Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter HOME

O`OMA ON THE EDGE
By Janice Palma-Glennie

As we go to press, residents await Mayor Kim's decision to veto Cliftos' O`oma II development proposal. Bill 178; passed by Councilmen Gary Safarik, Jim Arakaki, Fred Holschuh, Aaron Chung, Leningrad Elarinoff and Mike Tulang, would allow construction of hundreds of residences, hotel rooms and commercial/retail space three times as big as Lowe's on eighty-three acres of land next to Kohanaiki ("Pine Trees"). Minor changes of the latest draft of the bill amount to mere loopholes. The plan remains as weak and potentially damaging to the environment and infrastructural deficit as earlier proposals were.
In May, Mayor Kim said he would veto any development (other than housing) that would add traffic to roadways deemed critically overburdened. Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway at O`oma is such an area. This reason alone justifies the Mayor's veto (a healing action that would help ease West Hawai`i ire at the steady drumbeat of inexplicable rezoning doled out by East Hawai`i politicians). The fact that O`oma II remains for sale at an already huge potential profit for Cliftos' is even more reason why this unnecessary, untimely and undesirable plan should be shot down.
Mayor Kim seems to "get" that West Hawai`i residents are at the breaking point with unplanned growth. The most important factor in his - and all the Councilmen's - decision to oppose Cliftos' plan should be that the West Hawai`i community continues to vociferously oppose it. A cave-in by the Mayor might not just mean the death-knell for O`oma: It could mean the potential loss of a long-term love affair with the Mayor and residents of West Hawai`i.

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SIERRA CLUB LIBRARY BEGINS
By Nelson Ho

The Sierra Club Resource Library began August 14, 2004 with a generous donation by the Civil Air Patrol. The core of the library is a 1918 "Sierra Edition" of The Writings of John Muir. It is a 10-volume set of the collected writings of the founder of the Sierra Club spanning over forty years; and it includes two books and essays on the natural wonders of the Western states.
To borrow a book or volunteer to house the library, please call Nelson Ho at 933-2650.

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A PROPOSAL IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR
By Jennifer Ho

I envision a way to protect land that contains native or mixed forest plants. Realtors are in a unique position to impact land development by making educational information available to a public that may not know or understand the alternatives to bulldozing an entire lot. My goal is to help new Hawai`i arrivals learn about our fragile and precious environment.
I would like feedback and ideas on the feasibility of creating a one-column color brochure-type flier which would be available at realty offices for new landowners - a kind of "Welcome to Hawai`i, our tropical paradise - this is what we do here," describing the special quality of Hawai`i, and emphasizing the value of maintaining its uniqueness by including it in our landscaping.
It could also lead people to a website with additional information about why leaving land untouched in original forest is better than bulldozing it: and why native plants are important to the ecosystem. It could also list addresses by island for environmental groups and links, or addresses of native plant nurseries. I know there are realtors who would be happy to distribute this - and with Oprah Winfrey selling Puna (or recommending it), there is no time to lose!
If this project moves forward, is there anyone out there with expertise in designing a web page? I know nothing about how to do that. Do we solicit its design as a donation? Do we offer Sierra Club membership for their help in making a web page (if they are not already a member), or payment? I'm sure I could find Big Island, and probably Kaua`i, nurseries to assist in this project. Many in the native plant community know each other already and that information should be easy enough to obtain. I am happy to volunteer my efforts.
Is there any interest among the environmental community to help with this project? I believe Conservation Council for Hawai`i also supports the idea. The design of a flier, the cost of producing one and whether or not realty companies might be convinced to help defray the expense is a reasonable idea whose time has come. If you wish to help, please contact me at: nelsonho@cuhawaii.net.


	O`OMA ON THE EDGE By Janice Palma-Glennie As we go to press, residents await Mayor Kim's decision to veto Cliftos' O`oma II development proposal. Bill 178; passed by Councilmen Gary Safarik, Jim Arakaki, Fred Holschuh, Aaron Chung, Leningrad Elarinoff and Mike Tulang, would allow construction of hundreds of residences, hotel rooms and commercial/retail space three times as big as Lowe's on eighty-three acres of land next to Kohanaiki ("Pine Trees"). Minor changes of the latest draft of the bill amount to mere loopholes. The plan remains as weak and potentially damaging to the environment and infrastructural deficit as earlier proposals were. In May, Mayor Kim said he would veto any development (other than housing) that would add traffic to roadways deemed critically overburdened. Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway at O`oma is such an area. This reason alone justifies the Mayor's veto (a healing action that would help ease West Hawai`i ire at the steady drumbeat of inexplicable rezoning doled out by East Hawai`i politicians). The fact that O`oma II remains for sale at an already huge potential profit for Cliftos' is even more reason why this unnecessary, untimely and undesirable plan should be shot down. Mayor Kim seems to "get" that West Hawai`i residents are at the breaking point with unplanned growth. The most important factor in his - and all the Councilmen's - decision to oppose Cliftos' plan should be that the West Hawai`i community continues to vociferously oppose it. A cave-in by the Mayor might not just mean the death-knell for O`oma: It could mean the potential loss of a long-term love affair with the Mayor and residents of West Hawai`i. + + + + + SIERRA CLUB LIBRARY BEGINS By Nelson Ho The Sierra Club Resource Library began August 14, 2004 with a generous donation by the Civil Air Patrol. The core of the library is a 1918 "Sierra Edition" of The Writings of John Muir. It is a 10-volume set of the collected writings of the founder of the Sierra Club spanning over forty years; and it includes two books and essays on the natural wonders of the Western states. To borrow a book or volunteer to house the library, please call Nelson Ho at 933-2650. + + + + + A PROPOSAL IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR By Jennifer Ho I envision a way to protect land that contains native or mixed forest plants. Realtors are in a unique position to impact land development by making educational information available to a public that may not know or understand the alternatives to bulldozing an entire lot. My goal is to help new Hawai`i arrivals learn about our fragile and precious environment. I would like feedback and ideas on the feasibility of creating a one-column color brochure-type flier which would be available at realty offices for new landowners - a kind of "Welcome to Hawai`i, our tropical paradise - this is what we do here," describing the special quality of Hawai`i, and emphasizing the value of maintaining its uniqueness by including it in our landscaping. It could also lead people to a website with additional information about why leaving land untouched in original forest is better than bulldozing it: and why native plants are important to the ecosystem. It could also list addresses by island for environmental groups and links, or addresses of native plant nurseries. I know there are realtors who would be happy to distribute this - and with Oprah Winfrey selling Puna (or recommending it), there is no time to lose! If this project moves forward, is there anyone out there with expertise in designing a web page? I know nothing about how to do that. Do we solicit its design as a donation? Do we offer Sierra Club membership for their help in making a web page (if they are not already a member), or payment? I'm sure I could find Big Island, and probably Kaua`i, nurseries to assist in this project. Many in the native plant community know each other already and that information should be easy enough to obtain. I am happy to volunteer my efforts. Is there any interest among the environmental community to help with this project? I believe Conservation Council for Hawai`i also supports the idea. The design of a flier, the cost of producing one and whether or not realty companies might be convinced to help defray the expense is a reasonable idea whose time has come. If you wish to help, please contact me at: nelsonho@cuhawaii.net.














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