Another good reason to keep the country country is to preserve the economic viability and stability of kamaaina families, many of whom have lived in this region for generations.

This precious region lures land investors far and wide. Through their public relations mercenaries, they try to label the “Keep the Country Country” movement as “a vocal minority group of ornery haoles with NIMBY problems” or “people who are shutting the gates after themselves.”

However, the developers’ smear tactics are fast crumbling. The public can now clearly see the negative impacts of big developers playing out in Kahuku.

Today, the Kahuku Plantation Village of about 70 houses is in turmoil. Many are facing eviction from homes they’ve stayed in their entire lives. The sweat and equity of these inter-generational laborers; along with their heritage and roots are tied to .

The entire Honolulu City Council, under the leadership of Chair Ernie Martin and Budget Committee Chair Ann Kobayashi, has allocated sufficient funds for the city to stem massive homelessness and social disruption by acquiring the plantation camp in cooperation with a non-profit group to manage it. But Mayor Kirk Caldwell refuses to respond to the pleas of the plantation residents or the .

To add to the complications of this intense controversy, Lex Smith – attorney for the Kahuku land owner Continental Pacific LLC – was also the campaign chair for the “Kirk Caldwell for Mayor” political race. Tony Locricchio, attorney and community advocate, is helping the embattled plantation residents.

Who will win and who will lose in this high stakes game of profits and survival?

What is occurring at the Kahuku Village Plantation Camp has happened elsewhere and can be quickly summarized in one word 鈥� “Gentrification”.

In a nutshell, gentrification is the compressed evolution of massive development in communities that produces “winners” and “losers.”

It’s obvious the “losers” are usually the less affluent.

Gentrification chases the less affluent out of their communities due to the influx of new money and spending power. The less affluent are unable to pay rising rents, property taxes, real estate and the accelerating costs of living. Local businesses may lose their leases under competition or have to keep up with newly built commercial spaces with higher built-in expenses. Development will provide short-term construction jobs to some but what happens next?

Gentrification can alter lifestyle, values, and identity of communities when left unchecked. It inevitably creates disconnect and conflicts in communities. In Hawaii, it’s become a volatile struggle to protecting the local culture and values, environment, finite resources, and a chosen island lifestyle that many hold dear.

Fortunately, Oahu has had a visionary since the 1970s under the leadership of then Gov. George Ariyoshi. Oahu was divided into eight different geographic areas, delineating different land-use policies that include Primary urban center (Honolulu), Secondary urban center (Kapolei), Urban – fringe (Koolauloa Poko), and Rural designations (Koolau Loa, North Shore, and Waianae).

This Oahu General Plan is a careful compromise to preserve what we hold hear about Hawaii and to address development.

To prevent urban sprawl and inevitable gentrification, decision makers must respect and adhere to the existing Oahu General Plan. There has to be a line of demarcation to safeguard viability and diversity in land-use decisions for Oahu. If we don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything.

This Oahu General Plan that protects the and the North Shore’s charm of old Hawaii, finite resources, food security, watersheds, open space, recreational spaces, view planes, rural lifestyle, and especially the stability of kamaaina residents, must continue to be the basis for objective Big Picture land-use planning. Decision makers must not allow big developers to hijack and amend this document to fit their own agenda.

“Keep the Country Country” 鈥� from Kahaluu to Haleiwa 鈥� is an integral part of needed diversity and versatility for a thriving and sustainable Oahu. This cause has never sounded so pragmatic and urgent for this iconic region as the first shoe of gentrification drops in Kahuku. It’s not about the past; it’s about the future.

About the author: Choon James has been a real estate broker for over twenty years. She’s lived in the North Nhore for over 30 years. She served on the Koolau Loa Sustainable Communities Planning Advisory Committee and hosts “Country Talk Story,” the most-watched public television program on Olelonet in 2012.

Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Columns generally run about 800 words (yes, they can be shorter or longer) and we need a photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.com.

The post ‘Keep the Country Country’ Will Protect Kamaaina Families appeared first on 天美视频.

Hawaii legislators have received from REPEAL PLDC advocates.

The public has also statewide hearings.

We support HB 1133 for a straight REPEAL of PLDC – Act 55 with no last-minute “ or other amendments that may undermine the straight repeal of PLDC, or create mischief in any way.

Enough has been .

The Hawaii state House of Representatives under the leadership of House Speaker Joseph Souki and Rep. Cindy Evans that would dissolve the Public Land Development Corporation on February 14, 2013.

The public should not have to repeat its objections against PLDC over and over and over again. Decision-making at the state Capitol should not become a jostle of “cloak and dagger” games and lobbying.

The Everyman works during the legislative operating hours and should not be forced to bird-dog this process like a hawk.

The opposition for this ill-thought and ill-willed PLDC is very clear. Land use decisions should be based on the merits and public-interest, not hijacked by special-interest lobbyists and their political cronies.

We ask the Hawaii Senate to respect and listen to the people.

We also object to PLDC copycats. We find it incredulous and insulting to the public’s intelligence that some legislators like Sens. Donovan Dela Cruz and Malama Solomon would play such games at this 2013 session.

Send your comments on or email sens@capitol.hawaii.gov and reps@capitol.hawaii.gov.

About the author: Choon James has been a real estate broker for over 20 years and a founding member of Defend Oahu Coalition. She hosts “Country Talk Story” on Olelo Community Television on Saturdays Channel 55 at 5 p.m.

The post Open Letter to 2013 Hawaii State Legislators – Repeal The PLDC appeared first on 天美视频.

The natural reaction would be one of disbelief and outright objection, right?

We would consider this intrusion an invasion of our privacy and space. We would dial 911 to get the intruder off our property.

