The Kona Blog

It deeply perplexes me why the Hawaii legislature is trying to pass legislation that would place a moratorium on developing important agriculture lands. Especially since the moratorium would only cover lands classified with A or B soils.

“The building or development project is intended to effect parcels of agricultural land with an overall (master) productivity rating of class A or B, and designated as an agricultural district”

96% of the agriculture district lands here on the Big Island (over 1 million acres) is classified with C, D, E, U soils. So this proposed moratorium will do very little in preventing these so called “fake gentleman farms” from being built on agriculture land. The legislature needs to wait until the complete identification of all important agriculture lands statewide is completed.

Does the Hawaii County Council think we are stupid ? I think they do,especially when they approve the administration’s recommendation to build a waste incinerator in Hilo and fail to release key details of the proposal (e.g cost). This
process should’ve been more open to public. This project will be likely the largest taxpayer funded project in this island’s history.Thus the public has every right to know Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. proposal.

But in reality, we shouldn’t be surprised at all by the council’s action’s in this matter. Its been modus operandi for this council to to time and again make important decisions in executive session without public input.

Finally the Hawaiian Island Journal published online an article on the Hokulia bypass. My thoughts about partially opening this bypass road were cited in this article also. The entire Hokulia bypass needs to be completed in a timely manner. I know Robert Thomas, Charles & Joan Coupe’s attorney, reads this blog.I will reiterate what I’ve said time and again.Mr. Thomas, please urge your clients to drop this litigation.So this much needed road can be completed.

Update: Hunter Bishop was able to get some clarification on what exactly the council was voting on in regards to the proposed Hilo waste incinerator. Although it wasn’t much of a clarification. I tried reading the explanation from Ms.Leithead-Todd. I’m even more confused what transpired ?