Monthly Archives: September 2024

House collapse in north shore of Oahu

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The Hawaii State DLNR – Department of Land and Natural Resources provided a press release, along with a video and photographs.

We have yet to hear from the owner’s side of the story.

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND PERMITTING

RICK BLANGIARDI

MAYOR

JOINT NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 28, 2024

EROSION IMPACTS ON OʻAHU’S NORTH SHORE

(HONOLULU) – The DLNR and City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) are notifying neighborhood homeowners and the community of the potential risk to property, health and safety, based on recent events and the history of erosion in the area of Ke Nui Road on Oʻahu’s north shore.

Debris from temporary shoreline hardening measures like sandbag seawalls currently litter the beach. One home along that stretch partially collapsed onto the beach and is actively being demolished, while a second is scheduled to be demolished soon. DLNR is concerned with the unpredictable situation, as more of the coastal dune beneath the residences is undermined. This will potentially place other neighboring homes in a similar predicament.

The DLNR is working with the DPP to raise awareness of these volatile conditions and encourage homeowners to take proactive measures. As wave energy generates sand shifting and undercuts these properties, the integrity of the structures is at risk. The threats to public health and the safety of residents and beachgoers are real concerns.

“While the circumstances are unfortunate, debris on the public beach or falling into the ocean endangering the community and marine life is unacceptable and we will take all appropriate action to protect the public and our natural and cultural resources,” said DLNR Chair Dawn Chang.

Signage along this stretch of Ke Nui Road states that the beach is closed. Community members and visitors are cautioned to avoid walking through the affected area due to safety concerns.

“Understanding the gravity of the situation for beachfront property owners along this stretch, we urge them to heed this warning, for their own benefit and the safety of the community,” said DPP Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna.

Landowners are urged to be proactive and take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid potential damage to their property, impacts to adjacent state and/or county lands, and public access to transit the beach. If the private landowners fail to take appropriate action, the DLNR and DPP may be compelled to take administrative or legal action to protect the public health and safety.

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RESOURCES

(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

HD Video – Sunset Beach collapse hazard (September 27, 2024): https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1013730064

Photos – OCCL Drone Survey (September 27, 2024): https://www.dropbox.com/…/AGaADVjb5_a0hjTpbteU49A…

Photos – Sunset Beach shoreline collapse hazard (September 27, 2024): https://www.dropbox.com/…/AFG5QMPvhXwz7FXsFyplSlU…

Elections 2024: Good Ole Honesty, Integrity & Honesty

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This is an inspiring read on Abraham Lincoln’s mindset of being honest and accountable to the donations he had received during his political campaign. (This book is nearly a hundred years old).

It appears elections is now about raising lots of money to help a candidate promote a narrative to sell to the public Whatever happened to issues and record of candidates?

Elections 2024 – – The numbing and dumbing down of America

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2024 American Elections have been very troublesome to watch. Robust intelligent dialogue based on a candidate’s record and policies have been absent.

I have received solicitations from political parties pitting one candidate against another. Each side is accusing the other of “destroying democracy” with a straight face. Even non-partisan public interest groups have become very partisan and shrill.

Candidates who try to focus on substance and solutions usually demand more effort through reading and analyzing. These are often drowned by the louder noises of partisan clamoring and quick superficial soundbites.

This election process has mainly become a war of social media prowess and madness. Instead of respecting the Public Intelligent and Democratic Processes, the goal seems to be how to circumvent the civil dialogue process.

The days of civil and intelligent debates with intelligent questions and answers have disappeared. Intead of allow the public to listen and analyze the intelligence and values of the candidate, the public is forced to staged narratives through 30-seconds videos, tic-toks, instagram and facebook reels. Hollywood stars, talk-show hosts, musicians and whatever there is out there jump into in the quarrelsome fray.

Even former politicians jump into shrill partisan mud-fights, displaying no statesmanship, if in fact there was any to begin with.

Substance, policies, ideas, solutions, through analytical robust discussions about how a candidate can provide the best way forward are absent.

It has become a social media war to stoke the anger and fear in the American population. “If you’re not for us, you’re against us!”

” And please donate. Donate now. Donate to save Democracy! “

I was curious to see how much money is involved in these elections. This seems like an awful lot — ” In the 2020 U.S. presidential race, candidates spent a total of roughly 3.16 trillion U.S. dollars, more than any other election. The total spending of presidential candidates is reflected in the number of major presidential candidates running. See here for more information on how many candidates have run in past U.S. elections.” 

Is this information correct? If it is, it’s a sad state of affairs! God Bless America.