Filed under: Food & Energy Security, Sustainability | Tags: maui, Sustainability, golden age of consumption, consumption, stuff, resources
When historians in the future look back at 2009, it will appear as the Golden Age of Consumption. This moment will probably be remembered as the time of the biggest cars, biggest homes on large pieces of land designed with excessive use of raw materials, water thirsty landscapes of ornamentals and not edibles, closets filled with extraordinary amounts of possessions. Lucky we live this age, eh?
Historians will also know what happened next. How we got from the Golden Age of Consumption to the Age of Sustainability, where by definition it means managing resource use so the next generations can thrive as we have. I think most people would agree that different behaviors will be needed. The opposite of keeping up with the Joneses, unless the Joneses happen to be the greenest family on the block.
Will people be willing to change their mindset and actions to create a workable new reality? I don’t know. Short of a wakeup call in the form of a catastrophe (like ships not coming here for awhile with everything we consume) I think not. Because the world continues to look and operate just as we are used to. Gas and food are plentiful. There is more stuff than ever available to fill our closets with and it seems an expanding economy is the only way to measure success.
Much of design of the world – or is it just Maui? – seems to revolve around the privileged few and not the average ‘rest of us’. And they use a hugely disproportionate amount of resources and stuff. That doesn’t seem like a recipe for a sustainable future. This is where I intended to put a brilliant closing thought. Sorry, I don’t have one.
So, let’s hope there is a future for those historians to look back from, and let’s make them proud of us.
Filed under: Maui Politics | Tags: beach activities, government, maui, vacation rentals, wedding industry
How does OUR government work, anyway? In just the last 3 years I’ve seen several industries that weren’t broken being “fixed” in a way that seems to have horrendous results for the local economy and the idea of keeping money circulating on Maui and creating local jobs.
The vacation rental business has been ’slashed and burned’. That cost us a whole class of tourists that doesn’t prefer to stay in a hotel and cost us all the meals and activities and other purchases they might participate in; and jobs for the local people working to service and maintain the units. And after finally coming up with a plan for short term rental units, a new tax shoots the whole thing in the foot for many people. Of course the owners that lost their properties already due to the loss of income won’t be affected by the new rules. They’re gone.
The wedding business. What was wrong with the way that industry operated? It seemed to work just fine and made Maui a great choice for people to get married along with all the friends and family that would travel here and contribute to the local economy. Then, new rules were introduced in a most confusing manner with permits required for each and every ceremony and somehow national press appeared suggesting this wasn’t an easy place to get married anymore and that industry suffered.
And now, beach activity businesses. A new set of rules is being proposed that is intended to protect the reefs from the scuba industry. The reasoning (including consultants hired to review the process that supposedly never even talked to any of the business operators that would be affected)and the end result of this debacle just seems so wrongheaded. How were these conclusions arrived at for something that is currently a non issue but new rules will turn into overcrowding at certain beaches at certain times, but will put many operators stone cold out of business. The dive industry says they not only don’t hurt the reefs but teach people how to protect the reefs. The reefs are fishiest and healthiest in the reserves like Honolua Bay and Ahihi-Kinau, visited by thousands of divers and snorkelers, but no fishing is allowed. And with all dive instructors first aid trained, it is like having extra free help on the beaches in case of accidents.
I can’t wait to see the next thing government decides needing fixing around here. Just kidding.
I’m coming to visit our local politicians to learn more about the way things work around here and find out where the OUR is in our government. Who wants the first appointment?
Filed under: In Memoriam | Tags: Ed Lindsey, Honokawai Valley, kaheawa, uncle ed lindsey
Such a sad day for Maui as Uncle Ed Lindsey passed from this world Wednesday. I only had the privilege to know him slightly in my few years on Maui, but his commitment to the preservation of the island was apparent in everything he did.
I volunteered several times at his Honokawai Valley Restoration project. He led a group of volunteers every Saturday – for 10 years – to bring the valley back to what it was like when Hawaiians lived there. Sundays he led a group to help with reforestation of the land around the Kaheawa wind farm. I hope this work will continue.
He was a very wise man, participated in many groups, had great advice. Good mentors are hard to find. He was one to me. Pono is as pono does. He walked it like he talked it as few others do.
