Wow! I can't believe they can start requiring the permits by Aug 1 !! How long does it take to get the paperwork done and to receive the permit?? What happens if you have weddings planned already and don't have time to get the permits before the wedding date? It sounds crazy-- maybe the yearly permits make more sense, but it still does not make any sense that a wedding would impact the environment!! Just a few people walking down to the beach for a ceremony are not going to cause any damage.

Your comment makes sense-- about what happens if you have a permit to use a certain beach and it starts raining there-- what are you supposed to do? Hold the wedding in the rain, when you know it is sunny a few miles down the road at another beach? They need to use some common sense!

It is too bad they are making it more difficult to run a business when business is already down because of the economy. Sometimes it seems to me that a certain group of people, with some kind of agenda, is trying to bring working people to their knees with taxes, high prices and all kinds of rules and regulations to control our lives. Have you heard about the place that is being built in the United Arab Emirate of Dubai? They are actually constructing land, shaped like a giant palm tree, by dumping tons of rock and sand in the ocean and building hundreds of multi million dollar homes on this exclusive land that will only be sold to the wealthiest people in the world, by invitation only! Construction is well underway and it makes me think that there really is an exclusive group of people who would like one government that would run the world. Maybe I am letting my imagination go a little crazy, but it seems suspicious to me.

Well, I hope that the beautiful island of Maui is not ruined by all this. I am glad I got to see the island, thanks to you, before you have to be a billionaire to visit Maui! Everyone should be able to enjoy the beautiful places in this world, not just the super wealthy!

Enough of my ranting and raving-- I must be listening to too much talk radio!

I hope the government of Hawaii encourages the tourist industry, not just for the big hotel industries, but for anyone who wants to make a living by providing a service to the tourists.

Arlene

One would think in a neighborhood where all the neighbors complained because of the noise and disturbance caused by a minister doing a ceremony for a couple that was getting married that those same neighbors would notice the disturbance and noise of a heavy glass table to being smashed in the middle of the day. Not just once but twice in a matter of weeks.

One would also think that a clear set of tracks with very distinct patterns from their slippers which led right to the condo next door that has been causing the commotion for the past 7 years would be a clue for the police as well.

You may think that this could never happen to you and maybe it never will, but try to realize that it could happen to you or even your children in the future. Because I live on a much sought after property in Mahinahina that developers cannot wait to get their greedy paws on, I have been threatened and tormented since the first week I moved in. A lot of it is documented in police reports and trial scripts and even in County Council records.

It started with terrifying threats like "How much do I love my Grandchildren" and then the house I lived in was burned down. Then my wedding business which was not a disturbance was shut down because developers thought that would make me leave. Guess what folks! I am still here. Most people would just leave but I really do not want to. So I have to live with the constant harassment of the neighbors. My property is constantly being destroyed. Things are taken from the property. Plants stolen and large pots smashed. I cannot have a mailbox on the street as several have been destroyed so I have to get my mail at the Post Office. One day one of the neighbors left a 2 foot high pile of dog doo in the yard. The police have been called on numerous occasions. Usually they just yell at me because they are annoyed that I am upset.

I have private, keep out signs at all borders of the property and still realtors and developers just barge into my privacy and neighbors and joggers as well. They walk right past the signs, knock down my fence and go down and sit in what is left of my lawn chairs and put their cigarette butts out on them.

Is this really civilization? If it is I am not too sure I like it. Is this what you call having good neighbors? I don't think so! If the people that do all of this to me are reading this, are they proud of themselves as human beings?

Developers used the County Council to try to get me off the property. This happens all the time in Maui. I am sure some of you reading this have had an experience like this. Consider yourself lucky if you have not.

I was fined a $1000 for a wedding I did on the beach in front of my house. The County actually video taped it being done on the public beach. I tried taking this to court and it ended with my lawyers getting my case thrown out of court and me having to pay $26,000 of the County's legal fees on top of my own legal fees.

So you would think I had learned my lesson by now and just given up! Well I have only gotten more and more angry and disappointed with my rights as an American. It is probably a miracle that I am still alive and every day I live as if it could be my last. I grew up in New Hampshire where the motto of the state is "Live Free Or Die". It is actually on the license plates in N.H. Kind of ironic isn't it.

Little by little our beautiful island is being eaten up by developers and nobody is doing anything about it. Look around people of Maui! Look at the coastline if you can see it anymore and look up the hillsides. It will not be long before it looks like Oahu. There are so many power lines and traffic lights now that most of the views are interrupted by them. It is hard for tourist or residents to take a photo of Haleakala or the ocean without interference from this. Does anybody besides me really care?

Ammendment: June, 2009. I no longer live on this property and the County has won yet another battle for more property tax. I did not leave by choice!