North Shore Versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 - Waialua and Haleiwa

As we mark another passage of time, it struck me how crazy some of the people of North Shore are about trying to stop the clock or turn back the clock on what is happening to our community. They are so convinced, so righteous, so outraged that events are unfolding on the North Shore that will lead to change.

I've been lucky. I've gotten to travel to lots of places in my life. All over the Mainland, the Far East, Europe. All of the places I've gone have long histories of societal development. The cities and countries evolve, progress, reinvent themselves. Sometimes the changes are bad, sometimes they are remarkably good.

What strikes me as incredibly stupid and for those with power irresponsible is to not acknowledge that the North Shore is changing. For you to be stuck on an idea that any particular version of North Shore 1.0 is a good version or the right version is idiotic. Just because you moved here from California because the waves were good and no one was on them is no rational for any belief that you can keep it that way.

The North Shore is way too new to stop changing. It hasn't even really started when you compare it to the rest of the world.

Let's take a look at what version of community we have across the North Shore and where it might be headed.

Waialua 2.0 - Waialua started as company sugar cane town (1.0). The mill is closed and there have been persistent attempts to create economic activity over there. Currently the most promising is the seed crop industry. There are genetic variations being raised over there which upsets some people. I just do not see the sugar mill turning into anything viable beyond a few boutiques that would be better served in more modern facilities. They should follow the example of Kahuku and blow the whole thing up and start on a new commercial direction or turn it into other uses. Better to do that then get hooked on the narcotic false hope that nostalgia brings.

Halewia 2.5 - Haleiwa 1.0 was a town to support the sugar mill population and the other people scattered across the North Shore. Haleiwa 2.0 features individual stores, restaurants, etc. that primarily derive their benefit from tourists and locals looking for some food and camaraderie. Collectively they create an OK experience for tourists and locals. Haleiwa would benefit from an upgrade to a 3.0 version that takes care of some of the deficiencies in the current town. The buildings there are NOSTALGIC, not historic. Sorry, but historic is a little bit older than you mother and father. If a building is an eyesore, it is an eyesore. If people want to fix it or tear it down. Please let them. Just because you remember it as a kid does not automatically make it worth saving. Sidewalks must be built if only to be ADA compliant. But face it, the current muddy mess is ridiculous. Anyone who has opposed sidewalks there should be required to lay in the mud. There needs to be several "Park and Walk" lots. One near the Post Office, one near North Shore Marketplace and one near Matsumoto's. The lots can be behind the buildings, with good directional signage for the tourists. People in Haleiwa 3.o can park their cars, visit multiple locations on safe sidewalks. A couple with a stroller should be able to get from one side of town to the other without risking their child's life.

Also, we can only hope that some developer might bring back a multi purpose theater to Haleiwa. While normally I am a die hard private industry capitalist, perhaps a partnership between govt. and a private company would be the only way to get a theater done. It would be great.

(to be continued next Sunset & Pupukea, Turtle Bay, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula and Punaluu)

Big Swell Mel, The Hot Dog Dude, Is A Law Breaker

We really like our neighbor, let's call him "Big Swell Mel". Mel by every measurement of North Shore creed is a local hero. He has a job with the govment, he's either a teacher, fireman or a lifeguard. Mel has the perfect job for the North Shore, flexible schedules, lots of time off to surf.

Mel has lots to say about everything on the North Shore, but most passionately development. He is against everything. Mainly he does not want any more people out on the North Shore. He does not like Maui Loa's businesses. He's happy that Kammies Market is not moving ahead. No Malls, no shops, Keep The North Shore Country.

Problem with Mel and so many of the other Sunset Radicals is that they are contributing to the very problems they are so vocally opposed to. How many people do you know that have bumper stickers opposing everything on the North Shore but they themselves have an illegal vacation rental or illegal units on their property?

I know Mel does. He even advertises in VRBO.com along with tons of other illegal renters. But Mel will say it is only one unit, in his house. He'll say he needs to do this because he needs the money because of all the other people who have caused property values and taxes to skyrocket. He says how else is anyone expected to make it on the North Shore?

