Island Breath: Koloa Marketplace Boycott

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: JUAN WILSON juanwilson@mac.com

POSTED: 12 MARCH 2008 - 12:00pm HST

Stacey Wrong's Personal Touch

image above: a satire in the face of tragedy: the removal of monkeypods from the Koloa Post Office
Graphic by Juan Wilson. Click on pic for enlarged version.

by Juan Wilson on 12 march 2008

Stacey Wong may not have actually used a chain saw to cut down the trees, but as manager of the Eric Knudsen Trust he may as well have. As a result the image above is an attempt to illustrate that you cannot disassociate yourself from the results of your work and what you profit from.

You may download and use the graphic (or its enlarged version) as you would like. Please do not alter it and give a credit. I intend to bring a sign with the image to the Foodland boycott demo detailed below on Friday.

Hope to see you in Waipouli Town Center from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: LINDA HARMON juanwilson@mac.com

POSTED: 11 MARCH 2008 - 12:00pm HST

Boycott demonstration at Foodland again

image above:The Coffee Bean franchise snuggles against American Savings Bank & Foodland in Kapaa
Photo by Juan Wilson

by Linda Harmon on 10 March 2008

The giant monkeypod trees shading the parking lot and front of the Koloa Post Office are down. The results are ugly. We plan to continue focusing on the tenants who will be using the parking lot that will replace those trees. Maybe they will be willing to save more of the remaining monkeypods if we turn out to show our concern. We would be satisfied with the tenants if they spoke up about the concerns of the community.

The next boycott demonstration in front of Foodland/Coffee Bean/American Savings Bank will be held on Friday, March 14th from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm in front of the Waipouli Town Center in Kapaa. Please join us.

If we are to convince Foodland and sister store, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf that it is in their best interest to put pressure on the developer to spare the remaining 26 Monkeypod trees on the property being developed we need to be vocal and visible. Until the stores that will profit from this new mall get involved in saving the trees for the community of Kauai's sake we shouldn't buy from them.

They have already allowed almost half of the beautiful and cherished trees be taken down without protesting. Sullivan Family of companies is owner of Foodland and is bringing to Shops at Kola Plaza the following franchise stores: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Malaga Market, and Beard Papa's.

Come out and support us on the sidewalk in Kapaa. We have signs or bring your own. We also have a flyer to hand out.

Write and call Foodland, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and American Savings who share rental space in the Waipouli plaza.

Foodland Supermarkets
(tenants that are subsidiaries of the Sullivan Company, the parent of Foodland)
Malama Markets
Beard Papas
contact: Jenai Sullivan Wall CEO
email: services@foodland.com

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
contact: ecoffee@coffeebeanhawaii.com
phone: (800) 832-5323
address: 1945 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeses, CA

American Savings Bank
contact: Ronald Dobashi, Facility Manager
email: info@asbhawaii.com
phone: (800) 272-2566
fax: (808) 532-7000

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: LINDA HARMON harmonl001@hawaii.rr.com

POSTED: 8 MARCH 2008 - 12:00pm HST

Another boycott demonstration at Foodland

image above: The facade of Foodland in Waipouli Town Center plaza.

by Linda Harmon on 7 March 2008

Another demonstration will be held this Sunday, March 9th from 11:00am to 1:00pm in front of Foodland at the Waipouli Town Center plaza on the Kuhio Highway, near Kapaa. Remember, this is private property and demonstrators are not welcome. Stand on the sidewalk. Bring signs that mention Foodland and the Monkeypod trees being cut down in Koloa for a parking lot.

We will try to bring home the message that Foodland and CoffeeBean and tea Leaf need to step in and help save the Monkeypod trees at their coming location.

image above: The place to meet and hold signs is near this sign.

