IF DOGS WALK FREE: Our all-too-slowly healing shoulder isn’t cooperating in putting together a longish piece on the pilikila at Larson’s Beach- actually Ka`aka`aniu (rolling coconut) reef-. a place famous for it’s limu kohu.
So we were reading Joan Conrow’s description of her trip from Nihoku to Mokolea Point (Crater Hill to Rock Quarry in settler parlance) guided by our old mountain ball buddy, now Kilauea kupuna, Gary Smith.
Joan mentioned the two-edged sword- the fact that it’s not everyone that gets to walk that stretch anymore... unless you own that not-so-little pink house along the way.
Makes you wonder if the Rundgrens invite the Mellencamps to Toddfest.
It reminded us of how a few years back, access to the beach and mountains was the biggest issue on the island according to polls. As one of the louder voices on the subject, we were outraged when we first heard Gary mention that he actually opposed the movement saying that maybe only “certain people” should be able to go to “certain places”.
It wasn’t until later that we began to understand that the tendency to love these places to death has to be addressed when we maintain traditional accesses.
Even today while reading Joan’s account we still felt a pang of “hey- how come she and Gary get to go there but the rest of us don’t?”.
But you know what- were ok with that nowadays.
Gary in fact was right. There are places to fragile to have the gates swung open to the visiting hoards. And if local people have to sigh and say “I remember small-kid-time when we used to go”, well we’re the ones who elected those who swung open the main gate in the name of progress and prosperity and we’re just reaping what we’ve sown.
So say hi to “the wedgetail shearwater chicks and two red-tailed tropic bird chicks, as well as numerous nene, boobies and iwa” Gary and Joan. We’ll have to be happy just knowing they’re there.
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2 comments:
"it’s not everyone that gets to walk that stretch anymore... unless you own that not-so-little pink house along the way."
Yet another error in fact as Andy tries to force fit the world into his political frame. The "little pink house" sits way on the other side of the river high on a ridge along Wailapa Road. Hardly "along the way" in a nature preserve. They've no special access to a nature preserve on the other side of the valley unless Todd has sprouted wings.
But hey, who wants facts messing up a perfectly good sneer.
Even today while reading Joan’s account we still felt a pang of “hey- how come she and Gary get to go there but the rest of us don’t?”.
It's not that I'm special. I just happened to sign up for one of the daily hikes being offered during National Wildlife Refuge Week, two of them led by Gary, who is a volunteer with the Kilauea Point Natural History Assn. Otherwise, the area is closed to the public.
Hope your shoulder gets better soon.
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