This item is for Hawaii residents and those interested in long-range planning.
This is not the place nor time to debate the role of planning. It seems to be me that there needs to be a balance between long-range plans and immediate needs.
Contrarily, some in Washington seem to say there is no need for planning. That is, even if you have a plan, you have to change it as soon as you begin implementation. So, why plan at all?
On the other hand, I am of the opinion that if you don't know where you are, where you want to go, nor how to best get there, all you will do is stumble blindly as you try various paths - most of which will not lead to your goal.
Here in Hawaii, we are traditionally described as being, for good or ill, relatively centralized and full of plans to do everything. That is, power tends to be concentrated in one place. For example, Hawaii's governor is said to be one of the most powerful state executives in the US in that she controls who sits on boards, commissions, various agencies, and even picks judges. Another example, our public school system, apparently unlike any other state in the union, is controlled by one board (albeit an elected one) and funded entirely through state tax revenues (rather than local taxes, which typically are property taxes). Hence, according to some, our state tends to be top down in management style.
Soon after the building boom that followed statehood and the coming of modern jet transportation in 1959/1960 began, consensus was reached that the state was growing too fast. Or, at least, we were growing in ways and in places that many did not wish to see such growth. Out of this realization came the Land Use Law (the first such plan in the nation), Hawaii State Plan (the first such plan in the nation), the State's Quality Growth Policy, and the State Functional Plans.
Since that time, at least the State Plan and State Functional Plans seem to have been relegated to the book shelf where they have collected dust, but not much else. But recently, our Legislature decided it was time to update the plans with an eye towards the year 2050. Towards that end, the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force Report warning, PDF) lays out a time table and task list to reach what is called a "more sustainable Hawai'i..."
For those who are interested, the kick-off event is next month on Saturday, August 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Dole Ballrooms, 735 Iwilei Road, Honolulu. If you would like to attend, please call the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs at (808) 585-7931, ext. 101. YMMV. Insert disclaimer here.
Have a Great Weekend, Everyone - Aloha!