Yet, we see no similar reactions towards the Honolulu city’s proposed Transit-oriented developments (TOD); we detect no deference to or respect for private property rights. The city’s planners and facilitators have successfully drowned this constitutional right in their public presentations.

On the other hand, the amount of giddy excitement and coveting of private properties (that the government does not own) for this Honolulu Rail’s Transit-oriented development (TOD) is very alarming.

We live in a Democracy; we are not China or Russia.

Private property rights is an integral part of free enterprise. We must not allow crony capitalism to stomp private property owners. Government and its cronies must not be allowed to plan as they unilaterally please.

At each of the proposed 21 rail stations, the city wants TODs 鈥渨ithin half a mile radius鈥� vicinity. The proposed rail stations are located at every mile; this means the whole land area along the entire 21-mile rail corridor is up for grabs. 鈥淗alf a mile radius鈥� sounds so harmless!

To covet and seize an additional 20 square miles area along this rail corridor on our small island pose a huge economical, social and cultural impact!

It鈥檚 not as if private owners can easily relocate down the road. Family inheritances, investments, and businesses built with sweat, equity, and sacrifices will be placed under the mercy of absolute powers of eminent domain. Kama’aina owners and businesses will be pushed out to pave the way for national and international investors.

Have we forgotten about Kelo vs. New London, the most despised eminent domain case in recent history The Fort Trumbull community had 117 private properties. The City of New London supposedly had carefully crafted a revitalization plan to spur new jobs and increase tax revenue.

To push this 鈥渞evitalization鈥� plan forward, New London City abused its eminent domain powers to seize private properties to transfer to its private partner.

As it turned out, the city鈥檚 private partner – Pfizer corporation – failed to deliver needed funds and abandoned the much-heralded project. The Pfizer corporation also left town.

The city and state spent $78 Million for the acquisition and bulldozing the Fort Trumbull neighborhood. The promised 3,169 new jobs and $1.2 million a year in tax revenues evaporated.

The municipal experts鈥� Revitalization Plan, the basis for the ill Supreme Court’s June 23, 2005 decision in deference to legislators, proved to be an elusive concept and not reality.

In early 2012, its newly-elected Mayor of New London extended an apology to the Fort Trumbull victims . . . what good did that do?

The priceless toll on the victims could never be compensated; lives were uprooted and constitution rights subverted while the bureaucratic and political perpetrators walked away scot-free.

Here in Hawaii, we observe a similar 鈥渞evitalization鈥� process has been set in motion. City 鈥渆xperts鈥� are holding 鈥淐ommunity Visioning鈥� meetings to discuss 鈥淣eighborhood TOD Planning鈥�.

The city wants to “take advantage of rail to its optimal level” and to 鈥渃oncentrate population鈥� along this rail corridor.

The “experts” presented beautiful artistic renderings at these meetings but we鈥檝e yet to hear the sounds of the Rail along the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor. Who will live along the noisy railroad tracks?

(The push to steer the low income population along the noisy rail corridor is 鈥渟egregation d茅j脿 vu鈥� and not social equity.)

The dangerous potential for the city to seize 21 square miles of private properties for transfer to private investors has to be reckoned with, today. The proposed Honolulu Rail is not only ugly, noisy, and a black hole for Oahu’s taxpayers; its accompanied TOD is a direct assault on private property rights.

No Oahu residents should sit idly by and condone such autocratic land-use plans for our island home. It is wrong. It鈥檚 dangerous. It鈥檚 unAmerican. It goes against the core tenets of our free society.

City planning and developments must conform within the constitutional parameters of private property rights. This should have been a big part of the public deliberations. Any “exemption” laws to skirt this right must be rejected. Too many big decisions have been manipulated and controlled by raw crony capitalism and special interests. Private property owners continue to trampled on and pushed aside by the big boys.

We must take our government back.

About the author: Choon James has been a real estate broker for over 20 years. She is a member of the Ko鈥檕lauloa Sustainable Communities Planning Committee and hosts 鈥淐ountry Talk Story鈥�, a weekly community television show on Saturdays at 5:00 pm on Channel 55.

Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. We do not solicit particular items and we rarely turn down submissions. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Columns generally run about 800 words (yes, they can be shorter or longer) and we need a photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.com.

The post Rail’s Transit-Oriented Development An Assault on Private Property appeared first on 天美视频.

Nah, Abercrombie & Company is not doing damage control about the PLDC .

Of course, it鈥檚 not a coincidence that Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz and Sen. Malama Solomon are labeling the public outcry against PLDC as 鈥渕isinformation鈥� with the 鈥渦sual suspects鈥� spreading 鈥渉ysteria鈥� about the inquitous Act 55.

The Governor’s decree to the public is clear: PLDC is a catalyst “to partner with the private sector on schools, workforce housing, long-term care and early childhood education.鈥� We must know all the dirty 鈥渆xemption鈥� bills they tried to push through and now this newly-formed PLDC are for the public good. We gotta believe it.

We gotta be slurping up these original “motherhood and apple-pie” sound bites. How could we possibly not “trust in me”?

Will the politicians hear about PLDC?

Can they ?

Can they ?

About the author: Choon James has been a real estate broker for over 20 years. She is a member of the Ko’olauloa Sustainable Communities Planning Committee and a member of the Save Oahu Farmlands Coalition.

The post Public Land Development Corporation’s New Jingle: ‘Trust in Me’ appeared first on 天美视频.

creating the PLDC was introduced by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz on Jan. 26, 2011.

William Aila, current chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources .

At the Oahu public hearing on Aug. 29, 2012, former DLNR Chair, Laura Thielen, broke her silence and testified against PLDC and supported a .

SB 1555 passed without public scrutiny and was enacted into Act 55 by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on May 24, 2011.

