Letters for Saturday, July 27, 2019

Property tax system needs work

In the past when I have suggested basing property taxes on amount paid rather than comparative sales, certain council members have said it would be unfair for folks who purchase later to pay greater amount than their neighbors.

This, in spite of the fact that studies in other states have shown that overall revenue does not decrease due to later buyers paying more as sale prices increase.

I have paid taxes for 30 years in Moloaa Bay. I have no county sewer nor am able to hook up to county water even though a line runs right in front of my house. Police response time varies from no response at all to about an hour.

Is it “fair” that I have been paying taxes at the same rates as my neighbors and others who receive these county services in other rural areas? Go figure.

Michael Wells, Moloaa

Let’s rally around Anaina Hou

Living on the North Shore became even better with the opening of Anaina Hou and what it has brought to our community. There was some resistance early on, but everything worked through. Now out of nowhere there are rumors that certain folks want to either close it down or limit its use. Why are North Shore residents not stepping up to the plate, to prevent a few property owners from destroying Anaina Hou Community Park, which serves our entire community?

According to an early The Garden Island article, Jim Gair, the former president of the Kalihiwai Ridge Neighborhood Association had opposed the park. His major opposition was a noise issue. His 12-acre property in Kalihiwai Ridge is nearly one-half mile from AHCP.

In June 2006, Bill and Joan Porter purchased the 11.5-acre property, zoned industrial. Their plan was to create a gathering place in Kilauea rooted in the values, history and culture of the diverse island community. During Mr. Gair’s presidency, Kalihiwai Ridge Neighborhood Association brought an intervention request against Anaina Hou to the County Planning Board. A majority of the KRNA members favored plans for Anaina Hou; ousted Gair and the board. The newly elected board withdrew the intervention. The County Planning Commission approved a special use permit and the Park was constructed. Gair and a few other North Shore residents requested and approved conditions for operation of AHCP.

1-Maximum of 55 decibels at the northwest property line of Kalihiwai Ridge.

2-Amplified music required to stop at 6 p.m. on Sunday; 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Currently this same small group of residents is attempting to further limit hours to 8 or 9 p.m.)

Anaina Hou Community Park is a 501(c)(3), largely dependent on donations. Limited income is derived from mini golf, the cafe and gift shop as well as rental of Porter Pavilion and conference rooms. Today, in the absence of other area community centers, Anaina Hou provides a venue for community-related events, hula performances, trade shows, farmers’ markets and concerts as well as a recycling center and a park and ride facility. Many of the offerings at the community park are free.

The wonderful playground, skatepark, farmers’ markets, hiking on Wai Koa Loop, the popular Friday evening Pau Hana gatherings and several educational programs. Without continued revenues from concerts and movies, venue rentals and donor support, the future of this much-appreciated community park will be in jeopardy. With the currently requested operating restrictions added to the original noise ordinances, the survival of Anaina Hou might be in question.

I ask again to the North Shore Community, “Are we going to allow a small group of vocal residents to destroy Anaina Hou, one of our treasures?”

Ben Gillikin, Princeville