• Big box blues Big box blues This is a sad time for Lihu‘e. Costco has been approved by the planning commission, but there was never any doubt that they would. It was a “done deal” from the outset. Kaua‘i’s
• Big box blues
Big box blues
This is a sad time for Lihu‘e. Costco has been approved by the planning commission, but there was never any doubt that they would.
It was a “done deal” from the outset. Kaua‘i’s beauty and Hawaiian culture can never prevail against the demands of commerce.
There was a seeress named Cassandra who predicted the destruction of Troy but was not believed by Priam. I am sure that I will similarly not be believed, but a love of Kaua‘i, of Lihu‘e, and everything Hawaiian demands that this haole speak up, however ineffectually.
I confidently predict that within ten years, there will be at least two more big boxes in Lihu‘e, if not more. And gathered around them, like chicks with a mother hen, will be all kinds of second rate, schlocky stores selling remainders and seconds.
At first, each one will be greeted with enthusiasm by all Kauaians except residents of Lihu‘e who will find their beautiful, gentle town totally changed. A large part of Kukui Grove will consist of vacant stores, and another part will have been torn down to make room for a big box and more parking lots.
Traffic will be horrendous and even the building and widening of streets will not be adequate as the hundreds of cars a day disembark from the Super Ferry in addition to people from all over Kaua’i, to shop the Lihu‘e commercial slum. Efforts by residents of Lihu‘e to receive allocations of road funds that are greater than the amounts allocated to other parts of Kaua‘i will be fiercely and successfully resisted.
I wish that I could believe that I am wrong, but I am terribly afraid that I am right.