Act 55 establishes the PLDC as a state development corporation attached to the DLNR to develop public lands placed under the PLDC jurisdiction, including but not limited to existing open shoreline areas, conservation lands, agricultural lands, and small boat harbors, for commercial purposes to generate revenue for the State.

PLDC has unfettered powers to develop and implement public lands projects and facilities to create revenue-generating centers as opportunities exist 鈥渢o exploit potential local, national, and international markets.鈥�

Act 55 allows PLDC to exempt development projects from . PLDC now has over-arching powers to make optimal economic, environmental, and social use of Hawaii鈥檚 public lands.

The PLDC Board is, expectedly, stacked with pro-development cronies. Its executive director is Llyod Haraguchi, formerly with the Estate of the James Campbell. The PLDC Chair is Kalbert Young, director of the Department of Budget and Finance; Mary Alice Evans, deputy director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; real estate investor/publisher partner with Star Advertiser Duane Kurisu, and former state Sen. Bobby Bunda.

No Hawaiian or environmentalist or John Q. Public is appointed to the PLDC exclusive board.

PLDC held its statewide public hearings on its proposed Administrative Rules and the public response was clear and .

: Monday, August 20, at Waiakea High School Cafeteria, 155 West Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720;

: Tuesday, August 21, at Konawaena High School Cafeteria, 81-1043 Konawaena School Rd., Kealakekua, HI 96750;

: Friday, August 24, at Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria, 795 Onehee St., Kahului, HI 96732;

: Monday, August 27, at Mitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, HI 96748;

: Wednesday, August 29, at Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Kalanimoku Building, Land Board Conference Room132, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813;

: Friday, August 31, at Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy St., Lihue, HI 96766.

The public hearings are pau.

Executive Director Llyod Haraguchi, Program Director Randall Ikeda, and DLNR Chair William Aila witnessed the passion and will of the people. Now what?

The BIG QUESTION: Now what?

Will PLDC ignore the will of the people and continue to bulldoze its agenda through by sheer bureaucratic power?

PLDC Executive Director Lloyd Haraguchi revealed his hand when he continually emphasized the hearings were for the administrative rules. We observed notes were taken only on comments relating to administrative rules.

Haraguchi鈥檚 conversation with Sophie Cocke of Civil Beat reinforced PLDC鈥檚 intent in this process:

鈥淧eople get sidetracked,鈥� said Haraguchi. 鈥淢ost of the meeting in Hilo was about other things. I let it go. It was pretty emotional.鈥�

But he said that if the situation continues to spiral out of control, he will step in.

鈥淎s we get closer, and if I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 right, I will cut it off if I need to. I mean if they start talking about their mother and father, you know.鈥�

Does PLDC intend to stoically dismiss the bulk of the comments offered by testifiers statewide?

Does PLDC intend to plow forward since it is 鈥渋n conformance with the law鈥� to focus strictly on 鈥渁dministrative rules鈥� and nothing else?

Does PLDC intend to slash and burn PLCD鈥檚 agenda through this process to display the bane of 鈥渃ultural sensitivity鈥�?

Does PLDC intend to ignore the will of the people, who are owners of these public trusts and assets?

WHAT CAN A CITIZEN DO before 2013 Legislature Session?

1.Submit written testimony for the record. DEADLINE for WRITTEN TESTIMONY on PLDC Administrative Rules Draft is SEPTEMBER 14, 2012. Please email your comments to: joy.y.kimura@hawaii.gov, randal.y.ikeda@hawaii.gov.

PLDC only wants to focus on administrative rules. One could begin by stating objections to ,

,

Thereafter, state your manao for the record. Demand PLDC not to enter into any contracts or obligations before the people complete the Repeal of Act 55.

2. Ask your legislators and candidates:

3. . The 2012 General Election Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 8, 2012.

Consider to seek change inside and outside the system. Otherwise, laws will continue to place more roadblocks for the public good.

1. Share information. Write letters to the Editor, Facebook, and the like.

PLDC needs to be abolished! Repeal Act 55. It鈥檚 time to take the government back!

About the author: Choon James has been a real estate broker for over 20 years. She is a member of the Ko’olauloa Sustainable Communities Planning Committee and a member of the Save Oahu Farmlands Coalition.

The post Public Land Development Corp.鈥檚 Public Hearings Pau, Now What? appeared first on 天美视频.

If you refuse to cooperate, would you like a lien on your property?

Would you like PLDC to 鈥渞ecommend鈥� to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) board the 鈥減urchase of any privately owned properties that may be appropriate for development鈥�? What happens if a private owner objects?

Are you feeling queasy about PLDC yet? Please read the Administration Rules to see the over-arching powers of PLDC.

How did such an atrocious act miss the public radar?

Brief History

(authored and pushed by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz and Malama Solomon) was enacted as Act 55 ~ Public Land Development Corporation (PLDC) by Governor Neil Abercrombie in 2011.

Act 55 establishes the PLDC as a State development corporation attached to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to develop public lands placed under the PLDC jurisdiction, including but not limited to existing open shoreline areas, conservation lands, agricultural lands, and small boat harbors, for commercial purposes to generate revenue for the State.

Act 55 allows PLDC to exempt development projects from regulatory oversight. PLDC now has over-arching powers to make optimal economic, environmental, and social use of Hawaii鈥檚 public lands.

The PLDC commission is now stacked with pro-development cronies.

To get an essence of what PLDC is about, scroll to 3:30 and about land and money, owning, controlling, manipulating, income stream, and the like.

Quick Summary

The PLDC is authorized to:

Develop and implement public lands projects and facilities to create revenue-generating centers or where, through detailed analysis, opportunities exist to exploit potential local, national, and international markets.

Exemption from Lawful Development Requirements:

PLDC projects shall be exempt from all statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules of any government agency relating to land use, zoning, and construction standards for subdivisions, development, and improvement of land; the construction, improvement, and sale of homes thereon; and special improvement district assessments or requirements PLDC Powers.

