At 75 years old, I would have preferred not to have to fight any battles. But when I learned the State plans to commercialize the Pali Lookout and Ka Iwi Park to accommodate visitors in order to collect a fee, I told my grandson that it is time to put on the war paint. Shame on the Department of Land and Natural Resources for peddling paradise for $1 and further weakening Hawaii's gracious aloha spirit. But more importantly: this action promotes segregation between "us," local people and "them," the visitors. We need to strike Ka Iwi and the Pali Lookout from the DLNR's hit list, buried well within the glossy title of the state's "Recreational Renaissance." The overall plan had merit, but got sloppy towards the end when it took the "status quo" route to commercialize two important landmarks. Today's Diamond Park, complete with information center, T-shirt sales, nonstop huge buses of tourists and two fluorescent-lit soda vending machines represents changes we should not be proud of. This is not proper care of special places and it is very inconsiderate to future generations. I can only hope our Legislators see the writing on the wall: "Paradise for Sale for $1." "Visitors Keep Right, Locals Stay Left." Please join me in the protest to stop this madness. Email DLNR at: Laura.Thielen@hawaii.gov or get involved with an area grassroots group like Ka Iwi Coalition at www.hawaiikaihui.com.

Sara Yacuk, Hawaii Kai