Diary
PLDC IN DENIAL
As the Public Land Development Corp. considers a set of revised rules for its activities, citizens are keeping up a drumbeat to repeal Act 55, which created the controversial agency.
The issue is shaping up as a conflict between those who view the PLDC as a tool for stimulating the economy, and those who see it as a means for accelerating development with little oversight by the public and government agencies.
“When you look at countries like Spain, Greece, what they’re going through, ladies and gentleman, I think it’s really clear that we have to be looking toward opportunity and not knocking something that hasn’t even presented its first project,” said Shannon Alivado, testifying to the PLDC board Nov. 13 on behalf of the General Contractors Assn.
Jocelyn Doane, senior public policy advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said the revised rules fail to address concerns that OHA and others raised in the first round of hearings. “There’s been little change in the rules that would ensure transparency, due diligence and accountability in PLDC projects, community input on proposals carried out by PLDC, . . . consultation with applicable agencies . . . and cultural sensitivity for all projects,” Doane testified.
Gary Hooser, who is on leave from his post as director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control and was just elected to the Kauai County Council, noted that while the proposed rules expect PLDC projects to comply with Chapter 343, that statute merely requires the disclosure of environmental impacts, not their mitigation. Hooser also said he was “very disturbed” that the PLDC held only one hearing, in Honolulu. An estimated 80 to 90 percent of the land falling under PLDC’s purview is on the neighbor islands, and “a third of the state’s population has been left out of the process,” Hooser said.
“We are expected to put our trust in an agency that seems to be unable or unwilling to comprehend the level of value the public places in genuine good-faith community dialogue,” Maui resident Mahina Martin testified, adding that it was unfair for neighbor islanders to have to bear the cost of flying to Oahu to be heard.
The Board did not take any action on its revised rules.
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This week
Kakaako: Core Density
As the Honolulu real estate market begins to thaw after its half-decade chill, Kakaako is emerging as the hot new cool spot, abuzz with projects and visions that promise to dramatically transform the somewhat scruffy, but beloved, district into Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s envisioned “Third City.” Bounded by Piikoi, Punchbowl and King streets and the waterfront from Kewalo Basin to Pier 1, Kakaako is slated for at least 30 new residential highrises.
Free At Last
In times of war, violence and civil strife, genuine peacemakers can rise to the status of rock stars and cultural heroes. Last Spring, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to give a series of talks on peace in Honolulu, and thousands of admirers came out to join what some called the Lama-palooza tour!
Civix
Neighborhood voice Proposals that end up in front of the City Council or Legislature often start even closer to home, so get involved. This week’s neighborhood board meetings will include districts 5 (Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St.
Teach Us
As many as 1,000 teachers rallied at the Capitol Jan. 31 after having received a new contract proposal the day before.
GMO BILLS SURVIVE
The first bill to be heard this session regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) not only passed out of the Senate committee on energy and the environment Jan. 31, but was expanded.
AMUSE US
A permitting process has begun for an amusement park in Kakaako, and if all goes according the developer’s plan, it could open by May 31. “The main intention is for the whole community, [from] the real young ones to Grandma and Grandpa, to come together and share some good times,” said developer Billy Balding in his presentation to the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) Feb.
NO DOZe
House Bill 31, a measure effectively aimed at the homeless by designating sleeping or reclining across multiple seats at bus stops as “disorderly conduct,” passed unanimously in the judiciary committee Jan. 31.
DRONE ON
While many contingents in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade on Jan.
Power shift
The media did not report that on the Opening Day of the State Legislature, the people of Hawaii reclaimed their power to determine what we will grow and eat in these Islands. The presence of esteemed Dr.
Developmental challenges
Unfortunately, Defend Oahu Coalition is probably making the right move by halting further interaction with Turtle Bay Resort (“Turtle Bay Say,” Jan. 15).
Partners in crime
The last I checked, the Hawaii State Constitution affirms: “All political power of this State is inherent in the people; and the responsibility for the exercise thereof rests with the people. All government is founded on this authority.” If that’s still the case, I question the authority of our elected bodies to form so-called “public-private partnerships” without consent of the people.
Think about it, man
To me there seems to be only one question to debate: Is it a criminal act to smoke or be in possession of marijuana (“Pakalolo Proposals,” Jan. 23)?
Still a problem
There was plenty of time to muse over this statement (“Country people don’t need rail, we need more buses”) written at Kualoa Beach Park’s bus stop. Presently, the infrequent, over-crowded buses make all riders suffer.
Our bodies, our rights
In 2004, Honolulu County Ordinance 66 was passed. It said that nothing would be placed in our pristine water in Honolulu County to treat or prevent a disease.
Paper shifts
“MidWeek editor-in-chief Don Chapman said OPI planned to weaken The Garden Island by aggressively pursuing the weekly supermarket advertising inserts that were the newspaper’s bread and butter” (“Predators,” Jan. 30).
Beach access rights
I support Act 160 (“Hedging our Sands,” Feb. 6) and hope it is renewed.
Correction
In last week’s issue (“Growing Food–and Healthy Appetites,” Feb. 6), we mistakenly listed Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, Waimea Falls Park and Wahiawa Community Garden as sources for free mulch.