MISSION IS STILL TO SAVE HONOLUA

A lot has changed since the Save Honolua Coalition formed in 2007, but the mission remains the same: Maintain open space, public access and revitalize the ecosystem of the Honolua Ahupua’a through community-based management utilizing Hawaiian values and practices.

SHC has been working with Maui Land & Pineapple Co. to care for the area through port-a-potties and community cleanups.

We are grateful to have a positive relationship with MLP, and that they have fully withdrawn plans for development in the Honolua area.

So, has Honolua been saved?

The concern is that the 580 acres that were slated for development — Lipoa Point and the lands mauka of the highway — could be sold off to a private investor, and despite General Plan designations and community sentiment, it could still be developed.

Think they wouldn’t do it? MLP is a publicly traded corporation — their bottom line is the bottom line.

Ten years ago, no one could have imagined that the Plantation Course would be sold for $50 million or their Bay Course would sell for $26.7 million, but these assets were sold due to severe liquidity problems stemming from downturns in real estate, tourism as well as pineapple. The number of employees working for MLP has decreased to less than 100.

If ever there was a time to save Honolua, the time is now.

The Save Honolua Coalition is hopeful that MLP will not sell this valuable real estate but knows that like any other publicly traded company, it comes down to profits. They need to entertain all reasonable offers.

Our current mayor, Alan Arakawa, is both business- and community-friendly, so we feel that right now is the most favorable time to make a deal for conservation.

There are many ways the county could create value for MLP, which owns about 23,000 acres of land in Maui.

In 2007, the community stood up and let the world know we do not want a golf course on Lipoa Point, we do not want luxury homes mauka of Lipoa, and we do not want a “surf park” at Honolua, and the company listened.

Now is the time to come together again, to save Honolua for good, forever…

TAMARA PALTIN, President, Save Honolua Coalition

BUSH CREATED OUR COUNTRY’S MESS

Here’s a suggestion for Mr. Lytle, who seems to think that Barack Obama has created “more unemployment, more debt, more overseas jobs, and now a third war.”

We should have reelected George W. Bush for a third term. Of course, there would have to have been a constitutional amendment, but with his good, productive history, it probably would have been a no-brainer.

Then we could have ten times “unemployment, debt, overseas jobs” and, well, no limit to Georgie’s “bring it on” strategy when it comes to wars he starts and other people fight and try to finish.

Think you’ve got it bad now? Imagine the unimaginable. A third Bush term.

Georgie Boy created this disaster. Obama tries to correct it. I know who my money’s on.

DOUG KARR, Napili

LAHAINA AQUATIC CENTER STAFF IS WONDERFUL

I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude to Maui County and to those wonderful folks who run the Lahaina Aquatic Center.

For those of you who have not been to this well-run and fabulous public facility, I invite you to take the time, your children, loved ones and friends and visit this excellent pool.

The staff is friendly, courteous and observant and really do make one feel welcome.

We are very fortunate to have this recreational facility right here in Lahaina.

I encourage everyone looking for some place to swim, play, do water aerobics or simply feel the healing and calming power of water (and do not necessarily wish to go to the beach) to visit the Lahaina Aquatic Center. It is free.

Those of you who already appreciate this place, join me in the vision of solar heat for the water. Wouldn’t that be something marvelous?

RHEYCHOL PARIS

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING?

Have you had enough yet? Trillions — with a “T” — of dollars of national debt and more spending the U.S. does not have, and lie after lie from Obama.

Close Guantanamo, cut the deficit, no new taxes (ha ha!), get out of Iraq and on and on.

The latest from the Associated Press (AP) was Obama’s arrogant needling of a man who complained about the high gas prices while attending an Obama “rah, rah” gathering. Your president scoffed at him and stated, in the most condescending manner, that if he didn’t like the high prices, he might think about trading in his gas guzzler getting 8 MPG. That’s the MPG in his Presidential Limo.

Since he had no way of knowing what kind of car the attendee had, he must be referencing his ride.

Then — “POOF” — the story was scrubbed from the AP and could not be found anywhere on the AP site. Think the AP is in the Obama tank? Duh!

Where is the outrage from you who screamed when George Soros & Company jacked up gas prices to $4 a gallon in October before the election?

Where is the outrage from the antiwar protesters who bashed Bush for a Congress-approved action, but silent when Obama attacks a sovereign nation, posing no threat to the U.S.? Yeah, okay, he hid behind the skirts of the “UN.”

I listen to the Left News networks, and regardless of what Obama does, they spin it to a glorious event. I’m surprised Obama hasn’t blamed Lybia on Bush… yet.

RON BOUDREAUX

NOAA SHOULD RELEASE INFORMATION ON WHALES

A report concerning hundreds of dead dolphins covered with oil from the BP blown-out well are discovered in the Gulf of Mexico. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) investigators immediately state there’s no proof the 200 million-gallon spill is related, immediately taking the stand with the corporations. How about any proof that it’s NOT related, like erring on the side of caution, following the Precautionary Principal.

Did you know there was a whale stricken by a boat in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary off Maui on Feb. 15, 2011? Probably not, as seemingly no report appears in media, and information is difficult to secure.

The “Coconut Wireless” alerts the community, but with no verifiable information available, the rumors fly full of misinformation.

All I can determine is an event did occur, and a NOAA investigation continues.

To secure information about the incident from NOAA, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request must be submitted, and such request will only be honored when the investigation is concluded. NOAA has filed one single case for a vessel striking a whale in Hawaii since 2007 — ONE!

Our marine sanctuaries are part of NOAA, and NOAA is under the Department of Commerce. So, is it about protecting business or protecting the natural creatures? You decide.

MIKE MORAN, Kihei

DOZA WAS A GREAT MENTOR

For those of you that are not familiar with the Lahainaluna Senior Project, let me introduce you to it.

Each student has to find a vocation/career that they are interested in pursuing in the future as a possible job, as well as a mentor. They then spend a total of 40 hours learning and working the subject of their choosing.

Next, they present a report and podcast to a small panel of judges that grades them on their completed project.

The subject my son, Mitchell, chose was “Organic Gardening,” and his mentor was Charlie Doza, or, as we call him, “Smiley.”

In my son’s own words, “He is the nicest man I’ve ever met in my life!” Charlie is a heavy equipment manager of 34 years.

I would like to recognize him and thank him publicly for giving back on his own time and sharing his profession with our son. We are so grateful for this great man and also for this program. The fact that it teaches the students worthwhile skills to be used in their future is huge!

If any of you ever have a chance to help out and mentor a student, remember it’s time well invested, and you’re a vital part of this great community that always gives so much.

In closing, I want to mention that I was so very proud of each and every one of our seniors for having done such an awesome job on their senior projects.

God bless every one of your futures.

PAULA LOEWEN, West Maui