To Protest or not on Molokai

In this country people have the right to protest for or against any issue. To infringe intentionally, obstruct, hurt or intimidate people or businesses is not a right.  Behavior has consequences, whether it’s DUI or IOU.  After 9-11 and the boogie man environment, the Patriot Act is a law.  People can become to the FBI a person of interest or a suspected terrorist.  Words have meaning, choose carefully what you say and what you write—big brother is looking.

In my opinion the American Safari (AS) vessel visiting Molokai with 30 people once a week is a non-issue.  They come, they look, they buy Molokai souvenirs, beef, fruits and vegetables, get the real aloha and go home.  From my understanding, the AS had to get an okay from the State Department of Transportation, the Harbor Division, Department of Land and Natural Resources and the United States Coast Guard to dock on Molokai.  It’s okay for vans to carry people to ride the mules to Kalauapapa, visit Purdy’s Nuts, Molokai Museum, etc.

The safari I’m concerned about is the fifty to a hundred 410-foot giraffe and elephants planted in concrete on the west end that the state wants to stretch their tail to Honolulu and have these animals catch gas, run it through its tail and sell.  That is the process that needs attention.

Molokai, are you aware that an identified Google car drove around the island taking pictures of all the homes and streets and now everything about Molokai is on the Internet?  I missed that protest.

On another note, I’m so happy that our Molokai High School graduates are welcomed to mainland colleges for educational purposes and to experience other cultures and some even choose to buy a home and live.  How would they feel if the locals in that state held signs and yelled, “You f..…ing  pineapple, go home.”  As Lucky Luck said, “If you can’t say something good about somebody, don’t say anything.”

Larry Helm, Concerned Citizen