So Mel and his buddies keep adding units, renting them, not paying taxes, which does a whole bunch of things that I will cover on a separate post.

But Mel, you are part of the problem. I know at least a dozen people who are totally nuts about Turtle Bay, but have illegal rentals.

I know Mel would never buy food or shop at any of the illegal stores on the North Shore, but when the Pipe Masters ran a few Sundays ago, Mel was out next to his house selling hot dogs and soda to tourists. Go figure.

Operation Toybox Needs Your Help!

We all know that Ron is one of the good guys. Our kids grew up just waiting for face time in The North Shore News. I got my copy of the NSN today and Ron says he needs some help.

LET'S GIVE IT TO HIM.

Please bring toys to the office of The North Shore News by this Friday, December 22, 5 P.M. The North Shore News office is located in the Haleiwa Post Office building at 66-437 Kamehameha Hwy. for more information call 637-3138.

Santa Claus has a relative on the North Shore - Ron. The resemblence is remarkable.

PAVE Kawela Bay?

The Defend Oahu Coaltion has a new plea on their website: On January 2, from 11AM - 1PM, join us at Honolulu Hale for the opening day of the City and County of Honolulu legislature to call upon our elected officials to move on resolutions to save Kawela Bay! See our flyer for more info. Basically they want to "SAVE KAWELA BAY". My simple questions are as follows:

What does Defend Oahu Coalition Want to Save Kawela Bay From?

• - Is Kawela Bay going to be filled in with concrete so Turtle Bay can build sky scrappers?
• - Is Kawela Bay going to be poisoned by Turtle Bay so no locals can fish there?
• - Is Kawela Bay going to be Kapu for anyone other than rich people from California?
• - Is Kawela Bay going to be given to Go Airlines for a new airstrip?
• - Is Kawela Bay going to be dredged to 120' deep so it can accodate Cruise Ships that will partner with the hotel?

Guess what? THERE IS ALREADY DEVELOPMENT...GASP.... HOUSES ON KAWELA BAY!!! THE HORROR!!!. All those house are within 20' of the shoreline. If you want to visit those houses, you have to know the secret code, enter it at the gate and proceed. No code, no access, no entry, no parking, no Kawela Bay swimming, fishing, diving, etc..

So what is Turtle Bay going to do with Kawela Bay?

Turtle Bay HAS TO BUILD A PARK at Kawela Bay per the Unilateral Agreement. That park will enable anyone to go there. After the park is done, Turtle Bay can build a hotel, condos or houses on the area at the east/Turtle Bay side of the Bay.

Funny thing is they have to build a minimum of 300' from the shoreline. UMMMM, do you think the houses that are already there are that far back? I'll help you, the answer is NO. They also will build a path so anyone can walk, jog, run, ride, roller skate, etc around Kawela Bay and around the entire Turtle Bay Property. By the way the path will NOT be on the west side because there is no room between the existing houses and the sand.

The people that are telling you to Save Kawela Bay are trying to scare you. They are lying to get their way. They think you are idiots who will believe anything they say and back them up.

Don't be an idiot by believing them, don't be a liar by repeating their crazed rants. Read up on the project, learn, get involved.

Kawela Bay is troubled piece of water. It is beautiful to look at from the shore. But underneath the surface it needs help. Here is a link some photos of Kawela Bay from 1960 it is on Ian Lind's Blog - Notice how clean the water is. Today the water is murky and silt filled. Turtle Bay had NOTHING to do with that. Why not try and get the developer to clean it up? Turn it in to a marine sanctuary? Do something positive for Kawela Bay instead of inciting fear with half baked crazy talk.

If anyone has read this blog for a while you know I detest hypocrites and liars. It is just bizarre to me that those people who profess to the good guys in this battle - Defend Oahu, Keep the North Shore Country and their supporters are the hypocrites and liars. Look at their websites and look at the Kuilima Website and tell me different. They have been lying ever since this started back in January, they are still lying.

Great Job Randy, What A Show!

I just love it when the circus comes to town.

How lucky are we on the North Shore, a tiny place on the map. We get to see some of the world's best athletes participate in sporting events that people around the world would pay a lot of money to attend.

