Keauhou should be preserved
I have lived in and loved some beautiful spots during my life, but lost them all to “development.” I am afraid Keauhou Bay may soon join that list. In 1975, Keauhou was a small patch of pristine, white sand with a volleyball court, overhung by two, huge kiawe trees and surrounded by lowland forest and sparkling, turquoise blue water. A special energy, a special place. Keauhou has great historical and cultural significance and should be preserved, not sold to the highest bidder. It’s up to us to save it from vanishing like a fond memory in the morning mist. One of the many things in life more important than money.
Tami Warren
Kealakekua
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Just not right
This is just not right where an illegal unhosted vacation rental gets to do whatever they want with no consequences. This short-term vacation rental is the Palekeiko Estate at the top of Nani Kailua Drive as shown in West Hawaii Today on Sunday, April 24. We have seen this before where the Planning Department looks the other way when someone in an agriculture zone wants to have their vacation rental there. To top this one off, the Planning Department even “helped” this vacation rental bypass restrictions. This property is owned by out-of-state owners.
The Planning Department is far behind in processing building permits, but yet they have time to stick their nose into the illegal vacation rental business. Not only that, they help out developers before helping the “little” people of Hawaii with their permits. It appears that Mayor Mitch Roth put one of his close associates, Zendo Kern, in charge of the Planning Department. It all boils down to money. The best way to remedy this is to vote out Mitch Roth and put in someone more dedicated to the citizens of Hawaii. Make Mayor Mitch Roth a one-time mayor and take his Planning Department with him, possibly replacing the entire Planning Department.
Jill Faust
Kailua-Kona
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More investigation needed
While reading the article in West Hawaii Today on Sunday, April 24, about short-term vacation rentals, the main part that I noticed was that the Planning Department was helping the owners, who by the way, are from out-of-state, to get around their illegal activities. If they are promoting illegal activities on this, how many other illegal activities are the assisting? The Planning Department is ripe for bribes and kickbacks. We have seen in Honolulu how officials were getting bribes. Could this be going on here? Someone, not sure who, the police, need to look into this further. After all, the Planning Department head is appointed by Mayor Mitch Roth, so maybe the investigation should include the mayor.
With all this in mind, you have wonder what other perks this vacation owner is getting. One possibility would be a break in property taxes. Someone really needs to do an in-depth investigation here.
Teresa Tagon
Keauhou
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Maunakea management bill needs to include a removal plan
In the Wednesday, April 27, West Hawaii Today, another draft of HB2024 is summarized. This is a bill to reorganize the management of Maunakea.
Not in this draft is language requiring the authority to develop a plan to remove all telescopes from the mountain when land-based astronomy becomes obsolete.
I support requiring the authority to develop a plan to remove all telescopes from the mountain when land-based astronomy becomes obsolete.
Another concern are the derelict buildings currently on the mountain, unused buildings and telescopes. Derelict buildings must be removed prior to any new building on the mountain.
Too many times, companies building structures disappear, go out of business, or otherwise deny responsibility to clean up after themselves, leaving no funding for removal of their abandoned structures. That means we the taxpayers have to pay for the clean up.
Any bill about Maunakea must plan for current and future cleanup in real current and future dollars.
An audit of the authority in 2033, and continuation of leases until 2033 is too far into the future. An accountability audit for management of the mountain and accountability for removal of derelict buildings must be accomplished well before 2033.
Lynn Ryan
Kailua-Kona
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