Letter from Lanai: The Governor and Big Wind

Robin Kaye/Special to Civil Beat

Editor's note: Robin Kaye writes for Civil Beat from Lanai. He's a spokesperson for Friends of Lāna‛i.

Almost one year to the day after visiting Lana’i as a candidate to solicit our votes (“No candidate can win a statewide election without the Neighbor Island vote,” he said then), Governor Abercrombie returned to Lana’i this past Saturday to talk with Lana’i residents. The occasion was our annual Pineapple Festival, and the Governor walked around town, had lunch at a local eatery, attended a two-hour public meeting in the cafeteria, and strolled through booths at the fair before winging his way back to O`ahu.

The Governor attempted a few opening remarks at the public session, but was quickly interrupted with a question about Lana’i’s healthcare challenges, in particular the long-overdue funding for our State-run community hospital. Shortly thereafter, the real concern on the minds of most who attended — Big Wind — erupted, prompting the Governor to plead more than an hour later, “Can’t we talk about something besides wind?”

Judging from the questions and comments, Governor Abercrombie has not made many fans on Lana’i, except perhaps for those who have been pressured by Castle & Cooke (CCR) and the ILWU to support the siting of the industrial wind power plant here – clear evidence not withstanding that there will be pitifully few jobs for Lana’i residents. Despite his continually saying, “I’m here to listen to you,” and “nothing definite has reached my desk yet,” the crowd of about 50 were clearly not satisfied.

Loading