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: JUAN WILSON juanwilson@mac.com

POSTED: 7 MARCH 2008 - 9:00am HST

Boycott of Foodland gets some attention

image above: Demonstration on the sidewalk in front of Waipouli Town Center to boycott Foodland
All photo's by Juan Wilson

by Juan Wilson on 7 March 2008

Efforts to demonstrate the need to save the Monkeypod trees in Old Koloa Town to a turn to the eastside on March 6th, with a demonstration in front of Foodland in Waipouli, near Kapaa.

The demonstration was organized by Linda Harmon, of Hanapepe. She has been a key figure in supporting attempts to convince the Knudsen Trust and Nelson Company from cutting and bulldozing the majority of the grove of large and mature Monkeypods from being cut down. The trees have become a symbol of the Koloa. The Koloa Community Association is distributing a bumper sticker saying "Save Koloa's Soul"

Knudsen and Nelson are the owner and developer of the site in Koloa. They have refused to even talk to community members about their concern. Ms Harmon realized another approach was to go to the companies signed up as tenants in the new Koloa plaza. She has put together a flyer, petition and letter drive to ask the tenants to influence the owner to save more of the Monkeypods on the site. Familiar parent companies of tenants include ABC Stores, Sheraton Starwood, American Savings Bank, and Foodland.

image above: Foodland entry canopy, with embedded American Savings Bank and Coffee Bean

Several future tenants at the Koloa site will be subsidiaries and operations of Sullivan Company, the parent company of Foodland. Those tenants include the franchises the Coffee Bean & Tea Company, Malama Markets and Bearded Papa's. Here in Hawaii they will be Foodland operations. Moreover, American Savings Bank, another Koloa plaza future tenant, is a rental partner of Foodland at their Waipoli store.

Because of these strategic Foodland business arrangements, Ms. Harmon chose to focus on Foodland as the most visible tenant operator who might be influential in saving the Koloa trees.

image above: Foodland foyer with embedded American Savings Bank outlet

Several activists met on the Kuhio Highway in Waipouli in front of Foodland from 5:00-7:00pm. They demonstrated by carrying boycott signs and handing out flyers. One demonstrator even did a live call in interview with KONG radio from the sidewalk.

Two policemen and a Wackenhut Security guard watched at a distance to make sure no demonstration occurred on private property.

image above: Wackenhut Security coordinates the afternoon's effort with Kauai Police Department

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: LINDA HARMON harmonl001@hawaii.rr.com

POSTED: 6 MARCH 2008 - 11:00am HST

Boycott to Foodland save the Koloa trees

WHAT:
Boycott of Koloa plaza tenants to support Koloa trees

WHERE:
Foodland in Koloa (they will have for franchise businesses at new plaza)

WHEN:
Thursday, March 6th, 2008 between 5:00pm and 7:00pm

by Linda Harmon on 4 March 2008

This Thursday, March 6th the People for the Preservation of the Koloa Trees (Monkeypod Trees) will stage their first boycott picket line at Foodland in Kapaa between 5pm and 7pm. We feel the time is urgent to get the developer to the negotiation table to save most of the Monkeypod trees. We think the tenant stores of the new mall can apply pressure on the developer to spare the trees. So far that Hanna’t happened so we are asking shoppers to avoid the tenant stores. We believe the pressure of the pocketbook will be very effective in getting the attention of the tenants to act in the trees’ behalf.

These 36 large 70 and 80 year old trees help create the character and lure of Old Historic Koloa for which Koloa stakes its claim to being special. 24 or more of them are scheduled to be killed or removed for a shopping mall. There is no assurance any of the trees will remain. Retired attorney, Ted Erum, has filed a complaint against the developer which will be heard March 13. There is hope Ted Erum’s argument before the judge will prevail allowing the trees to be designated as exceptional trees and thereby protected but there is no certainty that will happen.

Tenants include ABC Markets, Foodland family of stores (Bearded Papa’s Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Malama Market, Oasis Lifestyle), Starwood Timeshares, Jim Saylor Jewelers, and Kahuna Burgers.

