Be proactive with access to Kumukahi
As I read the article in the Tribune-Herald on Thursday about the proposal to the Department of Land and Natural Resources by a County Council person for the “immediate and long-term measures” to limit the exposure of Cape Kumukahi to the public, I had to chuckle.
It has been 5 1/2 years since the eruption, and the road has effectively been closed except for those with off-road ATVs, etc., who manage to get by the barriers.
The article states that there were grave robbers in 1992 and they have not been apprehended. Most residents do not know that there are graves out there that need to be protected and would not damage them anyway. We are talking about the usual few people who trash our streets and do other things that cause restrictions to be put on all of us who just want to enjoy the island.
As a resident of almost 20 years, and having lived in the Kapoho area for all that time, many of us would spend the day out there near the ocean taking in its beauty and peace.
We would also witness families who would rough camp with their children for a weekend, and to fish, swim and cook over an open fire! (What a great experience for kids!) This is one of the very few places on the island, and especially on this side, where this can happen.
I urge the council not to just dump it onto the DLNR — as they will ponder it for years, and it will remain closed to those of us who respect the Cape — but to get with the groups affected and to come up with some plan to present to the DLNR.
Be proactive and come up with suggestions to get it started. It should be one that the public can use the area, but the graves are protected in some way, whether it be by fencing or like on the “red road” where some are put in a concrete sarcophagus with places for flowers, or the graves are consolidated into one area and then made safe in some manner. Anything but nothing!
Please do not just give to the DLNR a letter, because it is a political waste of time, and many of us want to enjoy the area again.
Open the road so at least police will have access to the area to provide some effort to bring control and law back into the area, which has been missing for 5 1/2 years.
We all want our Cape back. We have lost so much to the lava flows.
James Lehner
Keaau
Traffic woes marred Panaewa zoo event
I hope you didn’t try to go to the “Boo in the Zoo” last Sunday afternoon. Because the trick was waiting in traffic in a very long line in each direction on the highway.
One wonders if there was a treat for anyone involved.
When I get my three wishes from the genie, one will be to look inside the heads of the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department to see if there is anything in there besides spaghetti.
I had hoped to take some pictures, but when I saw the ridiculous line, I immediately turned around and went back home. I thought it was a strange time to have an event — 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.!
Here is a suggestion: Next year, have the event Saturday and Sunday all day. Open the purse strings and give the children and parents of the Big Island a fun weekend with no stress.
Toby Hazel
Hilo