Guiding principles
The oppression of the “or” and the liberation of the “and.” This is a thought that was shared to me by a Samoan high chief many years ago.
It once again came to me as I read the vision and the path of I Ola Wailuanui, the nonprofit that is seeking to develop and maintain a Hawaiian cultural center at the site of the Coco Palms.
As one of the members of the Coco Palms Cultural Advisory Committee (CPCAC), we worked with the former developers, Greenewaters Group, to develop a set of guiding principles that honored the site and its sense of place. These guiding principles were formally agreed upon by the developers and shared with the County Council at that time, as well as at multiple community meetings.
The CPCAC worked with the developers to carve out space on the property and create a cultural center that would encompass all of the programs and activities this new group envisions.
The center would be managed by a nonprofit entity and sustained by a portion of the customer resort fees.
It is estimated that it would cost between $25-$50 million just for the property and potentially millions more to clear the land, construct and maintain the center, and operate it. Where will these funds come from?
I suggest that we remove the oppressive “or” by believing that the site needs to be either a resort or a cultural center and liberate ourselves by supporting an entity that can operate as a resort and sustain a vibrant cultural piko that honors our host culture’s past, present and future.
Dirk Soma, Lihu‘e
For me, it’s all about the traffic and beach erosion. Tear it all down and leave it vacant. We don’t need another resort, especially at that location.
“We”, James? Just who are you purporting to represent?
If you’re so concerned, get a Hui together, raise the capital and purchase the property…then be our guest and destroy it’s value any way you want. Until then, you’re just another whiner with no skin the game always wanting someone else to do something you like.
BTW: have you driven by lately? Seems apparent that the beach has actually accreted over the last year.
In case you need a vocabulary assist:
ac·crete (ə-krēt′)
v. ac·cret·ed, ac·cret·ing, ac·cretes
v.tr.
To make larger or greater, as by increased growth.
v.intr.
1. To grow together; fuse.
2. To grow or increase gradually, as by addition.
RSW
So you are in favor of more traffic and another resort with more tourists? Good to know. You must have some sort of financial interest in the project. Keep Kauai rural.
Typical clueless reply.
Strictly as an outsider and a regular visitor to Kauai, it’s clear to see that Kauai property for development has been oversold. The result is a severe strain on the infrastructure everywhere you look. Traffic, water, wastewater services, trash (landfill), and more. Affordable housing is needed for native Hawaiians. Their culture and heritage should be preserved. Stop building resorts unless you tear one down to rebuild. And don’t become another California with highly illogical political thinking that causes more damage with the fake front of “doing good”. Good luck in 2023, Kauai! You deserve better treatment.