Super Bowl tickets are something like $400 a piece face value. Try and scalp one and you'd better have $1,500 for the nose bleed seats.

Every year, Randy and his great crew (yeah Faith and Jodi) bring us the Super Bowl of wave riding - The Van's Triple Crown of Surfing FOR FREE.

They organize a great contest. Keeping the community in mind, they do everything humanly possible to minimize the inconvenience that is inevitable when hosting a world class event in a community where there is one traffic light and just a handful of parking lots. They invite the kids, the surfers spend money in the local community, the surfers go to appearances, they are open to all kinds of requests for autographs at any time. I have to think Randy has an influence on them.

I took the kids to all the contests. They play in the water, watch some waves see their friends. It's a big party.

In a couple months I get to see some of the best golfers in the world out at Turtle Bay. I have to admit the "old men" at the Turtle Bay Championship are my favorite, but my nephew favors the LPGA ladies at the SBS Open. I've been lucky enough to get some free tickets for those events, but the $10 I might have paid is still a bargain. These golfers are amazing and here they are right here on the North Shore.

Also, you should go and see some of the teams at Kahuku H.S. play - they are among the best in the state.

To you people who complain about the inconvenience of the surf contests (Let's Surf Coalition) GET OVER IT!!! You are a bunch of whining, selfish, self indulgent cry babies. Why don't you try to enjoy yourself. Other responsible adults are gifting you the opportunity to see something very special. Your minor inconvenience is a small price to pay for the thousands of people who are having a blast.

Lamest Protest EVER

I drove past the Defend Oahu Coalition's Protest against Turtle Bay Resort 4 x times today. Here is how many people I saw each time I went past them:

• 11:30 -8
• 12:30 - 10 to 12
• 3:30 - 14
• 4:30 - 12

This includes the "band", those waving signs and those behind and in front of the desk. I did not notice a single face that I have not seen at other protests. It looks like the Serial Protesters are pretty much the only ones outraged by the total destruction Turtle Bay will bring to the North Shore if they turn over one shovel full of dirt.

If the TV cameras came out, I am sure all the foaming at the mouth wackos were all herded together in one place. Then, full of purple rage, they put on an emotional show. It will wind up looking like a lot more on the small screen. I'm sure Defend Oahu and Keep The North Shore Country will say hundreds stopped by and signed petitions, made signs, were outraged, yada...yada.... This bunch does know how to spin PR, but trust me people, it is a big shabai.

THIS WAS THE LAMEST

PROTEST EVER!

THEY COULDN'T EVEN

CAUSE A TRAFFIC JAM!

To bad a surf contest wasn't going on, Gil (who I saw) and his Let's Surf Coalition could have gotten in a 2 for 1 protest.

Also, when is Keep The North Shore Country going to tell us about the "event wrap-up may be posted later today" from their last fund raiser. That blurb has been on their home page for the last month. Not a lot of full disclosure in that bunch is there?

UPDATE DONE - Keep The North Shore Country Does an Event Wrap Up. The following was posted on 12-18-06. Nice first step, but how much money and how are you spending it?

Fundraising Dinner a Huge Success Our fundraiser at Waimea Valley on November 25th was a great success as nearly 300 people came out to raise money for the legal actions and enjoy a fabulous meal, friendship and entertainment. The band Wayfinder provided great music from the time the doors opened, through dinner and to the close of the silent auction, when John Cruz took the stage and played until the party ended. A positive energy filled the pavilion throughout the night and was strenghtened by comments from our legal team. With that kind of enthusiasm, it should not be difficult to do similar events again and again. It is clear that we gain strength as every day passes. - 12/18/06

I'd suggest checking out Turtle Bay's Kuilima website that covers the development. They have a much more honest and fact filled discussion - link here - http://www.kuilimainfo.com/

The protesters did have a lot of ugly, hand scrawled signs up and down Kam Hwy. - more irony as the Outdoor Circle people probably do not like that.

