Editorial for Saturday — November 15, 2003

• Noticeable in their absence

Noticeable in their absence

Island residents seem to be taking the proposed land controls at the Pacific Missile Range Facility more seriously than the leadership at the base. At Thursday night’s meeting the commander of PMRF was conspicuously noticeable by his absence at a key meeting.

In attendance were over 200 residents from across the Island who are concerned with the Navy’s plans for adding state land as a buffer to the base’s main entrance, and about how much control the Navy would have over a 6,000 acre plot of state agricultural land.

This issue is to come up before the Land Board, in perhaps early 2004. A recent meeting of the board where key decisions were made on

the future of state park lands and private cabins sitting on state park land at Koke‘e was held off-island. It is imperative that when the Land Board meets on the PMRF land control issues that the meeting be held on Kaua‘i, and at a venue that can support a crowd of residents that have a desire and a right to be heard. The Kauai War Memorial Convention Center or some other venue that can handle a good size crowd.

The Navy’s absence at the meeting was if nothing else, in poor taste. This absence makes you question the priority the Navy places on their request and may have stirred up more questions by the public then were asked at Thursday night’s meeting.

In developing PMRF, jobs and the island’s future as a high-tech center is important, equally important is

the long-term recreational demands of the Island’s growing population. These issues, and there are a few of them, come at a high price, one we aren’t sure this island needs to be paying. What we are sure of, is that before the Land Board makes any more decisions about property on Kaua‘i, they have a responsibility to the residents of this island to let them be heard, and be heard here, not require they travel to O‘ahu or another island.