HVNP grows

[kalakoa]

Welcome to some, and preferably goodbye to others?

Seriously, if we're not allowed to visit places because they're too ecologically fragile (or too sacred, or whatever), how about some high-resolution webcams, maybe an immersive VR booth where I can rent a drone by the hour (eg, virtual helicopter flights -- but with far less impact). There's no reason we can't leverage technology in a way that allows both impact mitigation and tourism. The tourists don't even need to travel here for the remote drone experience.

Still. My tax dollars (and/or NP admission) at work, making sure I don't visit things. How very Hawaii.

[MyManao]

how about..

 
we set aside parts of the planet for NO human access?

How 'bout we set the price of gas at something close to the true cost of using that stuff on Earth anymore.. $50.00 per gallon.. minimum.. 

How about we limit reproduction to one child per two adults? Maximum.

Like, seriously, what are we doing to save this place besides sh*ting wherever we like?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

NO human access?
$50.00 per gallon.. 
one child per two adults? 

This is what makes the kids roll their eyes and say “OK boomer.”
When an older person’s suggestions for saving the earth come from a retiree who drove wherever and whenever he wanted to take a photo, with no restrictions, on a tank of gas that cost $.50 a gallon.  And had as many kids as he wanted whether that was 0, or 1, or 10.

Young people would take our suggestions more seriously if we included restrictions on our own consumption.  The mileage we drive is meaningless when we don’t have to drive to work 5 days a week anymore.  How about always eating low on the food chain, no animals, producing 80% of our own food, drinking water that’s not bought in a bottle?  Limiting medical costs and services?  Not burning anything that produces smoke?

[AaronM]

If it wasn’t added to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, how long before the property is bought by a private company?  Hotel, golf course, etc.  5 years?  10? 15?

It was held by a private company for decades and they made many attempts to build a resort there and were stymied enough times that they gave up.

EDIT: Sorry Dobanion, just saw your succinct reply.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

private company for decades and they made many attempts to build a resort there

Maybe the next owner knows which palms to grease, and I don’t mean coconut palms?  Times change, administrations change, people in Ka’u might lose their government benefits which keep many of them in groceries and homes.  Then a job offered by a resort could look a lot different to people down there who protest any attempt at building anything.

[AaronM]

private company for decades and they made many attempts to build a resort there

Maybe the next owner knows which palms to grease, and I don’t mean coconut palms?  Times change, administrations change, people in Ka’u might lose their government benefits which keep many of them in groceries and homes.  Then a job offered by a resort could look a lot different to people down there who protest any attempt at building anything.

Nice try. 

You would hard pressed to find more than 25% of people living in Miloli'i, HOVE, Ranchos, Disco Harbor, Wai'ohinu, Na'alehu, Green Sands or Pahala who would be willing to trade their quiet, peaceful neighborhoods for the kind of dubious economic security that resorts offer.

Mo bettah to drive to Kona or Hilo for work in spite of gas prices in order to keep things pastoral and uncrowded at home.

There is a reason why multiple attempts to develop a resort over many decades have all failed. 

There are some things that money just can't buy.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Nice try.  

I agree with you.
In the year 2022.
But you can count on things to change, even in Ka’u, even if it takes longer.

When I moved to HPP in 1999 you could buy a 3 bedroom house for $100,000.  A lot for $10,000.  People liked the quiet, the slow pace.  Now the subdivision is filling up, 3 bedroom homes sell for $400,000.  People are asking, “where’s the HPP grocery store?  The gas station?”  If you asked around many would rather work closer to home than in Hilo, stuck in traffic for an hour and a half every day.  

If you had asked me 20 years ago, would I bet on any of that happening, I’d have said no way. 

All it would take to drastically change Ka’u in the near future is a lava flow in East Hawaii, through a populated area.  Displaced residents would pick up and move to the next affordable area on the island, Ka’u.  Just like so many former Kapoho homeowners bought property in HPP.

[AaronM]

All good points HOTPE.

Humanity's sprawl knows no bounds and 'progress' does continue to roll on. We find ourselves powerless against the crushing reality of population growth.

To your point, 130 is no longer a gentle cruise into Hilo town. As far as any future housing density in Ka'u - who knows? The fact that HOVE sits in LZ2 may someday come into play.

Anything is possible, but for now I enjoy my visits to Punalu'u, Green Sands and Manuka. The bucolic drive from Pahala through to Wai'ohinu is a sublime example of the Hawaii of yesteryear. May it remain so as long as possible.

[dobanion]

The bucolic drive from Pahala through to Wai'ohinu is a sublime example of the Hawaii of yesteryear.  May it remain so as long as possible.

Ever take the Cane Haul Road? 1/2 the speed, x3 better. Dumps ya right out in front of the Bakery when you get to Naalehu.

[AaronM]

Shhhhhh ;-)