Turtle Bay/Kuilima Developement Website Is Up and Running

I'll clicked over the Turtle Bay's development website and it appears to be live - http://www.kuilimainfo.com/. I could not get the video to run very well and I have Road Runner. I got frustrated and turned it off, maybe someone can tell us what is says?

Anyway, they have posted just about every bad thing that has been said about the development and their answers are there as well.

I'm sure this will just enrage those who are angry and back up those who want it.

If anyone changes their mind about this project by even a itsy bitsy teeny weeny amount, I'd really like to hear it.

Just put your thoughts in a reply or send me and email and I'll post it if you wish or keep it to ourselves.

Toegee-Jon hapamother@yahoo.com

Surf Schools Use Park Marketing

Maybe I notice too much.

It seems like the local surf schools are on a mission to park their vehicles in the most conspicuous spots with the most surf boards on top. Kind of like mobile advertising, sculptured billboards.

I see them parked where the site lines to their van are good, where there are lots of tourists and usually in questionably legal areas.

I have a suggestion on how the schools could improve on their "Park Marketing" plan. Get a panel truck (like the small do it yourself UHaul size) and have surf boards mounted all the way around it along with a giant sign and phone number. Park it so it partially blocks traffic - that way everyone has to look at it while they maneuver around it. Now that is what I call Surf School Marketing.

Open Letter to Blake and Jack.

I've read the stories about back in the day when you were Groms and your parents dragged you out to wave signs and protest something on the North Shore. As early teens these events shaped you into the sensitive, environmentalists that you are today. Now as adults you are ready to save the Country from all sorts of greedy, seedy, self serving, bulldozer obsessed capitalist developers.

Well, Blake and Jack, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Your good intentions realized with Pupukea Paumalu will lead to a place that is much less desirable to live in for a majority of our Keiki and Kapuna for generations.

I have the luxury of having time and the ability to afford to find things for my young relatives to do. With the new school schedules - almost 4 weeks off at Christmas, I've been busy looking for programs on the North Shore to let them have fun, blow off some steam, get educated a bit. There is not a lot out there unless you want to commute 30 minutes or more each way.

Blake and Jack, I came to realize this again, you and your group are destroying any chance for the North Shore between Haleiwa and Kahuku to have any meaningful alternative recreation area. Your closed door, closed minded no communication meetings with Obayashi and the Govt. will most likely result in the destruction of the commitment that runs with the land. That commitment would have seen built a brand new YMCA on the North Shore. Swimming pool, gymnasium, indoor basketball and volleyball, recreation floor space for varied children, adult and senior activities. That is just what this area needs and you guys are throwing it away for us.

Yeah right, your efforts will lead to more open space and rural park. You'll have nature programs. Well WHOOPPPEEE. I'll tell you what, we do not need any more parks and trails here. You can walk to Laie from the top of Pupukea on a great trail. You can go up past Comsat, or the motor cross track. Great Mauka trails behind Waimea, Sunset, V-land, Turtle Bay, Kahuku, Laie, Haula, etc. Knock yourself out every weekend of the year and you'll have plenty of varied terrain, views and conditions.

The youth and nature programs we have here on the North Shore are woefully unattended by local kids. Take a look at the programs they have at Waimea for kids. If it weren't for the haole kids of the environmentalists of the North Shore and townies, there would be a handful or less of kids there.

Jack, the irony of what your doing is going to fall on you when your kids get old enough and you have nothing for them in terms of the kinds of programs the YMCA has. No pool, no gym, no crafts, no senior fitness, no "Mommy and Me" programs, no youth and adult basketball, volleyball leagues. No pool, no swim teams for all ages, no place for youth leadership development.

Jack and Blake, they do not have lanes and starting blocks or swim teams in the ocean.

Jack and Blake are to blame, when our children suffer for a lack of recreational diversity.

Your closed loop trail and park, after your opening ceremonies, will have what, maybe, on a beautiful perfect day, a hundred people there? The same people who are going to the other Mauka parks and trails on other weekends. In the mean time hundreds of kids, adults and seniors an hour could have been at the YMCA.