Maui County Council recently named Uncle Ed ‘a beloved Maui treasure’. Thanks for doing that while he could be there to share that moment.
Here is a post called Amazing Honokawai Valley for my impressions of a recent visit.
Filed under: Meaning of Life | Tags: in 'n out burger, malibu, memories, topanga canyon
Turns out it is Pacific Coast Highway. After a late arrival into LAX and a stop at In ‘n Out Burger (yum!), I decided to take the coast highway and go over Malibu Canyon to get to Thousand Oaks instead of 405 to 101. There were lots of memories.
Starting on Lincoln Blvd in Venice. I don’t remember exactly where, but I passed the site of the old Fox Theater. I remember seeing Little Feat there. There is a great Philly Cheese Steak joint right along that stretch of Lincoln as well. Still there. Maybe lunch on the way back to the airport? Then, just past Pico was the site of Classic Motor Speedway, one of the slot car tracks I spent time at in my youth. Then onto Pacific Coast Highway. Immediately after getting on the highway is Santa Monica pier and beach. That beach parking lot once hosted Cirque du Soleil when they had only one tent show going, not troupes performing all over the world at the same time as they do now. Mom took me. She was good at discovering the next big thing (Penn and Teller followed Cirque, in a tiny theater on Las Palmas off Hollywood Blvd).
Next stop was Sunset Blvd just to see if the Self Realization Fellowship Center was still there. Yes. Then Topanga Canyon, where some good times were had with my buds. Nothing I can talk about. And finally into Malibu. I got choked up driving past the pier and remembering times my mother took me fishing there. I also remembered a more recent time where we stopped for some food at a joint she knew about up at Trancas.
Finally, I turned up Malibu Canyon and thought about the times I drove up to the top of Rambla Pacifico for some of the best views in the world. Pacific Ocean on one side and miles of the Valley spread out on the other side. I took my aunt Eve up there just before she passed away. What a treat for her.
I pulled the car over in a turnout on the canyon road to just breathe and reflect for a moment. Got out, listened to the night sounds. Got in the back seat and thought about writing my thoughts right then. But within moments a cop came by and asked what I was doing. He said I was technically blocking traffic as the turnout was for slow cars, not stopping to enjoy the view (it was 1:30 AM, fer chrissakes, he was the only other car). I thanked him and drove on.
I had no idea that taking the scenic route would be so emotional.
Filed under: Meaning of Life | Tags: maui, kenny rankin, silver morning, the music lives on, valentine's day
I’ve been a fan of Kenny Rankin, a singer songwriter that never got the recognition he deserved, for many years. He passed away very recently. Here’s my only anecdote.
I finally saw Kenny Rankin, first time after being a forever fan, on Maui Feb 13 2009. Very close up. After he finished one song, I just spoke to him and said “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I know my girlfriend would love to hear Silver Morning.” He joked around, told me he hadn’t played it in years and might not hit all the notes. I said no problem. He looked at me like “who are you to tell me no problem?” Said he might not remember all the words. I said no problem. He moved to the piano and played the song, my favorite all time of his. Made a couple of mistakes. No problem. I think it got the loudest applause of anything he did. I know I got a lot of points with my girlfriend.
Filed under: Island Adventures | Tags: Kauai, princeville, Sustainability, travel
Please see a few photos on my website.
Teri and I had a chance to visit Kauai for a few days. We had the use of a beautiful home in Princeville. This island is much more green, lush and wet than Maui. It is the oldest island in the chain and has carved mountains that are all covered in green with their tops perpetually in the clouds. This island is home to the wettest spot on earth.
It was great to see wetland taro flourishing. There are rivers running all over the island. I have never seen one running river on Maui. A few streams, most don’t even make it to the ocean.
We visited Waimea Canyon, called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It is very small compared to the Grand Canyon, but you see the similarities. From the rim of the canyon, you can see the island of Niihau, where only 200 people live and Hawaiian is the first language. Next to that is the tiny island of Lehua. Just an uninhabited dot, but these islands are the north end of the populated part of the chain. Many more islands stretch away to the north.
