Big Island Video News 6-26-17… “VIDEO: Confrontation Halts Punaluu Excavation” (and important lessons for anyone who comes to these Islands)

Punalu’u (in Ka’u on the Big Island), is home of a rather well-known black sand beach, where tourists and tour buses often go. Most people appear to respect the place, but on Saturday, Simon Velaj (the operator of the Hang Loose Boat Tours (Yelp page)), started to try knock dowen rocks to build a pier for his tour boat company that was unapproved or permitted. It was the locals, via social media and confronting him face to face, that brought an end to it.

I left an answer on their Yelp page, here. Which is below, and gives the gist of how I feel about it.

“I have no idea how these people [Hang Loose Tours] usually operate, but the event at Punalu’u Beach on Sat. 6-24-17 can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/yacog4sy (video) (and article here: http://tinyurl.com/ycmwt7g9).

“The guy had a typical visitor attitude of “we can do whatever we want, wherever we want”. That attitude has NO PLACE in these islands. The ‘Aina (land, ocean, people) is TOP PRIORITY. Learn to LISTEN with your heart to the ‘Aina. ALWAYS…

“If they don’t respect the ‘Aina, they should leave.”

Bottom line, this applies all over the planet. If go to a place:

LISTEN with the HEART
Follow the GUIDANCE of the LAND (ocean, plants, animals).
Go only where you feel PERMISSION to go.
Whatever you take with you, take it back with you… (and that includes your trash).
And, for God’s sake, shut your mouth, stop your mindless yammering, and listen and experience where you are.

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VIDEO: Confrontation Halts Punaluu Excavation

STORY SUMMARY: PUNALU’U, Hawaii – Local beachgoers question the legality of a tour boat operator’s effort to create a new boat ramp at the wharf.

(BIVN) – The Ka’u community is in disbelief after managing to prevent a man’s apparently unpermitted effort to create new boat ramp over a historic structure along the shoreline of Punaluu beach.

Parts of the wharf date back to 1916, according to the cement block (click to enlarge)

On Thursday, a man moving dirt and rocks on the old wharf with an excavator roused the suspicion of campers and fishermen in the area. The locals eventually approached the man, questioning if he had the right to do the shoreline grading work which normally requires state and county approvals and public notice.

The man, who identified himself as Simon Velaj, the operator of the Hang Loose Boat Tours, said he had a lease agreement with SM Investment Partners, associated with Roberts Hawai`i, and told the locals he planned to create a new and improved boat ramp at the wharf because the existing ramp was too shallow for his boat. Locals say Velaj was planning on running lava boat tours from Punalu’u, and even offered to give them free rides if they dropped their objections to the excavation. Locals told Velaj to stop work and leave while they searched for more information.
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[youtube=https://youtu.be/BS7umTfGAOo&w=500]
https://youtu.be/BS7umTfGAOo

On Friday, tensions increased. When Velaj returned to the site in a tour van, Ka’u residents were there waiting for him. Pahala musician Demetrius Oliveira live streamed on Facebook the confrontation that followed. The back and forth exchange got so heated that Velaj was eventually chased out of Punalu’u by angry locals.

Tensions escalate at Punaluu.

Oliveira’s videos went viral, and all together amassed over 100,000 views.

Later that day, this letter – from S.M. Investment Partners to Velaj – was obtained by Ka’u Calendar news, which has been following the situation:

Dear Simon:

This is to provide notice that the License Agreement between S.M. Investment Partners and Hang Loose Boat Tours, LLC dated April 26, 2017 is cancelled effective immediately.

Section 5 of the Agreement states in part that License shall:

– Comply with all applicable federal, state, county and local laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, Covenants, Restrictions applicable to the Premises.

– Be solely responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, licenses and authorization required to undertake the Permitted Activities.

We have received information from members of the community, including a city council member that rocks at the shoreline have been moved and trees have also been removed. You stated that you were in the process of leveling some pillars at the boat ramp. These activities not only require Landlord approval, but require permits from the state and/or county government. We did not authorize you to conduct any activities as described above nor can we condone this type of unlawful behavior, thus we have no option but to cancel your License Agreement due to your non-compliance.

Very truly yours,
Roy Pfund

On Sunday, Big Island Video News interviewed witnesses to the attempted excavation. Although still upset by the way the work had been done, they were relieved that community vigilance – and social media – helped stop the complete destruction of the old wharf.