Jennifer Wada at 11:24, 21 April 2006

2006-04-21T11:24:46Z

Reid Ginoza at 04:11, 9 March 2006

2006-03-09T04:11:12Z

New page

tenant rights. 49/ Disputes over
water rights can be resolved in a
proceeding in State courts, according
to procedures set out in Hawaiian
statutes. 50/
Geothermal and Mineral Rights
The only Hawaiian State statutes
relating to minerals are a strip
mining law and a law providing for
mineral leases on State-owned land.
At least some of the patents that were
issued by the kingdom of Hawaii
retained the mineral rights in the
government and these mineral rights
are today owned by the State of
Hawaii.
No State statute mentions
geothermal development or geothermal
rights. Native Hawaiians do appear to
be concerned about geothermal
development sociologically, however.
Trie Puna Hui Ohana, an organization of
the Puna Hawaiian community, has
'indertaken an extensive assessment of
the potential social and cultural
impact of geothermal development on
the "aboriginal" Hawaiians of Lower
Puna on the island of Hawaii. 51/ The
report states:
Early Hawaiians used the steam
emanating from fissures along the
rift zone for cooking and
geothermally heated water ponds
for bathing. Though exploratory
drilling had begun in the 1960's
in Puna, the first successful well
wasn't discovered until 1976.
Designated HGP-A (Hawaii
Geothermal Project-Abbott), the
well was one of the hottest in the
world (675°), high pressured (555
psi), and relatively chemically
benign. The successful well
represented a new era of
alternative energy for the State
of Hawaii. For the community of
Puna, the geothermal
success introduced a developmental
element for which it had not been
prepared. 52/
The report evaluates a survey of
attitudes among Lower Puna's native
Hawaiian leaders. These leaders felt
that the development of geothermal
resources in the area would increase
the in-migration to the area and
result in major cultural changes. It
was felt that socio-economic impacts
of a growing Caucasian population
would increase during geothermal
development. Respondents felt that
Caucasians would control the economic
benefits of geothermal development,
and that, unless native Hawaiians
"help themselves or develop fruitful
relationships with the developer,
Hawaiians' benefits will be very
limited at best." 53/
Other concerns included changes in
interpersonal relationships, changes
in the apparent transfer of political
and social power from the local
Japanese political establishment to
the Caucasians, and a possible effect
on native Hawaiians' relationship to
nature, to people, and to the
supernatural. Finally, native
Hawaiian leaders and elders of Lower
Puna believed that population and
economic growth in connection with
geothermal development continues to be
a serious threat to the preservation
of the native Hawaiian culture as it
exists in Lower Puna. They "also
believe that the culture can be preserved
if families will learn the
concepts well and pass it on to their
descendants." 54/
Despite distrust of geothermal,
development, however, the community
seems to have approved it with strong
reservations. Of special concern is
the manner in which surplus energy is
used. The study concludes that
"continued dialogue between newcomers
and long time residents may
promote a better understanding of
259

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-tenant rights. 49/ Disputes over
+tenant rights. <u>49</u>/ Disputes over
 water rights can be resolved in a
 proceeding in State courts, according
 to procedures set out in Hawaiian
-statutes. 50/
+statutes. <u>50</u>/
 Geothermal and Mineral Rights
 The only Hawaiian State statutes
 relating to minerals are a strip
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
 are today owned by the State of
 Hawaii.
 No State statute mentions
 geothermal development or geothermal
@@ Line 20: / Line 24: @@
 be concerned about geothermal
 development sociologically, however.
-Trie Puna Hui Ohana, an organization of
+The Puna Hui Ohana, an organization of
 the Puna Hawaiian community, has
-'indertaken an extensive assessment of
+uindertaken an extensive assessment of
 the potential social and cultural
 impact of geothermal development on
@@ Line 28: / Line 32: @@
 Puna on the island of Hawaii. 51/ The
 report states:
 Early Hawaiians used the steam
-emanating from fissures along the
+:Early Hawaiians used the steam emanating from fissures along the rift zone for cooking and geothermally heated water ponds for bathing. Though exploratory drilling had begun in the 1960's in Puna, the first successful well wasn't discovered until 1976. Designated HGP-A (Hawaii Geothermal Project-Abbott), the well was one of the hottest in the world (675°), high pressured (555 psi), and relatively chemically benign. The successful well represented a new era of alternative energy for the State of Hawaii. For the community of Puna, the geothermal success introduced a developmental element for which it had not been prepared. <u>52</u>/
 rift zone for cooking and
 The report evaluates a survey of
 attitudes among Lower Puna's native
@@ Line 66: / Line 52: @@
 relationships with the developer,
 Hawaiians' benefits will be very
-limited at best." 53/
+limited at best." <u>53</u>/
 Other concerns included changes in
 interpersonal relationships, changes
@@ Line 86: / Line 73: @@
 if families will learn the
 concepts well and pass it on to their
-descendants." 54/
+descendants." <u>54</u>/
 Despite distrust of geothermal,
 development, however, the community
@@ Line 96: / Line 84: @@
 and long time residents may
 promote a better understanding of
+{{p|259}}

Template:Nhsc-v1-259 - Revision history

Jennifer Wada at 11:24, 21 April 2006

Reid Ginoza at 04:11, 9 March 2006