A poem for our times
A poem for our times
Where oh where has our civics gone?
Where oh where can it be?
With respect cut short,
And disdain cut long,
Oh where, oh where can it be?
Lona D’Entrone
Waikoloa
Support Waikoloa Village Association swimming pool improvements
Renovation of the pool has been in the planning stages for over two years and is based on a 2013 survey of all association members plus current code requirements. The pool was built over 40 years ago and has not been adequately maintained due to the lack of funds. Without the needed renovation, the pool will have to be closed. The pool is widely used with 34,945 visits last year.
The “Time is running out” letter author misstated the financial impact to association members. The choice is to incur a one time assessment or an increase in dues, not both! The “estimated” cost of the more expensive option is less than $7 per month in annual dues ($78 annually).
The conceptual designs and budget estimates provided to all Association members were developed by a reputable architectural firm in Honolulu that has experience doing this type of work for hotels and home owner associations and are somewhat inflated to cover unexpected contingencies. The final project cost will be based on an approved detailed design and competitively bid contract.
The swimming pool was one of several amenities constructed when the village was first developed and there are families who chose to live in the village for this reason. Before homebuyers become residents, they are aware they joined a homeowner’s association and will pay annual dues to maintain and preserve association amenities.
Over the past six years dues have increased only $30 for a total of $620 per year, which is not abnormally high for a community with its own golf course, restaurant, swimming pool, and tennis courts. If you belong to the WVA, please attend the Pool Renovation Talk Stories on March 18 or 31 to learn more and the annual meeting on April 9 in support of the swimming pool project.
Harland Kroll and Stephanie Stearns
Waikoloa Village
Letter writer wrong about rose apple death
In a letter to the editor dated March 14, the writer is completely incorrect about the reasons for the death of many rose apple trees a decade ago and the current rapid ohia death disease. The rose apple was killed not by a “bug” released by a university scientist, as the writer states, but by a rust fungus (Puccinia psidii) that arrived in Hawaii from California or Florida on potted plants or on cut foliage.
Likewise, the insect that was released for biocontrol of strawberry guava, Tectococcus ovatus, has nothing to do with rapid ohia death, which is caused by the vascular wilt fungus Ceratocystis. The origin of this fungus is still unknown but again it probably came in on imported plants.
The loss of so many acres of ohia forest is heartbreaking. The search for solutions is not made any easier when people make up baseless accusations to further their own agendas.
James B. Friday
Hilo
History not on condo project’s side
After reading the article about the condo project of timeshares above Kahaluu on culturally significant land that is being proposed, I had to laugh.
Don’t these developers watch the news or read the papers here? Are they on some sort of fantasy drugs? The protesters of TMT on Mauna Kea must be thinking, really? Just try it, see what happens.
To the developers of this project, I say save your time and bank account unless you like blowing money on lawyers. It’s not going to happen so stop now, don’t go any further, move on and try it somewhere else. You will not be able to build anything bigger than a birdhouse.
David Miller
Honaunau