•No aloha in Princeville
• Historic Hapa Trail
• Where is a cop when you need one?
No aloha in Princeville
I thought I lived on Kaua‘i, the land of aloha, and then realized I don’t, I live in Princeville.
I am a local girl born and raised on Kaua‘i, and have the “privilege” to reside in Princeville. I have lived and traveled the world and come home for that warm aloha feeling. Not here!
On Tuesday morning, my little girl and I walked the path along the golf course and stopped to pick a flower for her hair. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a gray security jeep with a scary “aunty” makes a U-turn on to oncoming traffic and pulls up in front of us and yells out of her window “What do you think you are doing?! Don’t pick the flowers! It’s illegal!”
I told her I live here around the corner and she yelled “I don’t care! You are on private property! That flower is private property! All of Princeville is private property!”
I have never been so humiliated in all my life for wanting to give my daughter a flower. I suddenly felt like I had committed a crime and my daughter dropped the flower in fear.
I understand the need for rules and regulations in posh Princeville, but lighten up a little. Have some aloha aunty! Princeville! This is Kaua‘i remember, this is where our ancestors, the Hawaiians shared aloha and gave aloha. What happened?!
Had I been a tourist, I am sure I would never return to this island.
Pua Chapman, Princeville
Historic Hapa Trail
My deep gratitude goes out to the Koloa Community. We gather in earnest to actively engage in town planning. Our community persistence is admirable.
Do you know that Planning Commission gave the final OK for the Village at Po‘ipu to cross historic Hapa Trail as the entrance to their subdivision? Never mind that it is a historic site, or that no survey exists, or that the state and county are unclear as to who owns it, and who holds the liability.
Planning did not study the master plan map. They did not question the attorney who repeatedly referred to a sign off letter from State Historic, that in truth called for more landowner conditions before sign off.
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation agrees that permitting this destruction should be illegal. A judge will look at the official behavior of the Planning Director, the State Historic Preservation Department, DLNR and landowner’s trust.
Presently at risk are sections of Hapa Trail and the traditional dry stack rock walls. It is the developer’s desire and feeling of entitlement, to destroy historic sites on his land and to also destroy sites that belong to the state
This is not their property but they insist on breaching the rock walls and pouring asphalt across the trail, to get to their land. The developer could ask the county council for a variance and enter directly onto Po‘ipu Road, but says it is too costly.
When the Po’ipu shopping center builds their driveway out to Po‘ipu Road, the subdivision will establish a connection at a reduced cost.
In the meantime, we will lose a nice section of rock wall. If homes are sold, automobiles will be driving across our walking path. It will no longer be a carefree place to stroll.
When the South Shore was rezoned, an ordinance stated that landowners who benefited would improve Hapa, rebuild the walls and perpetually maintain the trail. Kapuna felt safe knowing Hapa was “already saved”.
Goodfellows “accidentally” bulldozed down 50 feet of rock in February. How convenient, the breach was just large enough to get large equipment in that wouldn’t fit through the cattle gate.
Lastly, the subdivision has six more intended breaches of Hapa Trail. Citizens brought this to the attention of planning before the decision, during reconsideration, and at the appeal.
With the help of the mayor and the County Council, we hope that these breaches of Hapa can be avoided, and that the path will be a symbol of good planning, community stewardship, and safe passage for getting to the beach. The original ordinance should followed.
Jeri Di Pietro, Koloa
Where is a cop when you need one?
I see police cars everywhere stopping vehicles for petty things so the county can reach their quota of tickets to offset our taxpaying dollars to pay the officers of the law.
Two weeks ago there was an accident in Wailua, at the intersection of Brick Oven Pizza and Kuhio Highway, but two weeks later a major danger is still present, broken glass right in the crosswalk. I primarily ride a bike for transportation and this is a real problem. I have two flat tires from broken glass already.
Upon a approaching an officer of the law, he said “it wasn’t their job to clean up,” and another officer said he would talk to his supervisor. (Guys just get a broom and take three minutes and clean up the broken glass.)
I do not feel protected by police, but rather that they are into the law for their own agenda, issuing citations to the masses so they can live their little boy and girl dreams of being a policeman or woman.
Please Mr. mayor, tell your boys in blue to clean up! Better yet, tell one of the police woman to clean up, since the men just can’t do their jobs.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