Acquire or contract to acquire:

All privately owned real property or any interest therein and improvements thereon determined by the PLDC to be necessary or appropriate for its purposes, including real property 鈥� in excess of that needed for such use 鈥� where other justifiable cause necessitates acquisition for the contemplated improvements

Recommend to the DLNR board the 鈥減urchase of any privately owned properties that may be appropriate for development鈥�

Exemption from Taxation:

The PLDC shall not be required to pay state taxes of any kind.

PLDC, the Big Brother:

Abutting private property owners can be compelled to pay for infrastructure costs for PLDC 鈥渋mprovements鈥� for the 鈥減ublic good鈥�. PLDC foreign corporations will merely plan, build, and profit.

In other words, the government can now force you to pay for their cronies鈥� development schemes to ensure their profits.

PLDC鈥檚 initial meetings were constantly cancelled due to 鈥渓ack of sunshine notice鈥� protests from the public:

PLDC started public meetings on August 20, 2012 to supposedly 鈥渓isten鈥� to the public to improve their draft administrative rules, which currently do not protect Hawaii鈥檚 environment, communities, and cultural values.

Many like-minded citizens including Hawaiian groups and island Occupy groups have . PLDC has heard unequivocal protests from Hilo, Kona, and Maui and to abolish PLDC!

Oahu鈥檚 public meeting is on August 29th – Wednesday 6:00pm.

Kalanimoku Building
DLNR Board Room 132
1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

(Remember, if you swear, the meeting can be shut down. The hearing is for the administrative rules. One could begin by voicing objections to Administrative Rules 13 鈥� 301, 302, 303 first.Tell PLDC – Abolish! Repeal Act 55! )

Will PLDC ignore the will of the people now that the public knows about it? Or, will PLDC continue to bulldoze through under the pretense for public good?

Hawaii’s legislators can no longer ignore the will of the people – the owners of these public trusts and assets. Unless the government practices sensible and strict accounting, there will never be enough revenue.

PLDC is not the cure.

Creating another bureaucratic fiefdom to usurp Hawaii’s public assets is not the solution!

Attempts by several legislators Faye Hanohano, Sylvia Luke, Jessica Woolley, and Tom Brower to Repeal Act 55 .

Non-Partisan Ohana Hawaii, a group of concerned citizens, is to Repeal Act 55. Please .

Remember to ask the follow question of all candidates: Will you support the Repeal of Act 55?

Citizens will unite to take the government back!

More info:

DEADLINE for WRITTEN TESTIMONY on Administrative Rules Draft to PLDC is: SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 Please email your comments to: joy.y.kimura@hawaii.gov, randal.y.ikeda@hawaii.gov.

More resources:

http://www.civilbeat.org/articles/2011/10/24/13421-ag-dlnr-back-pedal-on-problems-with-land-development-corp/

http://www.civilbeat.org/posts/2012/03/08/15121-open-government-lock-down

http://www.civilbeat.org/reg/posts/2012/04/10/15467-should-hawaii-trust-politicians-with-their-sweetheart-exemptions-for-projects

About the author: Choon James is a real estate broker for over 20 years. She is a member of the Ko鈥檕lauloa Sustainable Communities Committee and Save Oahu Farmlands Coalition.

Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. We do not solicit particular items and we rarely turn down submissions. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Columns generally run about 800 words (yes, they can be shorter or longer) and we need a photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.com.

The post Repeal Act 55: Public Land Development Corporation appeared first on 天美视频.

Definition

别苍路惫颈路谤辞苍路尘别苍迟 noun

1. the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings; milieu.

2. Ecology. the air, water, minerals, organisms, and all other external factors surrounding and affecting a given organism at any time.

3. the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population.

It鈥檚 easy to associate 鈥渆nvironment鈥� with only tree huggers. But the more over-arching definition of “environment” covers the aggregate of our surroundings. It鈥檚 imperative that we educate and fully embrace 鈥渆nvironment鈥� as defined above, in its broadest sense.

If we define 鈥渆nvironment鈥� as such, and many of us do, then it鈥檚 very easy to understand why former Governor Ben Cayetano is causing 鈥渟trange bedfellows鈥� to lie together in the same bed, like that of the new ad-hoc Hawaii Environmental Coalition.

Hawaii has many pressing 鈥渆nvironmental鈥� issues, including the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. The public鈥檚 vexations towards the assaults on Hawaii鈥� environment go deep into the na’au. The list of assaults on the environment is long. I will highlight some:

The Physical Environment:

—The visual pollution of the controversial Honolulu Rapid Transit grates against what we hold dear about Hawaii. The massive cement structures make locals gasp. These jarring pockmarks will scar Oahu’s complexion and cannot simply be hidden by plants. Locals believes there are better alternatives than trying to copy-cat New York City.

—The noise pollution from the steel on steel rail will compound urban tensions and grate nerves along the 20-mile corridor and its vicinity. It鈥檚 estimated that the noise can be heard within a 3- mile radius. Scroll to the end to hear the noise. Are there any alternatives to this noisy beast?

—Agriculture-zoned land are disappearing. Ho鈥檕pili, the fight to preserve 1554 acres of fertile farm land, and Koa Ridge Projects were approved by the stacked Land Use Commission. Food security was thrown under the train.

—Open space and public lands are threatened. The 3.4 acre Haleiwa PUBLIC Beach Park is on the books to be auctioned off to selected developers.

—Kailua is embroiled in the controversy over the public beach park use that pits the mayor against the Honolulu City Council and neighbors against neighbors.

—The hostile takeover of public land through newly-formed conduit Public Land Development Corporation(PLDC) is brewing contention. Mainstream observers see a systematic stacking of pro-development friends on boards and commissions that cuts ordinary citizens out of the decision-making process.

