Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 10, 1 October 2003 — Play by the rules [ARTICLE]

Play by the rules

The problem with Hōkūli'a is not that our community is opposed to all development, it is just that we want developers to play by the rules. Lyle Anderson, the Hōkūli'a owner, is famous for stretching the rules, but this time some courageous citizens and a meticulous judge stopped him. Agricultural zoning? Just plant a few mae nut trees and eall it a farm. Native Hawaiian burials? Make an agreement with the Burial Council, then ignore it because a Burial Council agreement isn't legally binding. The judge is ruling against us? Just get him removed from the case. This flouting of the law is what makes people so mad at Hōkūli'a. Instead of going off half-cocked now with appeals and lawsuits against his opponents, I suggest that Lyle Anderson start playing by the rules and negotiating with the community. He'll find that we ean be very niee neighbors if he just stops trying to steamroll us. Matt Binder Kealakekua