Letters for Friday, April 13, 2007

• We love you Jamie

• To Jamie’s children

• How can we own it?

• Let’s nurture the future

We love you Jamie

This is in regards to the article regarding the ATV accident that claimed the life of Jamie Kaluna (ATV loading accident fatal for ‘Ele‘ele man,” A1, April 10). I have been friends with Jamie Kaluna for 27 years and I was lucky enough to be one of three to see and talk to him before he was taken into the ambulance to transport him to PMRF. I have yet to figure out what compelled the newspaper to write about his prison time. Why? That had nothing to do with the accident or his death and was totally unnecessary. Has the newspaper no compassion for the people who loved him, especially his children, and the effect that would have on them? Jenna, Jamie and Josiah have so much to deal with without the newspaper putting in its 2 cents. How shame. He has paid his debt to society and was just trying to live his life. He is no longer here to defend himself so why doesn’t the newspaper just let him rest in peace?

In closing I would just like to say, thank you, Jamie, for being the best friend anyone could ask for, and for being such a big part of my life. I wouldn’t trade what we had for all the money in the world. Hell, I’d give anything if it would bring you back but instead I will hold you close to my heart forever. You always knew how much I loved you and I always knew how much you loved me and I hope that you know how much I’m gonna miss you. Until we meet again ,Jamie, always remember I love you. Ay, I know you’re up there with Cal, Pat, and Ryan watching over us. At least I know I get my own “posse” of angels watching over me. God knows I need all the help I can get.

Kekaha

To Jamie’s children

This is for the childern of the late Jamie Kaluna.

Ocean breeze passes by, tears shall fall when you cry, remember it’s OK, fear not for you are strong and you all shall carry on. Remember what he has shown, the love will only grow no matter what they say, you know it’s OK. Hold your heads up high, wipe those tears dry, believe in your hearts, follow your dreams no matter what they say. Words will go away in your hearts you understand your father was human, a young man. Mistakes we all make, some more harsh than others so they say, but are we God? No way. Forgiveness it’s hard to forget, but remember love has no regret. Day by day you’ll soon understand the love he left will have no end. Some will say he was evil, some just pass you by; I say children hold your heads up high, stand tall, you can conquer all. Evil … nah, that can’t be, cause God has blessed him with you three. All my love. Always God bless you three.

Kekaha

How can we own it?

I seek to understand the moral foundation and logic for the county of Kaua‘i, the state of Hawai‘i, the United States of America (or Kingdom of Atooi) and all governments and private individuals on the planet in their claim of “ownership” of land, meaning legal possession and governing power over the occupants.

Logic tells me that heaven and earth are creations of a superior power in contrast with three-dimensional human beings. And this raises the question of how human beings can morally claim “ownership” of land not of their own creation.

Aren’t humans more accurately, and morally, temporary user-occupants?

Lihu‘e

Let’s nurture the future

As I dismount the tractor after tilling up for the spring planting of organic papaya and an expansion of the rows of acid-free Sugarloaf pineapple, I glance across our acreage. In the distance I see Eileen toiling away in the market garden, Jamay side-feeding the milk goats, and Peter weeding, mulching, and fertilizing the fruit trees.

These young people and their spouses love the land and are happy to work it. They do so with joy, and they dream of the time when they will be able to purchase a parcel of their own on which to expand their agricultural vision and raise their families. They understand that it will not be easy. The market forces of freedom and capitalism keep the price of 1- to 5-acre parcels high enough to preclude their affordability by those whose only income is from the agriculture performed thereon. Like many others, they will have to work numerous “jobs” to make it.

Disallowing the option for these young people to utilize an alternative visitor accommodation on their land to supplement their income will make it that much more difficult to pay the mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities and expenses incumbent on small farmers, and that much more unlikely that they will ever accomplish their dream. That is sad, because their dream is a dream which, if it comes true, rewards our hard-working young families, creates a model for other local residents, and benefits our island community greatly.

Some say that only larger scale agriculture is viable. I disagree. Sugar is nearly gone. I am afraid that the most likely candidates to run large successful commercial operations here are the GMO seed companies. I am a big fan of heritage seeds, organic seed banks, and small plots devoted to food crops. A substantial portion of the remaining large agriculturally zoned lands might best be utilized for larger scale, locally owned, organic cash crop farming, with the remainder devoted to bio-fuel crops for energy independence. KIUC, are you listening?

Those in power must ask themselves “Which is more desirable? Large multi-national corporations run for maximum profit which ends up off-island? Or locally owned and operated companies and multiple small family owned farms which supply our local markets, foster agricultural, energy, and community independence, and keep the profits on-island by supporting local suppliers and merchants?”

The choice seems clear. The eco-tourism aspect of alternative accommodations on small farms which educate visitors, enrich our industries, and support young families and small, sustainable, and preferably organic, agriculture is to be encouraged, not discouraged.

Instead of trying to interpret the state laws in such a way to ban such uses on agricultural lands, instead of simply considering grandfathering existing such uses, our leaders should be moving to encourage those uses, and to facilitate the vision and the reality of what it takes to nurture and grow our future.

Kilauea