Walking in the Old Koloa Days Parade this past Saturday was a fun reminder of how “Lucky we live Kaua‘i.” The weather was perfect with blue skies, scattered clouds, and a strong cool breeze. Friends and family, local residents and
Walking in the Old Koloa Days Parade this past Saturday was a fun reminder of how “Lucky we live Kaua‘i.”
The weather was perfect with blue skies, scattered clouds, and a strong cool breeze. Friends and family, local residents and visitors alike lined the roadway clustered under the shade of large monkeypod trees, sitting on beach chairs, blankets and on tailgates of pickup trucks. Coolers filled with water, cut pineapple, and frozen ice snacks seemed to be everywhere while children of all ages waited patiently with huge smiles and obvious expectation for the additional sweet candy they knew through experience would soon be forthcoming.
The parade itself can only be described as “local style” in the most positive sense. Rugged paniolo astride their spirited steeds, beauty queens and young princesses in convertibles, the mayor and other local dignitaries walking and riding, school groups, halau and local businesses — all part of the grand procession. The numerous floats and walking groups focused creatively on the theme of “Plantation Days” depicting the fond memories of a time gone past.
Keiki walked with kupuna. Old time Koloa residents and kama‘aina walked side-by-side with part-time residents and malihini. Real estate developments and hotel resorts shared the road with conservation groups and non-profits. Everywhere, people from all walks of life were talking and laughing, shaking hands and embracing. Friends old and new were doing the things that build and strengthen communities — celebrating their love of life on Kaua‘i and specifically the love and respect for life in Koloa. Yes, we are very lucky to be able to call Kaua‘i home.
While I have many friends who are Realtors, developers, contractors and resort operators — on this day I walked with my friends from Malama Maha‘ulepu. I joked to fellow walkers that I wanted to send a message of “where I stood before I actually had to take a stand.” Few in the Koloa district would argue that the protection and preservation of Maha‘ulepu is sacrosanct and I was glad to join this hardworking and dedicated community group.
As evidenced by the ubiquitous presence of trucks, heavy equipment and construction workers combined with the miles of “dust screens” that criss-cross the landscape, it is abundantly clear that major changes are coming to this area. While in a year or two most of the heavy equipment and heavy dust and noise will be gone, in its place will be armies of carpenters, plumbers and electricians building the homes that will be placed on the vacant lots, interior roadways and cul-de-sacs now being created. The carpenters in turn will be replaced by new residents both permanent and part-time, accompanied by the inevitable growth in even still more tourists and visitors.
The pressures on a community resulting from such dramatic growth taking place in such a short and concentrated time frame are significant. Too many cars on the road, too many people on the beach compounded by the frustration felt by residents from too few affordable homes and too few expanded and alternative roadways. As is always the case during times of accelerated growth and change — there is good news and there is bad news. The positive economic impacts will be a boon to some, perhaps even many, while the negative social and cultural impacts will be a bane to others, also perhaps many. Most would probably agree that a slower more measured approach would have been preferable, but to bemoan the reality of change seems fruitless.
Better to focus our energy now on improving the livability of our communities by expanding and improving parks, schools, roadways and walking/biking paths. Better now to focus on preserving areas such as Maha‘ulepu to ensure that they are not lost in the shuffle of the next real estate boom. For there will always be another real estate boom, that you can be sure. While real estate buy/sell cycles extend infinitely into the future, our natural and cultural resources are truly finite. We will always get another chance to catch the next real estate investment wave but we often only get one chance at preserving and protecting our historic and archaeological sites, our wild coastlines, our open space and fertile agricultural lands.
This is why I walk with Malama Maha‘ulepu, this is why we should all walk this walk in all parts of our island. We may not get another chance.
• Gary Hooser is Senate Majority Leader, representing the 7th Senatorial District, covering Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. He is a resident of Wailua and writes a biweekly column exclusive to The Garden Island.