If you choose to respond, don't lie to us and tell us you saved us from hundreds of homes being built. I know there was a proposal made to you guys that would have enabled about 30 homes to be built there, not all on the bluff. All the benefits to the community would have stayed intact. But you all said "No. Not one thing shall be built there".

Did you ask us? NO. Are you guilty of closed door negotiations without public discussion - YES. I know you are seeking to destroy the Unilateral Agreement to take away the conditions that would have benefited the community. You have not told anyone that. It is not on your website. You are hiding that very important fact, and that is shameful.

You are going to damn generations of residents here. Just wait Jack and Blake, as you start families, you'll see soon enough how much we could have used the facilities you are dooming to oblivion.

"Everyone Talks About The Traffic But No One Does Anything About It" Mark Twain

Last Sunday the low rider pick up truck club circled the Island and traffic got backed up all over the North Shore. Last Saturday it was the women's surf contest at Sunset. Traffic is going to increase on the North Shore no matter what.

What are we going to do other than blame greedy, capitalists?

Despite litigation, the most likely scenario is that the U.S. Army as part of the plan to accommodate the Stryker Brigade, is going to build a road from generally Schofield/Wahiawa to the Turtle Bay area so military vehicles can bypass public roads - mainly Kamehameha Hwy.

People of the North Shore, we should do everything we can to have the road built to have public access on it, even if it is on a limited basis.

Traffic - On the weekends the road between Haleiwa and Waimea is frequently grid locked. There is no way to get rid of that traffic. This road would provide a means to bypass Kam Hwy between Punaluu and Haleiwa. There is nothing else that can be done to help move things along along other than build a road that gets people off of Kam Hwy or else make Kam Hwy a 4 lane road - nobody wants that and it is not practical.

Safety - Currently there is one way out of the North Shore up to Haleiwa and through the entire windward side. When a traffic accident happens, brush fire, landslide, a broken water main, etc. that forces a road closure, both public traffic and emergency vehicles have to literally go around the island - a two hour trip. There needs to be an additional egress and access road that enables evacuation. There is also a very strong likelihood that Kahuku Hospital could fail. If that were the case, someone that is in distress would have a 40 to possible 90 minute drive to Wahiawa Hospital under current conditions. Double it if the ambulance has to get here from there. With an mini "H-4" road drive time to Wahiawa would be about 15 - 20 minutes and that would save lives. The grid locked traffic on Kam Hwy in also impeding lifeguards, police and fire depts... from being able to get to emergencies.

The Environment - hundreds if not thousands of idling cars on a weekend that back up from Haleiwa past Shark's Cove are not environmentally friendly. Also the added mileage that people from the North Shore - Kahuku, Laie, Hauula to get to their jobs, run errands, etc. is wasteful and expensive.

The Feds - This is a federal project. Senators Akaka and Inouye and Congressman Hirono and Abercrombie need to get this going. Also, it would also need the support of Linda Lingle, Mufi Hannemann and local legislator Donavan De La Cruz and Michael Magouay.

The Mormons - The community of Laie needs to get behind it - for the same safety, traffic and environmental reasons as above, but also for the economic interests of enabling their church members to get to work more efficiently and enabling visitors to BYUH and the Polynesian Cultural Center easier access. *

Everyone but Sunset - The Kahuku, Hauula, Punaluu Community needs to be behind it - this enables the people of Kahuku much easier access to amenities, safety and economic benefits of being able to reasonably commute to work outside of the North Shore. The Sunset Beach Community will probably never be behind anything that requires more than a shovel to be used. It would be historical to get them to support anything.

Copy the Keep the North Shore Country and Defend Oahu Coalition Methods - They have done an amazing job of getting their concerns heard by the Media. First send letters to the editor regarding the road. Then get The Advertiser to do a major article on it (at this point TV and radio cover it) and then get The Advertiser to do an editorial either for or against the idea. From that point forward all coverage they have either supports of negates the "idea". We need the Paper's support, and some key radio personalities for it.

This is a HUGE benefit for the North Shore. - It helps the North Shore save time, gas and money. - It protects us in case of accidents and emergencies. - It is the only way we can get traffic off of Kam Hwy.

CAN ANYONE HELP GET THIS DONE?