Turtles at Kiholo

Or, more particularly, in Wainanali'i Pond:

Target!

I joined the dazed hoard lurching dazedly through Kona's shiny new Target store. Like Kona Commons across the street, Target has landscaped their parking lot with native plants, white hibiscus and kou, although the kou trees are native with an asterisk, canoe plants that the Hawaiians brought with them.

Inside J's Castle

The interior of J Yoshimoto's secret laboratory, deep in the basement of an abandoned County building. Lights are flashing, beakers are bubbling, sparks are sparking. J Yoshimoto and his assistant, Ken, are dressed in lab coats.

J: Tonight, Ken, will be my greatest triumph. They said it couldn't be done. They laughed at me. But I'll show them. I'll show them all. Tonight I will get five votes out of four people!!
Throw the switch!!!

Ken: Yes, master

Loud alarm, smoke

J: Tonight, Ken, we will walk, you and I, into Pete Hoffman's office with our five votes, and he'll be powerless to stop it because only four people talked! TAKE THAT, LAWS OF TIME AND SPACE!! MBWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ken: How do you do it, master?

J: I know, I am pretty awesome.

Ken: No, seriously, how did you do it? I mean, I know you outsmarted Naeole, but....

J: Stop right there!

Ken: What, master?

J: Ken, never go for the easy joke.

Ken: Yes, master

The Other Side of Big Island Politics

A new website. The author introduces herself:

Through my own blog, I hope to share the “other side” of the story that is not “reported” by the other sites.

Now you may be wondering how I will portray the “other side” of a story. I firmly believe that good critical thinking, and sound reasoning will reveal the truth. For example, anybody can be quoted in the newspaper, but how credible is that source? Does the source have a history of bias? Can that source back up a claim when challenged and stay on point? These are just a few of methods of analysis I use when determining the truth for myself.

She defends the council majority and J, and believes that J, in particular, has gotten a bad rap from the press.

Don't Sacrifice Our Native Forests Because Syd Singer Likes the Taste of Strawberry Guava

Damon published this "open letter" to Mayor Kenoi from Syd Singer, who calls himself a "Medical Anthropologist." Singer claims to speak for "thousands" of residents opposing release of a scale insect to control strawberry guava because they "enjoy" the fruit. Apparently the "thousands" are under the impression that the scale insect has wiped out strawberry guava in Brazil. It hasn't. People in Brazil are still able to enjoy the flavor.

Singer says "As the current economic recession drags on, more and more people will come to appreciate and rely on our wild foods." If Big Island residents become roving bands of hunter-gatherers, foraging for food in the forest, I submit that a few scale insects will be the least of our problems.

Despite his being a medical school dropout, Singer's website features medical advice galore. I have to admit I have some sympathy for his crusade to persuade women to stop wearings bras. I, uh, support his efforts in that regard for purely, uh, aesthetic reasons.

Hawaii's native forests are a treasure, in our hands to preserve for future generations. If we permit them to be destroyed, turned into impenetrable thickets of strawberry guava because we like the taste of the fruit, what superficial, selfish, spoiled little brats we would be. It's an infantile position.

One of the great things about this island is the tolerance of the off-beat, unconventional, and bizarre. That doesn't mean we should have pseudo-scientific cranks and charlatans setting our public policy, though.

12:34:56 on 7/8/9

Enjoy the very mild excitement of a once in a lifetime occurrence.

Shocking News - Political Involvement in Government Process in Hawaii

Inouye's office apparently made a call to get Central Pacific Bank a Federal bailout.


I agree more with WHT than Aaron about the County's all-too-predictable capitulation to the Palamanui developer's desire to be relieved of the conditions they agreed to. Postpone the road, following the traditional philosophy of county government that burdens on infrastructure must precede the infrastructure. But they also want the condition allowing no buildings within 1500' of the highway deleted. To their credit, the Leeward Planning Commission delayed its vote.