All the way around the island from Waimea Canyon, is the other end of the Napali Coast. To get there from Princeville we drove through Hanalei, where I went to a Club Med about 30 years ago that no longer exists but it was interesting that the house we stayed in was about 1 mile from the site of that club. Of course we waited until the last minute of the last day to visit this spot. So, it was nothing more than a rush to hike as far as fast as we could to catch some views, and turn around in time to wash the sheets before leaving for the airport. Did I mention that this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been? I’ll be back. We also found time to be lazy for most of a day. Well, me lazy. Teri homework.
In addition to enjoying the lush beauty of the island, we also met some great people that are doing similar sustainability work to what South Maui Sustainability is doing. A great introduction to Keone and Andrea from Malama Kauai. We also met with State Senator Gary Hooser and discovered that he does a workshop called Political Advocacy 101. We invited him to come to Maui and do the workshop through South Maui Sustainability and also ask other groups to invite their members as well. We hope we’ll need a large room for that event. Details to follow. We wish him the best in his 2010 race for Lieutenant Governor alongside Neil Abercrombie., who is running for Governor. This is a team that could make a very positive difference for Hawaii.
We had a great trip. Many thanks to our hosts.
Filed under: Meaning of Life
Just try it. Consider the alternative.
May 2009 - 15 kinds of veggies at least, and a stray papaya tree
We are so proud of our vegetable garden. We have 2 raised beds, a separate herb garden, 4 or 5 pots of veggies (more to be added), and a couple of small baskets of herbs hanging off our lanai. Of course we’re still learning what grows well and how to keep the bugs away. We enjoyed a salad this week with 4 kinds of tomatoes from our garden. Just had some steamed broccoli within 10 minutes of picking it. Our involvement with South Maui Sustainability is very inspirational.
Filed under: Food & Energy Security, Island Adventures, Sustainability | Tags: Ed Lindsey, Honokawai Valley, maui cultural lands, restoration
What an enriching Saturday doing restoration work in Honokawai Valley with Uncle Ed and Punani Lindsey and the Maui Cultural Lands group. This group has been working for over 10 years to restore a valley that Hawaiians lived in hundreds of years ago. The whole valley was totally overgrown so if you came upon it you wouldn’t be able to tell people lived there. But as invasive species of plants and trees were removed, many stone walls were uncovered revealing an ancient lifestyle. It is thought about 600 people lived there, grew food and made their way to the ocean – about 2 miles – to fish. Such a magical place and a privilege to have a chance to be there and have a dose of Uncle Ed’s wisdom. Much taro has been planted - and sweet potatoes. One side is a steep cliff whose wall has a lifetime of stories written all over its face. and birds nests. and plants hanging. Sisal, which was brought to Hawaii to make rope for the shipping community. Looks like yucca. I spent the morning watering taro plants. As I knew it might be a week until someone came back, I was very careful not to miss any lest they not survive. Taro is a sacred and important plant to Hawaiians. Which is one reason they don’t like Monsanto genetically engineering it. It really goes against their cultural belief that the taro is the ancestor of Hawaiian people. Things like this hurt your heart when you hear about them. Some Hawaiians have become bitter and angry about violations of their culture again and again over time. Those that have found a better way to deal with unfairness, that stay centered and in their spirit, those become respected kupuna, elders of the community. After a lunch with some shared treats and good talkstory, I spent the afternoon walking up past where the valley has been cleared and you can see that there are more stone walls that you can’t see unless you know you are looking for them. This is how the whole valley must have looked. Then, I was handed a freshly sharpened machete and hacked at some tree stumps which had new growth coming from where they had been cut. Constant maintenance to keep out the invasives. Next, we took a short tour of many different native species that have been reintroduced. They all have the most beautiful names that you can’t pronounce or remember 30 seconds later, partly because you’ve already been told the name of the next plant. And the next. Finally, we loaded into the back of the big flatbed for the horrendously bumpy ride back to where our cars awaited. Once in our own cars, we drove through the Kaanapali Coffee Estates – starting at $1.2 million – on our way down the hill to the highway for the 20 mile drive back from Lahaina to Kihei along a road so close to the water that you can stick out your tongue and have it come back salty. The views ain’t bad either.
