• Tree benefits outweigh negatives • My God and the trees • On homeless propaganda Tree benefits outweigh negatives Letter sent to David Nelson Development in Bloomfield, Mich.: In my work as coordinator of Malama Maha‘ulepu, I spend considerable time
• Tree benefits outweigh negatives
• My God and the trees
• On homeless propaganda
Tree benefits outweigh negatives
Letter sent to David Nelson Development in Bloomfield, Mich.:
In my work as coordinator of Malama Maha‘ulepu, I spend considerable time in Koloa. I associate Koloa with distinctive and deeply pleasuring plantings of trees, and I look forward to seeing these trees whenever I come to Koloa. These plantings start with the eucalyptus tree tunnel and include the kukui trees lining the road down to town, the poincianca trees of the ball park and, most certainly, the grove of old and beautiful monkeypod trees on the parcel you have the privilege of developing.
Here are a few of the reasons that a saavy, experienced developer such as yourself will be preserving, not replacing, those monkeypod trees:
The trees mitigate the flooding problems on the post office parcel. They break the impact of heavy rains, slow water flow and encourage infiltration into the soil. They drink down the high water table.
Those trees improve the air quality in your shopping facility by trapping particulate matter, i.e., the dust — which is currently plaguing Koloa/Po‘ipu.
The trees reduce ambient noise — traffic noise — by absorbing sound, by deflection and refraction. Plus, those trees are homes for birds whose chirps and calls are way lovelier than any Muzak.
The trees cool the surroundings by preventing the “heat island” effect. Keeping trees reduces the costs for both energy and water use.
People gravitate to “treed” places because trees literally relax us, lower our blood pressure. People gravitate to places where there are other people enjoying themselves — not just rushing through.
Finally, the trees increase property value. Many studies show this, including one from the Journal of Arboriculture by Dominic Morales in 1980 which demonstrated that lots with trees in the same development sold for 18 percent more than those without trees.
From all of the above, it is clear that saving trees provides economic benefits to you, the developer/builder. Trees reduce your immediate and long term costs, underpin a signature project and entice both tenants and customers.
Finally, here are examples of other developers “valuing” trees. On Kaua‘i, two of our largest developers, Grove Farm and Princeville, brand their companies with tree logos. On O‘ahu, a Japanese company (Hitachi?) pays $400,000 annually to the Moanalua Gardens to use photographs of one of its signature monkeypod trees for advertising. Finally, when rebuilding hundreds of units of housing on O‘ahu, located mauka of the H-1 freeway near the Honolulu International Airport, the United States Navy carefully saves the monkeypod trees. This is one element of the Navy’s environmental commitment and economic perspicacity that includes state-of-the art sewage systems and solar water heating.
Thank you for your attention. Wishing you and your family happy holidays and a productive and peaceful 2008.
Beryl Blaich
Kilauea
My God and the trees
Many paths to the same source, and an apology. First, I have been scolded by someone named “Pakala” that I owe Eric Knudsen a public apology “if I have any character or honor.” So, Eric, if I caused you or your family any insult or injury, I apologize, you should know the respect and esteem I hold for your family, but I just hope that it is within your power to help with the monkeypod tree situation in Koloa.
Now then, I would like to respond to David Rich’s letter of Dec. 18, titled “There is only our God.” Hmmm, I think I smell judgment and projection. I was raised Catholic, but I now do not follow any organized religion, because I find the majority of organized religions lacking true compassion and full of self-righteous judgment (ie, pity the fools who do not follow our thinking, for they are “doomed”). First, as human beings, who are we to judge? Is that not the right of the divine entity (God, if you will) that created us all? Secondly, God as I understand it, did not create religion(s). Religion is mankind’s/human beings’ attempt to explain something they cannot fully comprehend, since we are not ourselves divine, but merely have a divine spark, and the momentary grace of some enlightenment. Who am I? A simple human creature, to say which path is “the one and only true path?” There are many paths to the same source, and all any of us can do is walk our walk as best we can. Just remember: “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” And from the heart, Joyous Holidays, whatever they may be for you, and blessings to all.
Paullie Purdy
Waimea
On homeless propaganda
First, I fervently agree with Gail Stevens’ comments published here recently (“Lesson was unhelpful propaganda,” Letters, Dec. 16).
Furthermore, I learned first-hand to be acutely attentive to strangers after I was accosted by a homeless person on two separate occasions: First, while awaiting my commuter bus in downtown Los Angeles’ government area, a homeless man attempting to swing on newly planted young street trees threateningly approached me but was headed off by my business-suited fellow commuter (an immigration judge); and the second time was when I ventured streetside outside the L.A. federal building searching for my daughter coming to collect me, a homeless mid-50ish muscular Asian woman suddenly punched me in my jaw causing me to bite through my lip. I went directly across the street to Parker Center, L.A. police headquarters, to lodge a complaint. Following me was a working man who witnessed the incident and informed us (the cops and me) that the woman was heading up the street still swinging at people. Unbeknownst to me, I had been too physically close to her, not giving her a wide enough berth for her comfort level, so she struck me. The police were familiar with her and when they asked what I wanted to do, I replied “just get her off the street for her and the public’s safety.” Shortly thereafter, my daughter collected me and we witnessed four policemen wrestling the still angry homeless woman into a police car.
The moral to this tale is “Share your aloha” but be cautious with strangers.
Alice Parker
Lihu‘e
