In the Honolulu Star-Bulletin dated Tuesday July 18, 2006, there is a pair of letters to the editor running back-to-back that demonstrates an unusual kind of irony. It certainly points up how many of our elected officials are either out of touch with, or simply ignore, a good portion of their constituency.

The first letter is written by Sen. Will Espero lauding the presentation of the rail proposals and expressing support for the rail project in general. The fact that such a project will further erode the “ambiance of paradise” is something we simply have to accept he says.

“A rail people mover will have a visual impact on our island just like a new 25-story condominium, a new paved road with sidewalks, a homeless shelter, or a electric power plant. However, as our island population approaches one million residents, the ambiance of paradise must change to accommodate the complexities of modern metropolitan living.”

In other words the islands must move into his vision of the 21st century, which means more construction, more roadways, more homeless shelters and more power plants. So the destruction of the “visual impact” of the islands is ok as long it is of a form of which he approves. One wonders if he would have the same attitude toward a new High Occupancy Toll highway covering the same route. Would he accept the loss of “ambiance” that such a project would bring?

This is contrasted by the next letter, which derides those who complain about the deterioration of Hawaii’s natural beauty because of foreigners and mainland immigrants to the state. People raised in other places than Hawaii simply cannot appreciate the “aina” in the same fashion than those who were either raised here or are long-time residents.

“This is important because the mentality and concern about the Hawaiian islands differs from those born and raised in the state vs. outside of state/outside of U.S. residents. If a person has not lived in Hawaii for a long time, the respect for the aina is significantly less. It is not a race issue, it is a "local" issue. Are you REALLY local?”

So this raises the question: Is Sen. Espero "really" a local according to this person? Without knowing if Espero was born here or not, hasn’t he been here long enough qualify as a “local?” Who voted for Espero if not a majority of “locals” who agree with his vision and outlook for the islands? Does Espero not have “respect for the aina?”

That there are “locals” that are promoting pro-growth policies is rarely considered. It isn’t simply a matter of us against them. As Pogo said, “Yep, son, We have met the enemy and he is us.” So who is the enemy? Those who recognize that there must be a change in the “ambiance of paradise” or those who have “respect for the aina?”

What a conundrum.

Reference:

http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/18/editorial/letters.html

Don Newman, senior policy analyst for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii can be reached at: mailto:don@grassrootinstitute.org