• At least I can go to Larsen’s beach! •
Let voters decide • Don’t move the
tower
At least I can go to Larsen’s beach!
I’ve been following this story for the last year about a fence being put up that blocks a popular access to Larsen’s beach. I don’t always agree with TGI’s coverage of the story, sometimes it seems a bit more coverage is going to one side over the other, but I get the general story.
But for my part, I simply like Larsen’s; it’s a beautiful beach that our family has had the pleasure of going to on many occasions when our children were young. I haven’t been there in a while and after reading this last story in TGI this past Saturday about the access, I thought I would go down and take a look myself. First, I have to say, I have used the easier lateral access path myself in the past and it is easier, but if it is on private property and I’m not invited to use the path, it’s trespassing and that is illegal. Popular path and easy path or not, it’s still illegal.
So I hiked down the county access trail which was a tad bit over grown and twisting, but no different from going down to Queen’s Bath in certain places and other trails that access beautiful beaches on the North side. This is the same path the entire County Council went down and up last year and I got down easy enough. The beach is as beautiful as ever. I appreciate the clean up that has been done, but not all the nudity strolling around on one of our family beaches, and there were families with small children a little further up the beach. That was sad. By the way, public nudity is illegal in Hawaii. Popular or not, it’s still illegal and it’s not popular.
I had a good time at the beach and hiked back out. For me, I don’t care what trail or access I have to go on, I was just glad I could go. At least I can go. I don’t know much about the ala loa. It sounds like a good thing. I don’t know where the trail is, all I know is that unlike Larsen’s that does have access, there are many beaches and areas of the coast that we don’t have access to. That’s a shame.
From Allerton Gardens at the end of Po‘ipu all the way to Waimea River alone, there are a few beautiful places and beaches I would like to visit, but unlike Larsen’s, there is no access through or around these private lands, except by kayak or again; invitation. Maybe the ala loa is something we do need.
The point being: I will take the access granted rather than no access at all. Something is always better than nothing and as long as I can still go down to Larsen’s, it OK with me. Minus all those guys trying to “free willy” down there. You need to free him in your back yards and not our front yards where our wife’s and keiki are!
Tom Iannucci, ‘Ele‘ele
Let voters decide
“To have or not to have, that is the question.” Should the State of Hawai‘i have a lottery, or not?
On one hand, the truth of the matter is that Hawai‘i residents sure like to go to Las Vegas as often as possible to gamble. So, why not? It can bring in the needed revenue legally into our state coffers. And for the anticipated cost of meeting the budget demands of the state, the lottery can keep that cash register jingling merrily along. Besides, every person should have the “freedom of choice”. End of story.
On the other, that urge to “get rich quick” is an affliction that can get out of hand and make paupers out of those who can least afford to gamble their money away on that addictive whim. So, consequently, the welfare rolls will exacerbate, the desperate will turn to crime to get the cash they need to keep on gambling, and the cycle goes on by bringing more expenses (i.e.. incarceration, treatment, homelessness, etc.) What have we solved?
Looks like a draw, doesn’t it? It will be interesting to see which side lucks out: the one that rationalizes that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages or the one that argues we will be creating more problems by making the lottery legal.
Maybe we should ask the voting constituency to be the judge and let the chips fall where they may.
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
Don’t move the tower
I do not want the Kekaha lifeguard stand moved. I think that if the stand is moved the lifeguard will not be able to see the entire beach (over a mile). It is a serious matter of public safety.
However, regardless of public safety they will move it anyway. It is obviously clear that the Army Corps of Engineers, state DOT, and county value money over human life.
The only solution to the problem if the lifeguard stand is moved, and I’m sure it will be, would be to put another lifeguard stand on the beach in front of St. Teresa’s school. A lot of tourists/public use the beach fronting St. Teresa’s and there is no way the lifeguard could respond in time. But I bet once again money will be an issue and override public safety.
I would also like to alert the county that the rocks put to protect the beach/road (by the USACE) directly across from Kala Road have fallen into the ocean 20-30 ft. and can only be seen at low tide. Anyone not familiar with this portion is in danger of hitting the rocks while swimming.
Karen Ramos, Waimea
