03-31-2023, 10:15 PM
. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I didn't like hippies very much even when I was one. But now that they're getting government grants to hold far-out love-in festivals, it seems to have become a sustainable lifestyle.
Saturday's First Annual Resilience Hub Red Road Resource Fair -- partly sponsored by Revitalize Puna funds and held at Space in Seaview Estates -- was a jam-packed bash meant to mitigate the damage done by the lava flow five years ago. There were a dozen tables with brochures promoting wellness, empowerment, and private enterprises, but no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find any revitalization. To the contrary, it was like regressing back to the 60's. There were beads, beards, dreadlocks, sandals, and sheer garments that revealed far too much. But one thing that was notably lacking was locals.
This was advertised as an event to learn about resources and make plans for disaster preparedness that included resource booths and discussions, but the music was so loud that holding a conversation was impossible unless you moved into the far corners of the fairground. But, hey, the day was way too groovy to be wasted on accomplishing anything, anyhow.
There was an astonishing amount of food being ladled out to the masses, but since the line stretched all the way to the property line, it was inaccessible for over-the-hill gimps like me. But everybody else seemed to be happily scarfing down on a meal provided by Kilauea Eruption Recover funds, so it was probably pretty good.
I didn't find anybody to discuss plans for creating ocean recreation areas in Puna with, but I did figure out something: Next time one of these be-ins are held, I'm going to show up tripping on mushrooms.
Cowabunga, Dudes!
Saturday's First Annual Resilience Hub Red Road Resource Fair -- partly sponsored by Revitalize Puna funds and held at Space in Seaview Estates -- was a jam-packed bash meant to mitigate the damage done by the lava flow five years ago. There were a dozen tables with brochures promoting wellness, empowerment, and private enterprises, but no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find any revitalization. To the contrary, it was like regressing back to the 60's. There were beads, beards, dreadlocks, sandals, and sheer garments that revealed far too much. But one thing that was notably lacking was locals.
This was advertised as an event to learn about resources and make plans for disaster preparedness that included resource booths and discussions, but the music was so loud that holding a conversation was impossible unless you moved into the far corners of the fairground. But, hey, the day was way too groovy to be wasted on accomplishing anything, anyhow.
There was an astonishing amount of food being ladled out to the masses, but since the line stretched all the way to the property line, it was inaccessible for over-the-hill gimps like me. But everybody else seemed to be happily scarfing down on a meal provided by Kilauea Eruption Recover funds, so it was probably pretty good.
I didn't find anybody to discuss plans for creating ocean recreation areas in Puna with, but I did figure out something: Next time one of these be-ins are held, I'm going to show up tripping on mushrooms.
Cowabunga, Dudes!
