Letters

Not “Activist” but “Advocates”

Monday, March 31st, 2008

The previous EIS was almost denied by the LUC until MPL withdrew the EIS by the prompting of a LUC member. The "lengthy consultation with the community" concluded Moloka'i community was against the development of La'au Pt. because it would kill our lifestyle, deplete our natural resources, and would not protect our endangered species. Were we expected to close our eyes to these important issues and allow developers destroy the "last Hawaiian island" for their financial gain?

MPL threatened their employees if they didn't push the plan they would lose their jobs. Many employees left beforehand because of these threats. MPL's game plan was to divide and conquer and this is the grand finale. Hard working community members compiled alternatives that would provide revenues to MPL but the compilation was not even reviewed. MPL executive director stated the Molokai community would have the final say in regards to the La'au Pt development and he closed his ears to valuable information from Molokai experts and Kupuna.

"Opponents" are not just fighting for the pleasure of it. We are advocating our rights as a people and protecting our limited resources. Moloka'i advocates are scapegoats for MPL's failures and the "loyal employees" are MPL's pawn. Place the credit where it's due, and don't promise what won't be done.

Aloha to the MPL employees

Monday, March 31st, 2008

This is the perfect opportunity for the MPL victims to take advantage of offers that will come their way. On Moloka`i there is a need for educators, nurses, social workers, computer technicians, bookkeepers and entrepreneurs.

For those that are homesteaders use your land and water, get involved in agriculture, whether it is a small garden or large farm. If your 40 acres are fenced, raise cattle for your family or for the Moloka`i Livestock Cooperative. MPL has 500 head; maybe they will donate or sell their young cattle for your self-sufficiency (if they really care about their employees).

The State of Hawaii proposes to assist MPL’s former employees; they should provide scholarships for college, farm/ranch grants for homesteaders, as well as training and funding to become business entrepreneurs. Utilize the Moloka`i Kuha`o Business Center, the Maui/Molokai Community College, the CTAHR agriculture specialist, and other available programs that will development your capacity.

Don’t settle for minimum wage; don’t toil for a company that does not appreciate your true worth. Use this situation as a motivator to improve your life and job skills. Ask the State of Hawaii to provide the resources that will be truly helpful and don’t settle for only an unemployment or welfare check. I know many of you, and trust me; you are capable of fulfilling your own dreams. It’s time to think positive and journey into new ventures. Imua!!! Best wishes to you all.

Kammy Purdy, Entrepreneur

Purdy’s Macadamia Nut Farm

Former business owner of the Kamuela’s Cookhouse and The Travel Shoppe

Administrator of the Molokai Livestock Cooperative

Failure of MPL Cannot be Blamed on the Opposition

Monday, March 31st, 2008

MPL operations for the past four years appear to have been supported only by real estate sales: "Between 2003 and 2007, MPL was able to sell enough land in order that it could fund its own operating cash requirements, capital needs, master planning, and entitlement costs" (p.115).

This appears to no longer be the case. The closing of Molokai Ranch indicates its operations are no longer self-sustaining, via real-estate sales or otherwise. Peter Nicholas states that "unacceptable delays caused by continued opposition to every aspect of the Master Plan means we are unable to fund continued normal company operations". He continues to say "without the prospect of an economic future for the company that results from the implementation of all facets of the Master Plan, we are unable to continue to bear large losses from continuing these operations".

However, the "delays" in starting the implementation of the La'au Point development and other "Master Plan" activities are procedural, and not due to unforeseeable, unexpected, or unreasonable opposition to "The Plan". A final EIS has yet to be completed, as well as numerous other proceedings needed to go forward with the project. These are required by law. MPL has (or should have) known the time needed for their completion at the outset of this project. They have nothing to do with the current financial standing of MPL.

MPL blames their current financial insolvency on opposition to La'au Point. Some people have been convinced enough to blame specific individuals vocal and visible in their opposition to MPL's plan, and who are pursuing other alternatives to it. However, blaming La'au opposition fails to acknowledge the actual reasons for MPL's financial woes – a history of operating deficits, depressed real-estate and lending industries worldwide, and a parent company unwilling to continue subsidizing non-performing investments.

The unemployment resulting from the closure of Molokai Ranch operations will have a ripple effect on individuals, families, and the community at large. Emotions will run high – this is evident form the comments posted on the Molokai community newspapers' websites. I am optimistic that unproductive blame and anger can be converted into support, collaboration, and innovation in moving forward with Molokai's future.

Keith Izawa

Molokai High c/o 1999

Machado Should Look in the Mirror

Monday, March 31st, 2008

This just shows how out of touch Trustee Machado is with the Molokai people, and with reality.

At the November LUC hearings, nearly 300 Molokai community members protested against the La'au development. These activists were not "loud" (except in clapping after testimonies), nor were their voices ever "angry" or "unreasonable." On the contrary, they were full of aloha for La'au Point and Moloka'i, and their testimonies were extremely thorough and well-informed. Indeed, they spoke with a beautiful combination of knowledge and passion about the issue.

This is what LUC Commissioner Wong expressed (transcripts): “I must say that the testimony was extremely informative. They were well prepared. And more importantly they brought to bear all of the issues. They brought it on the table. And the people of the community expressed their thoughts and their feelings.”

The large majority of Molokai residents (not a “minority”) were against the La’au Point development. No one wanted to see workers lose their jobs; and thus, the community tried to invite Trustee Machado and Molokai Ranch “back to the table” to find acceptable alternative solutions. They never came, and now we have a crisis.

Therefore, Miss Machado really ought to look in the mirror before casting blame on anyone else.

Mahalo nui loa,

Kalani Thompson

Kawela

It Is Not

Monday, March 31st, 2008

It is not the fault of the people of Molokai that Molokai Ranch doesn't know how to run a successful hotel in paradise.

