/

[Kelena]

Viewing area? Volcano view YOU!