At the marine sanctuary hearings recently held on Kauai, local folks said, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” They, in my opinion have no clue how “broke” it is. They can not seem to add up all the damage
At the marine sanctuary hearings recently held on Kauai, local folks said, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
They, in my opinion have no clue how “broke” it is. They can not seem to add up all the damage done by over 100 years of chemicals leaching into our streams and ocean ecosystem from the initial invasion of the missionaries and their propagation of the sugarcane industry.
Since it closed, but taken over by the much more dangerous GMO chemical companies, these same residents seem only to consider that they still have jobs, with complete acceptance that not only are they being poisoned, but Kauai folks near the research fields are being dusted daily with pesticide laden chemicals.
Do these unaware folks even put two and two together that our reefs are dying with some already dead because water flows down hill from the hotels, parking lots, roads, cesspools, golf courses and the research fields?
I heard absolutely no solutions from the most vociferous, very negative protesters at the third hearing to these and other problems.
With many other residents willing to speak in favor of expanding the marine sanctuary, but too fearful to attend the last hearing after near “fights” broke out at the Kilauea and Waimea hearings, I was one of the few who insisted that “the system is totally broke,” mainly because Kauai County government allows very unscrupulous entrepreneurs to build their mega hotels, high-end townhouse developments mostly for nonresidents, all necessitating among other issues, more and larger golf courses to accommodate the “visitor industry.”
In the meantime, reefs are dying, commercial aquariums are scooping up fish just laughing at us as they take away our “treasures” to reap millions in profits.
Wake up, Kauai. If the folks who spoke against the sanctuary do not want the “feds” to activate this multi-species sanctuary to protect their livelihood and their family’s ability to still use the ocean as their refrigerator for many years to come, then we all must insist that our county government, starting with Mayor Carvalho, take immediate control with viable action plans.
The quality of the water in our streams and our surrounding ocean with reef restoration must be completely monitored.
Are there any county funds to do this? I doubt it, so how is the “broke” going to get fixed?
The marine sanctuary is proposing solutions and funding that will provide education, research and conservation to have a positive impact on our ocean ecosystem and future survival.
To get the facts, go to: hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/management_plan_review.htm
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Marj Dente is a resident of Kapaa