—Water fights between water rights and public trust against big developers and big government raised its ugly head again this past session. Big government and big money won, again.

—Basic Infrastructure concerns 鈥揥aimanalo does not want to be the armpit of Oahu. Who does?

The Cultural Environment:

—Hawaiians and supporters are protesting against government arrogance and ignominious treatment of Hawaiian values and history. Example: The Hawaii Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) plows ahead in spite of unknown and unmitigated 鈥榠wi kupuna along the rail corridor.

—The once sustainable ahupua`a where stewardship over resources is shared is now hijacked by planning 鈥渆xperts鈥� into 鈥� Ahupua鈥檃 of Tomorrow鈥� with shopping retail shops, hotels, resort-residential dwellings, as described in the proposed expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort on north shore Oahu.

—Who can forget Moloka鈥檌 and Lanai鈥檚 battle for its cultural sense of place?

—Hawaii prides itself with 鈥淟ive Aloha鈥� and 鈥淏e Pono鈥�. Yet, these values are twisted by groups like Pacific Resource Partnerships which bring out the worse in local politics.

—The Plantation Lunas are baaaack! Titular heads jump into the I Mua Rail bandwagon to protect their corporate agenda.

The Political Environment:

—Calvin Say, House Speaker http://www.civilbeat.org/posts/2012/04/26/15667-why-environmental-exemptions-are-a-terrible-policy-for-hawaii/ and Donovan Dela Cruz lobbied hard to exempt environmental review laws for their special developers and contractors.

—The due process of public engagement and fair play is tenuous. Citizens protest manipulated public hearings only to be told to put their questions in writing to paid consultants and facilitators.

—Political mischief in office is no small matter as evidenced in the birth of the steel on steel rail during the Hannemann administration:

“First, we (the city) hired Parsons Brinckerhoff executive Wayne Yoshioka to be the City Transportation Director. Then we contracted with Parsons Brinckerhoff to plan the rail line. We then contracted with InfraConsult LLC to watch over PB. (Three senior PB officials had formed InfraConsult prior to its contract with the City).

—The pay to play politics and blatant disregard for taxpayers’ hard-earn contributions is evident in recent auditing of HART:

The Social Environment:

—The government and its elite hui’s push to concentrate population along the rail corridor is Segregation d茅j脿 vu to da max. The poor gets to live next along the noisy steel on steel rail corridors. How kind and progressive.

—Cuts and changes for basic bus services are exasperating the lives of the working class, seniors, and students. Ironically, Move Oahu Forward鈥檚 co-chair Constance Lau recently announced the addition of Anthony R. Guerrero, Jr., the chairman of the board of Oahu Transit Services (dba TheBus) to their board of directors.

The Economic environment:

—Politicians pontificate about creating economic opportunities but they raid coffers of the treasury which in turn, create economic hardships on residents and businesses. Or they ram through fiscally questionable projects by the sheer might of government power that create further hardships for its citizens and businesses. Then there are the pay cuts, furloughs, and pension issues.

—Uncertainty is not good business when entrepreneurs and private property owners/lessees have no long-term certainties, especially along the rail corridor. Private property rights is an integral part of free enterprise.

—The government’s push to develop half a mile radius of Transit-oriented Development at twenty-one stations is a significant ratio of land mass in our 597 square miles island. How pono is it to seize private properties to turn them over to other private corporations because big government and its experts think it knows how to utilize your real estate better.

—-To top it all, billions of dollars in contracts have been awarded. HART did this with no official commitment for full federal funding or regard for the pending lawsuit or an experienced fiscal hawk becoming the next mayor.

In light of the many assaults on Hawaii’s environment, at all levels, it’s no wonder that Hawaii gravitates towards Cayetano who is 鈥減issed off鈥� enough to forgo comfortable retirement and get into the mayoral race.

Cayetano鈥榮 na’au reaction to stand up and fight is perhaps his greatest weapon.
Many observers have turned activists and pushing back the various assaults on Hawaii鈥檚 environment. The ad-hoc Hawaii Environmental Coalition of strange bed fellows is simply one of many responses to a government gone amok.

Are YOU mad enough yet?

Go Environmental!

Take the government back!

Enough is enough!

About the author: Choon James is a real estate broker for over 20 years. She is a member of the Ko鈥檕lauloa Sustainable Communities Committee and Save Oahu Farmlands Coalition.

The post Assaults on Hawaii鈥檚 Environment Unite ‘Strange Bedfellows’ appeared first on 天美视频.

How many more subdivisions can Oahu duplicate on our island home? Allowing D.R. Horton to decimate Oahu鈥檚 prime farmland will cause irreparable harm to Oahu鈥檚 well-being. On the other hand, has many other options for their development ventures elsewhere.

The Hoopili site, as argued by interveners , the Sierra Club, former Governor John Waihe鈥檈, Governor Ben Cayetano and other concerned parties, has unique food security features that cannot be duplicated elsewhere on Oahu. The case file against this re-classification and its impacts is enormous. The mainstream public has also formed common sense decisions against this Ho鈥檕pili project.

My personal case in point: Diversity is important. Aloun Farms does not have chronic flooding problems.

It鈥檚 puzzling that one of Ho鈥檕pili鈥檚 most vocal supporters, Dean Okimoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau president, ignores this simple fact and wants to eliminate Aloun Farms. How can Okimoto, the Hawaii Farm Bureau president, think cementing over Aloun Farms to develop Ho鈥檕pili is rational and good for Oahu鈥檚 food security? He has chronic experiences with flooding himself, as evidenced in the following links.

