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https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/10/14...struction/
Opponents of a planned wind farm who camped out along Kamehameha Highway overnight in a bid to stop construction equipment from getting to the North Shore say they’ll return Monday night ― and won’t give up their pledge to stop the project.
“We’re ready to be here as long as we have to,†Kanailoaanuenue Ponciano, president of the group Ku Kia’i Kahuku, told Hawaii News Now. “If we have to come back tomorrow, the next day, two months from now, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got a camp set up. We’re here for the long haul.â€
The project has been several years in the making, and already has obtained the necessary permits and cleared regulatory hurdles.
“We are not here to protest green energy. We want green energy. We’re just here to say we don’t need anymore monstrosities in our backyard,†said protester Malia Alatasi.
It's the new normal: "we will block your project until forever" and "we fully support the project so long as it's built somewhere else", despite regulatory compliance and valid permits issued.
Maybe it's time to stop all projects and let market forces decide. Rolling blackouts, a doubling (or tripling) of grid power rates, and just moving away if you don't want to work in tourism or retail...
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What to you expect we let the people sat on the mountain and did nothing beside give them state money from O.H.A.. We well never get anything built here in Hawaii
jrw
jrw
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Guys, this might be a little too much for even me. I need to look into it more but I'm having a hard time with this one.
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It seemed on the verge of terminal - our island economy. Now it's looking terminal. (Except for tourism and retail... )
There was and still is an untapped resource of people power here that is underutilized to do the island and the climate and the 'aina some good. The 'aina is being harmed by the protestors. There is an abundance of restoration work underway. Fences need to be built to control pig damage. Trees replanted to hold soil from erosion. Invasive species control is our kuleana. We live here and love this island.
It seems there is a palpable disconnect that used to not be quite so --- palpable. I don't think the protestors have the grace to give up their cause. I wonder what their children and grandchildren think about their future prospects.
Look into volunteer opportunities! It's far better than waving flags on the highway for miles and miles and miles... oh yeah...
Since the ancestors of the Hawaiians conquered the original inhabitants of these islands, they do understand the spoils theory. I'm not a fan of takeovers - hostile, violent, or otherwise - but no one is alive who was the perpetrator, nor the victim. We must move on and make the most of our time on the planet.
End of rant....
Peace out.
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Thank you, lisa, I enjoyed your rant. Unfortunately, it will not resonate with the sovereignty movement and suspect that's what's driving things at the moment, especially on Mauna Kea.
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It would be easier (for me) to take the sovereignty movement seriously if it included an actual economic proposition. All the protests thus far are focused on "stopping this desecration" with no alternative offered; many protestors are more than happy to make use of the very things they find objectionable.
"Development is bad. Except for burning gas in my lifted truck so I can head down the highway to Walmart for cheap beer."
There I go again, looking for logic where none exists.
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Easy to complain, hard to do.
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https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/10/18...ong-fight/
Dozens of police officers are standing guard near the scene of a construction site for a controversial wind farm project in Kahuku as the equipment convoy arrived.
Police officers began arriving in droves on foot, by bike and in vehicles around 7:40 a.m. to the area near the construction site, where a large group of protesters were gathered.
The arrival comes hours after 22 people were arrested in Kalaeloa for trying to block the large turbines and other pieces of construction equipment from getting to the North Shore.
Police officers began moving in force just after 11 p.m. Thursday, hours after protesters first began gathering in Kalaeloa.
Then, a few hours later, authorities responded to a downed pole on Kamehameha Highway near Turtle Bay. Police said it appeared the pole was intentionally cut down in an attempt to block the convoy from getting to its destination.
The road was reopened around 7:35 a.m.
Police said 16 women and six men were arrested between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Friday for disobedience to police officers. Their bail was set at $100 each.
Inez Larson, one of the protesters arrested, said it was necessary to stand her ground.
“I just keep thinking to myself, the desecration of the land is enough and you know, I don’t want anyone watching this to be crying or upset,†Larson said. “We have to do this, the government has forced us to do this. They won’t listen to the people.â€
Here, again: "they won't listen to the people" -- which people? The wind farm is projected to power 16,000 homes; there are maybe 100 protestors. Do those protestors have some kind of special legal status which counts their wishes at 100x the general public?
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Once again, Oahu allows progress:
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/10/18...ong-fight/
A convoy carrying giant turbines arrived at their future home in Kahuku on Friday morning following the arrests of at least 50 project opponents in dual protests.