It is not the fault of the people of Molokai that Molokai Ranch cannot run a successful golf course in the state of Hawaii.

It is not the fault of the people of Molokai that Molokai Ranch cannot run a successful Cattle operation.

It is certainly not the fault of the people of Molokai that the original purchaser of Molokai Ranch paid so much for the property.

Well Molokai Ranch, made a mistake in thinking that the people of Molokai would fall for an ill-conceived project covered with mirrors and smoke so thick The Governor and Both Senators were all bamboozled into backing this foreign investment company that owns the Molokai Ranch.

And it certainly is not the fault of the people of Molokai that this man cannot admit his mistake instead of acting like a childish brat and taking his ball and going home.

The people of Molokai will not be cowed by greedy little men from somewhere else.

Penny Spiller, Ho`olehua

Forethought

Monday, March 31st, 2008

Harvey James

Maunaloa

Guoco’s Stewardship of Dilapidated Property Raises Red Flags

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

After many trips to the Islands of Hawaii over the last 20 years, my wife and I had the great pleasure of visiting Molokai.  What a wonderful place!  Beautiful scenery, friendly people, abundant wild life, and most of all, a quiet laid back lifestyle.  Unfortunately, there is trouble in paradise.  As a person that is not privy to all the facts about the battle between the people of Molokai and Guoco Leisure Limited (GLL), it looks like it could get ugly and do lasting damage to Molokai.  At issue is granting MPL the right to sell property to build 200 homes at La`au Point .  As evidenced by the numerous signs with the theme "Save La`au" there is virtually no support from locals to approve the MPL proposal.

Missing the point in “Lā‘au Satire”

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

My intention was, in Alona’s own words, to expose the “human folly” in attempting to develop and construct residential homes in a place that is (1) a traditional hunting area; (2) an area where the majority of the island opposes development; (3) an area that lacks adequate water; (4) an area that is a critical environmental and cultural habitat. My intention was also to expose the folly of the Molokai EC. Though this organization is supposed to represent the community, the majority vote of this group has continuously ignored public sentiment to the point now of not even allowing the people of Molokai to attend it’s meetings.

In regard to using the word “outsider” I was simply referring to someone coming from outside of Molokai. In Molokai Ranch’s Environmental Impact Study for La’au Point, the Ranch clearly states in their financial report that they expect potential buyers to be penta- millionaires coming from “outside” of Molokai. An interesting item of note is that they expect a fair percentage of those buyers to be those who come from other resort areas of Hawaii and who have in turn grown dissatisfied with the areas they now live in because of the exponential growth that has taken place in those areas.  As far as whether or not someone fits into Molokai, well, Molokai herself has a way of figuring that one out.

And as far as insect phobia goes, I am afraid that this is one of the side effects of our modern society, where we end up spending much more time behind computer and TV screens than spending time outdoors, experiencing the wonders of the natural world (including insects). The good news for those who have been raised in such a disconnected manner is that Molokai offers the opportunity to reconnect and awards us the privilege to experience and appreciate what only God himself is capable of creating. 

May the desire to protect this special place be a part of our “collective consciousness.”

Mahalo,

Steve  Morgan

Two Thumbs Down for Steve Morgan’s Satire

Monday, February 4th, 2008

By Alona Demmers 

When a writer pens his thoughts on paper, whether it’s the plot for an adventure movie or a witty satirical article for the local paper, one can assume that there is a purpose or a motive behind the effort. After all, why would someone spend all that time formulating ideas on a subject and then typing it in the computer knowing all this hard work is purposeless and futile.  

With this in mind and being someone who enjoys a “good” satire (given my sometimes wicked sense of humor), I jumped at  reading  Steve Morgan’s satirical article “La’au: The Movie, only to find it  short of amusing and without legitimate motive. Aside from perhaps a boost to the writer’s ego (if that’s legitimate enough), hard as I try, I could not convince myself that there was a valid, corrective reason for why this article came to be or should even exist , not to mention, published. A satire exposes human folly and vice to ridicule with the intent to inspire social reform.  Perhaps I need someone to enlighten me since the only motive I could scrape from this article in its simplest form is ill spirited and in its most productive form inciting intolerance  and  discord .  I would venture to say that even the most positive person out there will fail to squeeze an ounce of inspiration for social reform from the aforementioned satire.

New EIS an Improvement

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

A satirical look at the proposed La`au development.

In regard to the EIS I have a suggestion that could really work if implemented. I was reflecting on an old science fiction movie the other night called “Silent Running”. Not sure if anyone remembers this flick or not but in the movie the last bit of ecological habitat left in the universe is concealed in what appears to be a giant plexi glass dome.

But here’s my thought, rather than put the area of ecological habitat inside the dome, we put the development inside. Think of it, the La’au development could be inside a giant plexi glass dome. You might ask what are the advantages 1) Those who live in the dome would be totally isolated from the rest of the community and wouldn’t have to deal with insults or bad vibes (2) the dome would conceal unwanted noise from encroaching hunters and shield from the occasional stray bullet (3) Phobic mainlanders and outsiders who can’t handle insects and wild life could live in a remarkably clean and antiseptic environment (4) With no available water for La’au, a plexi glass dome could work something like a giant green house collecting moisture on it’s walls. (5) Plexi glass is transparent and still offers outstanding views. This is extremely important when taking real estate values into consideration. 

There are certain complexities that would have to be dealt with such as bird kukae collecting on the upper portion of the dome but this issue could be easily dealt with. In fact, with the EC board no longer having to be pestered by the community, it is possible that this board could take the time necessary to plan and strategize such a design.  I am exited as we reach out to protect the people who will live at La’au and help to prosper those who will benefit from such a project. 

Mahalo,Steve Morgan