• Okimoto鈥檚 Waimanalo farm flooded in
• Okimoto鈥檚 Waimanalo farm flooded in
• Okimoto鈥檚 Waimanalo farm flooded in

Creating a sustainable island home unequivocally demands objective and rational decision-making. We鈥檙e all in this canoe together. Sustainability cannot work if certain parties are only interested in fighting for their own benefits at the expense of others. In the long run, we must all work together for the common good to prosper and thrive.

We all share the kuleana to take heed of the red flags waving at us. Let鈥檚 not create irreparable damages and then try to do damage control after. That鈥檚 backwards and suicide planning.

Let鈥檚 briefly analyze two significant events that we can all relate to: September 11, 2001 terrorism and the 2008 Financial Meltdown that affected the world and our lives.

Colossal damages were inflicted during these two events and we had the usual commissions to find out what went awry after the fact. What was as alarming about these two game-changer events are the federal commission reports that followed.

I鈥檝e read the authorized published edition of and the .
In both of these federal reports, there is a clear pattern of behavior revealing a rigid political/bureaucratic system that does not serve us well. A lot of times, the system drowns common sense at our own peril.

Chapter 8 of the 9/11 Commission Report stated that 鈥淭he system was blinking red鈥�. The chapter described the drumbeat getting louder and louder with countless reports of enemy鈥檚 plans to launch attacks on U.S. interests. Top officials were briefed in stark terms like 鈥淏in Laden Planning High Profile Attacks to have dramatic consequences of catastrophic portions鈥� and so forth. (Earlier, in 1993, a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. )

Such blinking red warnings were all across the board but unfortunately, there was a stark disconnect. No one seemed to be in charge of the big picture; there was no connecting the intelligence dots.

It was the same malfeasance with the 2008 sub-prime melt-down. There were blinking red warning flags. But, even Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan wrongly assured jittery critics that the economy was sound and that most homeowners put 20 percent down payment on their mortgage loans. Some of us in the front line real estate lending scene knew Greenspan was either clueless or misrepresenting the facts. Greenspan鈥檚 assurance of the mortgage industry was out of touch with reality – indeed there was rampant easy borrowing, including that of buyers鈥� down payment. Borrowers who could not normally qualify were given Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) or 1 percent interest-only mortgages with balloon payments that they could not handle when due.

These ignored red flags finally turned into nightmare sirens; 2008 saw this country and the world turned upside down with foreclosures, unemployment, raiding of pensions, trillions of toxic debt, stocks evaporation, plunging unemployment, big corporations deemed too big to fail failed, distraught executives literally throwing themselves under the train, retirement plans were put on hold, and so forth.

How did we reach this point? Because decision-makers, who were supposed to be working for the public good, did not carefully examine or connect the dots. Those responsible did not recognize or refused to heed the blinking red signals in the financial and intelligence world.

Why am I sharing these systemic failures and these commission reports?

In my opinion, this Hoopili development 鈥� the reclassification of 1,554 acres of prime fertile acres – is a local microcosm of September 11s and sub-prime melt-downs. We need to connect the dots to protect Oahu鈥檚 food security and well-being. This massive D.R. Horton development and land-use decision to declassify diminishing agriculture-zoned land to residential have many blinking red warning flags like:

• We already import 92 percent of our food.
• We are a small island of only 596.7 square miles in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Unpredictable and unforeseen circumstances can easily cause havoc to our food supplies and distribution. Other multiplier impacts will inevitably ensue.
• Food Security is imperative for basic health, survival, and quality of life. Oahu supposedly has five days of food availability if there are no new imports.
• Powerful developers generally control Oahu land-use policies. There is no question that these corporations with hired lobbyists, PR consultants, and the likes are breathing down the throats of decision-makers. We see it.
• Profiteer developers are pushing Hawaii into an identity crisis. They do not know who we are. They don鈥檛 care what Hawaii is about. We cannot develop like we are Delaware or Texas or Utah or Florida. Out-of-state capitalists and 鈥渆xperts鈥� are often allowed to cut and paste mainland projects that quash the islands鈥� limited resources, assets, culture, lure and charm, and its sense of place.
• How many times can this business model of new brick and mortar subdivisions in the name of 鈥渏obs鈥� and 鈥渁ffordable home鈥� be duplicated on this small island before it creates more havoc and goes kaput?
• Who will truly occupy these new homes? There are already an estimated 30,000 plus housing units (in West Oahu) in the pipeline to be built. Who will eventually be replaced, due to inevitable rising property taxes and basic costs of modern living? As a real estate broker for over 20 years, I have seen the steady displacement of kama鈥檃inas from their inheritances because they cannot keep up with the rigors of modern economic system. I鈥檝e seen keiki o ka aina lose their homes and replaced by more affluent transplants. I have seen locals forced to sell their ancestral homes on the beach because they cannot keep up with the rising taxes. Already, there are more Hawaiians living outside of Hawaii. We have a solemn kuleana to protect the resources for future generations and options for their sustainability.
• There are severe traffic problems and quality of life issues that developers conveniently ignore.
• There are severe issues regarding finite resources like water aquifers and electricity along with basic infrastructural needs like sewer, sanitation, landfill, roads, and physical facilities.
• There are severe concerns of manipulated facts. What is fact and what is propaganda? What is fact and what is speculation? What is truth and what is half-truth? Environment Assessments (EA) that reveal problematic impacts somehow are mitigated into a FONSI 鈥� Finding of No Significant Impacts. Beautiful and heartwarming websites are common propaganda tools for the gullible.
• We have bi-polar leadership. The Hawaii 2050 Plan, led by then Senator Russell Kokobun, reflected widespread public sentiments that food security and protecting our agricultural resources must be an integral part of sustaining our islands. Today, Russell Kokobun, recently appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie as Director of Agriculture, testified in strong favor of decimating this unique 1,554 of prime agriculture-zoned land. The past Director of Agriculture had testified against this declassification to develop D.R. Horton鈥檚 Ho鈥檕pili subdivision.

