When exclusionism oversteps rights
When exclusionism oversteps rights
Puuloa Road provides a lovely shaded winding path that is quiet and gently sloped flanked by lovely gated homes and the more modest longtime kamaaina hales with long history in the area.
I have enjoyed my walks with my well behaved dogs heeled to me along this road for many months as my neighboring street is too short and steep. I have been recently been stopped, asked my reasoning for being there, where my vehicle was parked, etc. The reason given me for her reason to “explain myself” was that there were complaints of dogs digging through “their” things and they didn’t know which vehicle was mine.
Understandable, however, does my brown skin make me look suspect, does the county setback not extend several feet from the edge of the road and perhaps, whether one is new to the area, further investigation or education might point one to realize that many of the yards and grassy areas along their guarded and secreted community are being dug up not by errant canines but the puaa that had run and still run over their land.
Stewardship over possession; our lands are ours to care for and share. Remember that. Only then may you and can you call yourself kamaaina.
Juliet Nacino
Kailua-Kona
Garden closure a tragedy
Bishop Museum will shut the gates on the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden on Jan 31. Four of the six staff are let go. Forty years of work will start to decay.
The garden is a resource for tourists, locals (e.g. the market on Sunday), and the major nursery for native plants with 28 listed endangered species in it’s collection.
The Bishop Museum accepted a responsibility for the garden when it accepted Amy Greenwell’s donation. Now with three weeks notice, the museum abandons it’s responsibility. Justified by the trustees claiming they are not qualified to do the job. It seems new trustees would be a better choice.
This is a tragedy.
Robert Flatt
Captain Cook
Mahalo in order for festival
I would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to Tania Howard, the Four Seasons, and all the many people and venues who worked together to put on last week’s Waimea Ocean Film Festival.
From humpback whales, to wild horses and cowboys in the West, to bat conservation, to surfer legends, this festival had such a diversity of films as well as wonderful speakers and displays of fabulous artwork by many local artists. My words of thanks are inadequate to express how moved I was by many of the films.
As a person who works daily in conserving Hawaii’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage, I wish my words could convey the importance of conservation as well as “The Bat Man of Mexico” told the story of Tequila Bats and their importance to Mexico’s heritage and economy. Thanks also to the many sponsors of the festival. I know without your support, festivals such as these would not take place. I look forward to next year’s film festival with great anticipation.
Janet Britt
Hawaiian Islands Land Trust