The lands of Hawaii

the long version

The story of Hawaii's lands is history and ecology and also politics. In his exploration of the world of planning commissions and ambitious developers, the author details the struggle over land and its uses: the dubious deals, the relentless eating away of open space, the hollow plans and wasted studies. From colonial cabal to the megatrusts of the 1970s, he explains how The Speculating Game has meant huge profits for the few and a vanishing resource for the many. In this book, the author makes recommendations for long-range actions which he knows will be controversial but which he believes to be essential if Hawaii's lands are to maintain any of their natural qualities.