The Land Use Commission (LUC) must make the rational decision for the public good. Never mind the pressures and lobbying. The law to preserve agriculture is on their side. The Hawaii Constitution mandates both the preservation and protection of agricultural resources. LUC cannot ignore the long list of blinking red warning signs all around us. God forbids that future legislators would need a commission study to analyze how Oahu strayed from its sustainable path and try to undo the irreparable damage to agricultural lands. It will be too late then.

This Ho鈥檕pili controversy is not about who will win and who will lose. This is not about 鈥淚 don鈥檛 agree with the boss but it鈥檚 part of my job鈥�. This is not about who has more money to engage attorneys or to wage a social media war with lobbyists, ads, t-shirts and food to curry favors and change mindsets.

Denying this reclassification application is about putting the well-being of Oahu first, front square and center.

We are all in this together. We are in the same canoe in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. None of us will be in power forever. At the end of the day, we are all human beings who must build a better and more secure future for our loved ones, our neighbors, and our island home. We must honor our solemn kuleana to future generations.

We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the future of Hawaii to steady the canoe – to consistently make pono choices. We must stay the course – make bold and wise decisions TODAY so that future generations will bless, and not curse us.

About the author: Choon James is a real estate broker for over 20 years. She is a member of the Ko鈥檕lauloa Sustainable Communities Committee and Save Oahu Farmlands Coalition.

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A wise octogenarian world leader, Gordon B Hinckley, once counseled some of us to be careful not to provide a solution because of creating a thousand more problems thereafter. This legislative session seems to be filled with many knee-jerk solutions that will produce many unintended consequences.

Legislators like House Speaker Calvin Say and first-term senator Donovan Dela Cruz have no qualm quashing and trampling on basic core democratic .

They engaged in Houdini magical tricks at the capitol by gutting and replacing contents of a harmless bill and replacing them with other . These bill squatters also play nefarious games with meeting schedules 鈥� jerking citizens around by postponing meetings or imposing last-minute schedules. Many of these committee meetings are not taped or televised so the public can not witness the arrogance and shibai involved.

There have been concerted efforts of many groups and citizens against erosion of sunshine laws and statutory concerns but their efforts mostly fall on deaf ears. How can reasonable citizens forget legislators who display such errant behavior? I know of at least one citizen group – Non-Partisan Hawai’i ‘Ohana – which intends to bird-dog legislators to Election Day.

Voting is still on-going. Please VOTE NO ON SENATE BILL 2927 SD2, HD1, CD1, CD2. There are a couple public petitions that concerned citizens can ally with.

[http://signon.org/sign/an-open-letter-in-defense?source=s.em.cr&r_by=2125204&mailing_id=2885]

[https://www.change.org/petitions/save-hawaii-s-communities-by-killing-sb-2927]

It’s a travesty for Dela Cruz and Say to marginalize Hawai’i’s fragile environment and the public process that allows residents to participate in the major decisions that will affect their own communities. Anti-public is one. Problematic senate Bill 2927 does the following:

• Authorizes state-wide 鈥減lanning districts鈥� apart from existing county plans;

• Authorizes within 鈥減lanning districts鈥� new 鈥渆xceptional鈥� (SD2) / 鈥漲ualified鈥� (CD1) exceptionally high-density developments to achieve undefined 鈥渄esired鈥� land use density and undefined transit ridership goals .

• Diminishes required environmental review to arbitrary 鈥渃onsiderations” for so-called “qualified planning projects” (exceptionally high- density redevelopment projects);

• Exempts so-called “qualified planning projects” in state-wide 鈥減lanning districts鈥� from compliance with existing zoning laws, including setback, density and height limit regulations;

• Exempts so-called “qualified planning projects” in state-wide 鈥減lanning districts鈥� from zoning standards and the zone change process;

• Authorizes additional county development incentives, yet these remain undefined and open to speculation;

• Exempts so-called “qualified planning projects” in state-wide 鈥減lanning districts鈥� from all state fees that support public facilities associated with land development;

• Authorizes a discretionary review process to transfer floor area allowances from separate parcels within a 鈥減lanning district鈥� to create higher densities for so-called 鈥渜ualified planning projects鈥� on other parcels.;

• Authorizes Honolulu City and County to specify an undefined high-density transit-oriented development 鈥渞adius鈥� around bus stations and centers and rail transit stations, which could impact and adversely affect conservation land, open shoreline recreational areas, historic sites, and agricultural lands (see attached maps);

• Restricts county councils to only 45 days for review, public input and decision by Resolution on 鈥渜ualified planning project鈥� applications submitted by planning agencies.

We ask all legislators to exercise moral and civic courage to protect core democratic values. Do not quaver or shirk this basic kuleana. At the end of the day, we are all human beings surviving in the same canoe. We go home to our children, families, and communities. We will not be in power forever. Remember our island home. We are not Arizona, New York, Utah, or Hong Kong. We are Hawaii.

The decisions we make together will define who we are and what we stand for. Senate Bill 2927 SD2, HD1, CD1, CD2 is a knee-jerk solution that will create too many undemocratic kingdoms and tyrants.

VOTE an unequivocal “NO” on Senate Bill 2927 SD2, HD1, CD1, CD2.

“No with reservations” is still a “Yes.”

To vote “Yes” would be a travesty to basic democratic process that protects us and makes us all equal.

Kill Senate bill 2927.

Begin over with all stake holders at the conversation table, not just the exceptional few. We will not forget this session.

About the author: Choon James is a member of the Ko’olauloa Sustainable Communities Planning Committee. She has been a real estate broker for over 20 years.

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This is an extremely tall order considering their robust record of ignoring the public interest at large and kow-towing to special interests.

