Just imagine how you feel if your ancestors' grave was bulldozed and destroyed by a foreign developer, and then they build a luxrious golf resort and gated community exclusively for super rich people. Or imagine if the ocean in which your families for generations have been gathering seafood was covered with mud from the development and you can no longer continue the traditional lifestyle. This is what's happenning to the native Hawaiian people right now in South Kona.
I am a Japanese who loves Hawaii and chooses to come here whenever I can afford a vacation. Especially I fell in love with the Big Island becuase of its wild, unspolied and colorful nature. On this trip I came to learn about the Hokuli'a development from a friend I happened to meet. I was very sorry to see the photos of the muddy run offs near Kealakekua bay. More annoyingly, this development is done by a joint venture company called OCEANSIDE 1250, which Japan Airline (JAL) and Red Hill 1250(president;Lyle Anderson,Arizona Developer) are partners.
As a frequent traveller, I often use JAL but I decided not to do so from now on unless they do something about this very environmentally and culturally destructive project.
Hokuli'a means star of desire in Hawaiian language. It sounded familiar to me from the book I read on Nainoa Thompson, a world famous star navigator. I once went to an event held in Tokyo where Nainoa gave a talk on his courageous voyages on the Hokule'a (wasn't Hokuli'a) and was very impressed. After the event, a group of Japanese was organized to welcome the Hokule'a and her crew to Japan in the future and I am one of those supporters. So, when I first saw the sign "Hokuli'a" at the main highway of South Kona, I thought it was something to do with Nainoa's project. I was totally wrong. Instead, it is one of the most destructive and controversial develpment by Japanese and Mainland investment.
I was shocked and sad to learn JAL's involvment to this development. As a Japanese, I feel ashamed Japanese money is destroying Hawaiian culture and environment like this. I hope more local Hawaiian people raise their voice of concen. This development should be stopped or at least be suspended until all the historical and burial sites are identified and treated with more respect.
Yumi Kikuchi,
a concerned Japanese who loves the nature and culture of Hawaii
1047 Naka, Kamogawa,
Chiba, Japan 296-0111
yumik@awa.or.jp
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