Join us for a picket of the Foodland Store in Kapaa. March 6th from 5pm to 7pm. We want one of the major companies having stores in the mall to know we expect them to act in behalf of the trees by demanding the developer sit down with them and the community and devise a plan to spare the majority of the trees.
for more information go to www.islandbreath.org or call 335-2737

Sign Boycott Pledge

I have developed a sign-up sheet to help people express their dissatisfaction with the operation of the Shops st Koloa Town if that requires chopping down the majority of the Monkeypod trees on the site. Click on the think link to print a form. If you get signatures, please mail me a copy of the form. The text on the form reads:

Boycott To Save the Soul of Koloa

Most of the Monkeypod trees in the grove lining Koloa and Maluhia Roads will be cut down soon for a shopping strip. This will destroy our heritage and change Koloa from a quiet historic town to a mainland lookalike franchise shopping strip.
Whereas:
• The signature feature of the Old Koloa Town is its Monkeypod trees.

• The developer’s plan was approved only because of a mistake in missing the deadline for notice of denial.

• The community has repeatedly reached out to the developer to spare the Monkeypod trees, without a response.

Retail stores who will occupy the coming mall have agreed to become tenants there despite widespread opposition to the mall.

WE THEREFORE URGE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF KAUAI TO AVOID BUYING FROM THE FOLLOWING RETAIL STORES UNTIL THE DEVELOPER WORKS OUT A COMPROMISE REGARDING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TREES.

ALSO CONTACT THE FOLLOWING STORES AND CORDIALLY ASK THEM TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER AND THE COMMUNITY TO SPARE THE TREES.

Foodland, President Jenai Wall
808-591-2550
www.services@foodland.com

ABC Markets , President Paul Kosasa
808-591-2039 fax: 808-591-2039

Jim Saylor Jewelers, Pres. Jim Saylor
822-3591 fax: 808-822-9898

American Savings, Facility Manager Ronald Dobashi infor@asbhawaii.com

If you want to email me at harmonl001@hawaii.rr.com your show your support. Include your name, address and contact info with the Subject: "Save the Monkeypods". You can also

If you agree with the statement below, please email me.

Email Boycott Support

"I support refraining from doing business with tenents of the Shops At Koloa Town until the developer works out a compromise regarding the destruction of the monkeypod trees"

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: CAROL ANN DAVIS-BRIANT carolanndavis@hawaii.rr.com

POSTED: 5 MARCH 2008 - 10:00am HST

Destruction of Koloa's monkeypod trees

image above: view of death from inside the dust screen in Koloa at site of Nelson Co. parking lot

by Carol Ann Davis-Briant on 5 March 2008

I want everyone to know that we are doing something to try to stop the slaughter of our wonderful trees. Ted Erum has flown to Honolulu with a request for a TRO in federal court to stop the monkeypod tree destruction. I think we have lost 4 trees so far. He will fax to me or Louie when he gets the TRO and we will take it to the police.

Yesterday and today were and are sad days for all of us and I know people will want to do something. Many of us would like to stand in silent protest to the murder that is occurring.

I would like to make some very strong suggestions. The police are at the site and are very edgy. Jeri DiPietro spent a lot of time taking to them showing them maps and photos and got them on our side but they are still edgy. Louie and I also spent some time making friends and talking to them Someone told them that someone vandalized the site over the weekend but they could not tell us what happened-I suspect it was another of Stacy Wong's fabrications. I do know someone put some Hawaiian writing on the fence and that is called a misdemeanor. Please:

1) do not use any signs that are libelous or that you would not want your mother to read.

2) speak respectfully to the police and the workers...they are doing their jobs

3) do not go into the property or they will arrest you for sure

4)stand to the side of the driveway on Maulhia or across the street-they yelled at John Patt for walking across the driveway and said they would arrest him-it is legal to walk on the side but they said he would get hit by trucks...don't get into arguments with the police

5) we should be as respectful as possible to show our care and love of these beautiful old trees.

by Carol Ann Davis-Briant on 4 March 2008

It does not appear that they are moving any trees - just killing them....so far 4 have been destroyed in one morning...it won't take long for the others.

