A great deal for Waikane Valley

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 28, 2013

~~<p>Army and Marine Corps live-fire training following World War II became so dangerous in Waikane Valley that they abandoned it four decades ago. Now the valley is in the first steps of being returned to its previous agricultural and cultural nature. At the forefront is a former Californian who bought part of the valley in a foreclosure, an outsider who has been embraced by his new neighbors. At the heart is how, despite the many demands on Hawaii’s land in this 21st century, there exists an encouraging example of how to keep the country country.</p>
<p>For decades, members of the Waiahole-Waikane Community Association have resisted tourist development projects, the U.S. military and a move to divert water, seeking to preserve the land and traditions of fishing and farming. People of the area have been known to camp out to occupy and defend their valley. Not this time.</p>
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Army and Marine Corps live-fire training following World War II became so dangerous in Waikane Valley that they abandoned it four decades ago. Now the valley is in the first steps of being returned to its previous agricultural and cultural nature. At the forefront is a former Californian who bought part of the valley in a foreclosure, an outsider who has been embraced by his new neighbors. At the heart is how, despite the many demands on Hawaii’s land in this 21st century, there exists an encouraging example of how to keep the country country.

For decades, members of the Waiahole-Waikane Community Association have resisted tourist development projects, the U.S. military and a move to divert water, seeking to preserve the land and traditions of fishing and farming. People of the area have been known to camp out to occupy and defend their valley. Not this time. Login for more...