Aina Koa Pono Aina Koa Pono ADVERTISING Too many questions I am a the owner of Island Skin Care Solutions and work with my husband, John McCarter, and my mother, Virn Patton, on our 20-acre diversified organic agriculture farm in
Aina Koa Pono
Too many questions
I am a the owner of Island Skin Care Solutions and work with my husband, John McCarter, and my mother, Virn Patton, on our 20-acre diversified organic agriculture farm in Ka‘u.
We are growing many different varieties of fruit trees, mac nuts, pineapples, bananas, papayas, tea plants, dragon fruit, vegetables, herbs, edible and cut flowers. We have quality pasture land for our animal livestock and have found Ka‘u to be profoundly beautiful with exceptional food crop and pasture land possibilities.
I am concerned regarding Aina Koa Pono’s unproven microwave technology. We have gone to the meetings and were alarmed to hear so many unanswered questions with no intentions of having an EIS done, when obviously it does affect many people, as well as the land.
It would seem that before even considering a project of this size and magnitude, an environmental impact study would be mandatory by the state to protect the people and our fragile ecosystem, as well as health, water, roadway, erosion and GMO cropping. It should question the raping of our precious Hawaii land for a project not proven to be cost-efficient.
The windward side of Ka‘u can experience high winds, and is prone to drought conditions and fires. We are concerned that clear-cutting valuable trees and shrubs would leave the land vulnerable to climate change and erosion problems. In Kohala, the sandalwood was taken and still today it is left with desert-like conditions unable to replant.
In 2000, we had the highest rainfall in past 50 years. Without having an EIS, this could have been an erosion disaster with Aina Koa Pono’s mono planting project and stripping the land.
In addition, Aina Koa Pono is requesting others clear-cut surrounding land. Additional eradication of our so-called nuisance trees could prove to be even more fatal to our area.
We are promised some jobs for the community yet we could be losing local business, as well. People may not find it desirable to come out and stay at refineryville bed and breakfast. Also impacted could be vacation rentals, and possible reduction in our home values.
The Ka‘u area has been experiencing high rates of respiratory problems because of the vog. We are rated as having worse conditions than some of our largest cities.
Should we be concerned about additional pollution?
At what price are we willing to sell ourselves out?
Hawaii is now paying the highest kilowatt rate in the United States and to think of paying an even higher rate for a project not proven to be cost-efficient sounds like a joke.
Heavy trucking planned for our roadways is another concern, as we all know Mamalahoa Highway is already considered dangerous, narrow, with curves and very few passing areas. Our highway is bordered by homes, farm land and businesses. This will have a huge impact on our already compromised roadways. The more you use it the more you pay for it. Who is going to pay for additional roadway maintenance? What are the plans and preparations for combustible material cleanup and possible water table contamination if an accident was to occur and who will pay?
As the cost of renewable energy systems trends downward and electrical rates go up, those who can leave the grid will leave the grid. Fixed costs associated with energy production, transmission and distribution will have to be absorbed by the smaller rate base still on the grid. Those who remain on the grid will see rates go up even more, which, in turn, provides even stronger incentives for more people to opt out of a centralized grid, driving ever higher the rates for diminishing ratepayers who remain.
Wouldn’t it be more sensible to think about our real future and best investments? Think green and long term.
We all have been hearing about so many worldwide natural catastrophes: hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes and how our food resources have been greatly diminished. We can now expect to have higher food prices and shipping rates. Many are concerned about ranchers losing their leases in Ka‘u used for our livestock food supply and also question whether this type of genetic mono-cropping will affect our future livestock production and ranch leased land. To consider using prime agriculture land and our valuable water resources for anything other than food crops does not sound safe or a wise choice for our islands future.
Aina Koa Pono plans to use a GMO seed crop. The physicians group American Academy of Environmental Medicine says GMO feeding studies show reproductive disorders, immune system damage, accelerated aging, organ and digestive problems, and dysfunctional regulation of insulin and cholesterol.
The Institute for Responsible Technology educates consumers about the dangers of GMOs and is making a tipping point of consumer rejection. This will force the GMOs out of the food supply, as it did in Europe.
Are these seeds guaranteed to not transfer into surrounding pasture lands?
If the land is stripped of trees and shrubs and we are subsidizing Aina Koa Pono’s project, who is responsible if it turns out to be a flop? And who will replant and pay for the cleanup?
Tami Patton
Ka‘u
Park clean up
Students appreciated
A group of 40 plus students from Kamehameha Schools and their parents gave their time during their recent school break to help beautify the Makaeo Walking/Jogging Path at the Old Kona Airport on Oct. 6. Through the leadership of Tammy Aiona, the seventh to 12th grade students and parents felt the desire to help in the beautification of this community park, which is widely used by many.
They helped weeding, spreading mulch to help keep the weeds under control, trimmed bushes and trees and raked the areas. The result of their hard work was truly visible by all.
The Makaeo Walking/Jogging Path is a community park. Maintaining the beauty of the place requires the help of the community. Many, many thanks to these Kamehameha Students (and their parents, of course) who decided to give one morning of their break from school to return to the Island of Hawaii, more specifically Kona, to help in the community where they live.
Betty De Roy
Friends for Fitness
Kailapa
Cleanup mahalo
On behalf of Kailapa Community Association in Kawaihae, we would like to extend a special mahalo to all who were active participants and to those who were contributors of many donated items to Malama Aina Day on Sept. 22, the first monumental cleanup effort at the 72-acre parcel, makai of our Kailapa community in Kawaihae.
To all our Kailapa residents who volunteered their time and effort in support of this event, we thank you and to all of us here in Kailapa, one positive thought comes to mind: If we work together, we can achieve our goals in the creation of a wellness park for everyone to use and enjoy, including those outside of our community.
Gabriel K. Malani
Project Coordinator
Kailapa Community Association