It is very very sad...especially since they have never discussed anything with the community. I wonder if they realize how much sadness and pain this is causing.

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: JUAN WILSON juanwilson@mac.com

POSTED: 28 FEBRUARY 2008 - 10:00pm HST

Cutting of Monkeypod trees begin

by Carol Ann Davis-Briant on 28 February 2008

They Koloa (Poipu) Kauai Hawaii have begun cutting trees right now (midday). We are trying to get in touch with Mr Erum to get a Teporary Restraining Order (TRO).

Come on down if you want-bring signs etc.

I have called the Garden Island...you can call also--245-3681 ext 227

Boycott of Tenants on Monkeypod Site
by Linda Harmon on 28 February 2008

Next Thursday, March 6th, People for the Preservation of the Koloa Trees (Monkeypod Trees) will stage their first boycott picket line at Foodland in Kapaa from 5pm-7pm.

We feel the time is urgent to get the developer to the negotiation table to save most of the Monkeypod trees. We think the tenant stores of the new mall can apply pressure on the developer to spare the trees. So far that has not happened so we are asking shoppers to avoid the tenant stores. We believe the pressure of the pocketbook will be very effective in getting the attention of the tenants to act in the trees’ behalf.

These 36 large 70 and 80 year old trees help create the character and lure of Old Historic Koloa for which Koloa stakes its claim to being special. 24 or more of them are scheduled to be killed or removed for a shopping mall. There is no assurance any of the trees will remain actually. Presently there is a restraint on the developer pending a complaint against the developer which will be heard March 13. There is hope the Koloa Community Association’s attorney will prevail in saving the trees but there is no big assurance that will happen.

Tenants include ABC Markets, Foodland family of stores (Bearded Papa’s Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Malama Market), Starwood Timeshares, Jim Saylor Jewelers, and Kahuna Burgers.

Join us for a picket of the Foodland Store in Kapaa. March 6th from 5pm to 7pm.

If you are going to contact any tenants, or the owners, please remember to be polite. Being threatening or belligerent will simply backfire.

American Savings Bank
contact: Ronald Dobashi, Facility Manager
email: info@asbhawaii.com
phone: (800) 272-2566
fax: (808) 532-7000

Da Big Kahuna Burger
email: bigkahuna@hawaii.rr.com
phone: (808) 923-0033
address: 2299 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815

Sheraton
(parent company of Sarwood)
Starwood Timeshares
contact: Mike Schorr
email: mike.schorr@starwoodvo.com
phone: (808) 742-8208

ABC Markets
contact: Paul Kosasa, President
phone: (808) 591-2550
fax: (808) 591-2039

Jim Saylor Jewelers
contact: Jim Saylor President
phone: (808) 822-3591
f ax: (808) 822-9898

Shave Ice Paradise
mail: : Hanalei Center, Hanalei, HI 96714
phone: (808) 826-6659

Surf City Squeeze
contact: Kahala Corporation
email: info@surfcitysqueeze.com
mail: 9311 East Via De Ventura, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
phone:(480) 362-4800
fax:(480) 362-4812
web: http://www.surfcitysqueeze.com/

SUBJECT: KOLOA MONKEYPOD TREES

SOURCE: JUAN WILSON juanwilson@mac.com

POSTED: 21 FEBRUARY 2008 - 8:00am HST

Work on Koloa Market site begins

image above: Grubbing the site. Photo provided by Lou Abrams 2/19/08

by Juan Wilson on 21 February 2008

Well, it has begun. The grubbing of the Shops at Koloa Town site and the construction of a dust fence along Koloa Road is under way. It won't be long until the sounds of chainsaws will be heard from within the fence, dropping the old Monkeypod trees for a parking lot.