How does one 鈥渢rust鈥� State Capitol legislators when it is very apparent that they do not have the public鈥檚 interest in their many deliberations. In the first place, it was disconcerting to see Mr. Robert Harris of the Sierra Club having to kindly explain to House Speaker Calvin Say the provisions of Hawaii鈥檚 environmental review laws. It appears House Speaker Say has not ever carefully read the laws in the books.

It鈥檚 very hard to 鈥渢rust鈥� when we see controversial bills being bulldozed through as if there is no tomorrow.

鈥淭rust鈥� cannot be found when controversial bills are posted on Fridays to be heard on the following Monday mornings. How could the public 鈥渢rust鈥� the decision-makers when votes are taken before public testimonies are posted or read? How can the public 鈥渢rust鈥� the decision-makers when specific testimonies appear to be deleted from the record? How can the public 鈥渢rust鈥� when politicians’ words have multiple meanings or they all repeat the same mantra?

Why should we 鈥渢rust鈥� when legislators are hasty to deny due process and shut off public engagement and participation? But these same politicians are careful 鈥渢o provide indemnity for any county, its officials, or employees for actions taken regarding exceptional planning projects.”

Why would politicians and bureaucrats need this legal indemnification to shield themselves from their decisions?

Where is the 鈥渢rust鈥� when bills are systematically manipulated and mutated into unrelated beasts? For example: was first introduced as a Small Business Caucus package to help small businesses in Hawaii. SB 755 was to create an annual exemption from the general excise tax on purchases of: school supplies of less than $15 per item; computers, computer software, and computer supplies of less than $1,500 per purchase; clothing of less than $100 per item; and books of less than $50 per item and so forth.

SB 755 was also to establish a Hawaii peer to peer gaming commission authorized to issue two 10 year licenses to operate peer to peer internet gaming operations.
Now in 2012, the intent of SB 755 SD2 HD2 is to promote economic development by temporarily removing regulatory restrictions on certain state and county projects.

And Calvin Say wants us to 鈥渢rust鈥� them?

Additionally, House Speaker Calvin Say talked as if these bills were only about exemptions for minor school projects and airport repairs which already have exemption options in the books. His assurances are incorrect. Second term Senator Dela Cruz is already lining up all the ducks in a row to prepare his for all of us.

For example: RELATING TO COMMUNITY PLANNING

Report Title: Hawaii Community Development Authority; State-wide Planning

Description: Establishes planning districts and creates a process for developers to apply for residential and commercial exceptional planning projects. Establishes the transit-oriented or main-street redevelopment program. Authorizes state and county incentives for exceptional planning projects. Establishes a discretionary review process for the transfer of floor area within the planning district. Effective July 1, 2050. (SB2927 HD1)

Say that again, House Speaker? These exemptions are about minor school repairs and fences?

House Speaker also complained about environmental review duplication at state and federal levels. But it鈥檚 important to note that not all state and county projects have federal funding or are on federal land. Also, the National Environmental Protect Act (NEPA) is a blanket review for all states and does not include a historical compoment in its review. So, some projects would be free from all public scrutiny and due process under these exemptions.

Calvin Say continues to market these bills appear as harmless and manini as these exemptions are only 鈥渢emporary鈥�. Even if these exemptions are intended to be a “temporary” for three years, many long-term developments could be initiated and approved during this window period. The public is smarter than to buy into this 鈥渢emporary鈥� exemptions gimmick.

So far, have come forward to oppose these measures that seek to subvert laws that protect the public and help ensure logical and effective planning of projects. They include:

• Hawaii鈥檚 Thousand Friends
• The Sierra Club 鈥� Hawaii Chapter
• OHA – Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• O鈥檃hu Council Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs
• Office of Environmental Quality Control
• Conservation Council for Hawai鈥檌
• Kaka鈥檃ko Makai Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC)
• Hui Ho鈥檕kipa Network – Kauai
• Defend Oahu Coalition
• Keep the Country Country
• Life of the Land
• The Outdoor Circle
• Hawaii Chapter For the Protection of Hawai鈥橧 Native Wildlife
• Permaculture Maui
• SEED
• HawaiianKingdom.org
• Office of Planning, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism
• Kailua Neighborhood Board

Additionally, there are over 600 public citizens from all walks of life and affiliations who have stood up and made their voices heard.

Is any legislator taking notes and listening to their constituents or are they following marching orders?

鈥淭rust鈥� the politicians at the State Capitol?

We would like to, but we can鈥檛. It鈥檚 easier to trust finding a $100 bill on Beretania Street than to find 鈥渢rust鈥� at the Hawaii State Capitol.

These legislators鈥� contorted bills may be politics as usual at the Ledge but to the public, it feels like they are serving the public pungent onions for dessert.

Sweetheart deals should be between lovers; not between politicians and elite exceptional groups.

Trying to convince the public that these sweetheart exemptions are for stimulating the economy does not cut it. The laws that protect the public, Hawaii鈥檚 fragile environment, and due process cannot be randomly compromised. Developers and planners need to become more organized in their project management and timelines. It has been stated enough that the environment reviews are not the obstacles. Due process must be an integral part of democracy to ensure equality and protect all concerned. No one should be above or exempted from the law. These exemptions clamoring can be likened to a few exceptional school children wanting exceptional exemption to start school at 7:50 am because they don鈥檛 have the discipline to wake up on time, like the rest of us.

There are many equitable ways to work together for a win-win situation for all. It requires all stake holders having a seat at the decision-making table.

Do not bulldoze these bills through and put Hawaii鈥檚 future at risk so you can pamper a few.

For this session, we gently offer three immediate solutions for these exemptions – table, burn, or line the birdcage with these problematic bills.

For readers who wish to have a say in this, please .

About the author: Choon James is a member of the Ko’olauloa Sustainable Communities Planning Committee. She has been a real estate broker for over 20 years.

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