Kaloko-Honokohau NHP is Growing Hawaiian Plants

Bottle gourds, used to make ipu drums for hula.

Greenwell Continues Charm Offensive; Hokukano Shenanigans

Evidently, Kelly Greenwell is worried that he hasn't alienated enough voters with his " Let's bring some Al Qaeda guys to Hawaii" proposal or his getting himself arrested for a simple speeding ticket. His new cause is protecting the County Council's ability to decide policy in secret. That should turn his campaign around!

Interesting story in today's West Hawaii Today alleging that local residents Jeff Lee and Wade Lee (through an LLC, natch) are logging old-growth sandalwood from land on Hokukano Ranch above Kealakekua, and selling it under the name "Keala Ke Aloha." It's true that Keala Ke Aloha is selling sandalwood, and that Wade Lee is the contact person, according to this site. Unknown if the sandalwood is being taken from old-growth, but if the company is in financial straights and needs quick bucks, it could be desperate. The only part of the story that seems odd is Tom Pace as guardian of the environment.

Semi-Wordless Sunday

Moss on a fallen hapu'u, Makahi Street trail, Kaloko Mauka.



Bishop Estate is back to enforcing "No Trespassing" at the top of Huehue Street. They've added a sign noting the cultural resources and asking "please" no trespassing, which will be harder to ignore in good conscience.

"Kitty" Galore. Haha, Get It, Children?

Noted in West Hawaii Today; a big layout on the new "kids'" movie "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore."

I remember when the movie "Goldfinger" came out. I was in high school. How we snickered about the naughty character name, Pussy Galore. The name of the new "kids" movie is a play on that name, obviously. Kids won't get it, unless they check the internet or ask their parents. Is the title supposed to convince grown-ups that the movie's for them? Who could think that such a reference is appropriate for a kids movie? Or was it, as so many references in kids movies seem to be, just a sniggering in-joke for the parents?

Is our popular culture crude and debased, or am I just too old? Or both?

Jumping on the Bash Kelly Greenwell Bandwagon!

It's been more than a year since my first reasonable, thoughtful, non-inflammatory post about our Kona Councilman, Kelly Greenwell ("Kelly Greenwell: Insane or Reckless?"). Now, with his recent arrest for resisting arrest, bashing Greenwell in in fashion. I think whatever slim chance he had of getting re-elected has evaporated. Some random thoughts:

• Has he never been stopped by the police before? How does someone get to be 69 years old without learning not to get out of the car and not to be aggressive and confrontational with the police? For that matter, how does one get to be 69 years old without knowing that "Why did you pick me, because other people were also speeding" isn't an effective defense?
  
• Was it the combination of being born a Greenwell in Kona and becoming a Councilman that gave Kelly such a toxic level of entitlement? He probably considers himself one of the ali'i.
  
• 35 really is a ridiculous speed limit for a four-lane divided highway with no cross streets, and 51 is a perfectly safe speed for that area. Setting up a speed gun there has nothing at all to do with safety - it's an opportunity to increase the number of speeding tickets, nothing more.
  
• The police have become more military-like over my lifetime, in their treatment of citizens, but then citizens have gotten more aggressive and confrontational with the police. Sheriff Andy Taylor would have just laughed if the mayor had gotten out of his car to challenge a speeding ticket, and gently steered the mayor back to his car. Another reminder of the age we live in, I suppose.
  

Furlough Friday Pu'uwa'awa'a Workday

Since today was a furlough day for us state workers, I was able to take part in a planting day at Pu'uwa'awa'a. We were trying to re-introduce forage plants and other native species to a nene sanctuary about 3800' up the mountain. I had forgotten how tiring it is to use an o'o to dig holes in very rocky soil.

This is the view from where we planted native plants today. Pu'u Wa'awa'a (seen from the rear ) with Kohala and Mauna Kea behind.

The planting site.

A fenced-off area in the wildlife sanctuary. Volunteers are looking at a planted Hau Kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus Hualalaiensis) which, as the Hawaiian and scientific names tell us, is a hibiscus/mallow that grows on Hualalai mountain. The plant is so endangered that no wild specimens exist. These, having been planted, don't count.

Wordless Wednesday

Lava formation, Ka'upulehu lava flow @ 1700' level, below the scenic lookout.