As it stands now of the 43 large trees on the site 29 are to be cut down and 14 are to remain. That is the destruction of two-thirds of the trees. In terms of planning on the buildable area of the site the statistics are worse. Six of the trees to remain are at the northwest end of the site, where there is either a flood plain or little planned.

On the lower half of the site, where the action is, there are 37 trees and all but 8 of them will be removed. That's about an 80% reduction in trees to accommodate the planned parking lot. Below are the names of the developer and owner. They have been unresponsive to the county and Koloa community.

The following article has the names and contacts for the site's future tenants. We urge you to contact the corporations listed below who are signed up as tenants and encourage them to save more of the trees than the developer has in mind. Be polite but firm in expressing your opinions.

OWNER

Eric Knudsen - owner
PO Box 415
Verdi NV 89439

Stacey Wong - trustee
E. A. Knudsen Trust
PO Box 759
Kalaheo HI 96741
Phone: 808-332-5676

DEVELOPER:
The Nelson Companies Incorporated

David Nelson - developer
drnelson@nelsoncos.com Send at least a cc, if not a separate e-mail to

Susie Wojtowicz - lease administrator
swojtowicz@nelsoncos.com

Nelson Development
6960 Orchid Lake Rd suite 200
West Bloomfield MI 48322
phone: 248-539-9020 ext. 322
website: www.nelsoncos.com

SUBJECT: KOLOA ENVIRONMENT

SOURCE: LINDA HARMON harmonl001@hawaii.rr.com

POSTED: 15 FEBRUARY 2008 - 11:30am HST

Koloa Monkeypod Tree Boycott & Vigil

image above: view of dust fence construction. Photo provided by Lou Abrams 2/19/08

by Linda Harmon on 15 February 2008

After hearing about the proposed removal of the majority of the Monkeypod Trees to construct a shopping plaza many visitors to the island were upset. Below are some examples of postcards to David Nelson, the developer, that were filled out by those visitors.
.
"Please let the trees LIVE. They"ll add a beautiful sense of nature that will definitely inspire people to spend money!"
- Los Angeles, California

"One of the greatest pleasures of visiting Kauai is seeing (and sitting under and playing around) the trees. Please leave them as they are; this place would be far, far poorer in every sense of the word without them. Thanking you for reading."
- Portland, Oregon

"Monkeypod Trees are much more interesting than another ugly shopping center. Move the development elsewhere please! The trees are so beautiful. It would be a shame to cut them down. Build around the trees! Let them live and let them work for you. A beautiful natural like environment cheers people up; happy people are more likely to spend money than grouchy ones. We are visiting Koloa Town and are drawn here because of the rural feel. The town shops are quaint and we stopped for dinner and shopping because of the feel. Please don’t just build another strip mall!"
- Portland, Oregon

"You and your company have indeed located on a beautiful property in Koloa, Kauai. I urge you, however, to reconsider your plans to develop this property in a manner inherently in conflict with the rural and charming "feel" of this very special place."
- Seattle, Washington

"It’s not too late. Please stop your plan to destroy old growth Monkeypod Trees and the unique character of Old Koloa Town Kauai. There must be a presence of history and a concern to preserve this history. Please stop this wanton destruction."
Ontario, Canada

"We are from Michigan visiting Kauai. Please don’t cut down the Monkeypod Trees. These are a part of old Hawaii. Your company can build elsewhere or not at all. You will ruin the atmosphere. Stay on the main land!"
- Holly, Michigan

"Please build something with the old town flavor of Koloa. I am a tourist and I don’t want to shop at the same old malls. Please build around the Monkeypod trees and keep the integrity of the neighborhood."
- Portland Oregon

"Please, please leave the Monkeypod Trees. They are a beautiful symbol of the uniqueness that is Koloa Town. Please reconsider."
- Duluth, Minnestota

CUT DOWN THE TREES??!!?? ARE YOU CRAZY?? DON’T DO IT.