On July 13, my husband, one of our daughters and I drove to P.K.’s, which is halfway down Spouting Horn’s only road – Lawa’i Road. P.K.’s is a surfing spot out in the water, just off the point where the
On July 13, my husband, one of our daughters and I drove to P.K.’s, which is halfway down Spouting Horn’s only road – Lawa’i Road. P.K.’s is a surfing spot out in the water, just off the point where the Beach House restaurant is located. When we go to this area, we park in the “public” parking lot that is on the Lawa’i Resort property across the street.
When we drove into the parking lot, I immediately saw that the tree that was located on the other side of the bathroom building was extremely trimmed back. I jumped out to inspect the tree and realized it was not only butchered, but was soon to be completely cut down.
The trunk was still there, but the limbs had been chopped and some of the branches torn away, causing rips in the bark. Not a leaf was left.
Some branches were stacked on the nicely manicured lawn.
The groundsmen came back to finish the job after their lunch. I had to ask (even though I knew the tree had been perfect) if the tree had been cut because of disease. They said no.
It was a great tree. The shade it provided was expansive (especially in the middle of the day, when shade is needed the most). I’ve been told it was a monkeypod tree.
Personally, I think monkeypod trees are worth something. Rather than cut a tree down, these days I’ve seen trees dug up and transferred to other places. Cutting down a mature monkeypod tree seems like a wasteful thing to do, no matter where it stands.
Bear with me for some history. In the old days of surfing this same spot, before the last two hurricanes, we parked our cars behind the Beach House. The Beach House was situated close to the edge of the sidewalk in front now, so there was room for parking cars in back. We parked all the way to where the bench and stairs start at the point. Of course, there was no wall before and the lawn has been raised above sea level.
There was a park that extended from the Prince Kuhio Park across the street to the point where the condominium is now (next door). There was a banyan tree and picnic tables. We parked there and surfed there.
How did we get this far away now and nothing to show? Not even a little shade. Who traded away our place for a parking lot with a security guard? Maybe we didn’t have a bathroom, but have you visited the one that’s across the street at the parking lot? Who is responsible to provide us with toilet paper and a clean lua, especially after a large group of snorkelers line up? Now that I’m discussing the parking lot and bathroom, what is the procedure on commercial vehicles parking in the “public” parking lot? (Using the facilities?) The cove there inside of P.K.’s and Centers (the middle surfing spot) is becoming a junior Hanauma Bay situation. When is someone with authority going to come down and start making plans to control and save the reef/fish environment for Kaua’i people, not the businesses who only make money there and drive away every day? Like I’ve said here, we care about this place. There’s been a lot of talk and speculation, but the bottom line on this move is that someone cut the tree down because they don’t want the local surf people lounging under “their” tree.
I usually tell newcomers or tourists who speak of moving here about a Hawaiian word: Kokua. Outsiders always listen to me about it. Kokua means, “You help me and I’ll help you.” When this small idea becomes expanded, it also means if you don’t care about us, we sure as hell don’t care about you or your money-making at our expense.
TOLANDA ARZADON, Kapa’a
