Randomness

My excursion through Kalihi yesterday was less than enlightening. The entire landscape from Chinatown onward is the base for nearly the entire island's public housing (read: "projects"). As I stated previously, people in the area look and act like hungry roaches, always fighting for the crumbs that fall from above. In a few years, the population of the area will increase exponentially, again quite similar to the roach species. I would not be surprised to learn that people are living ten or twenty per room in both public and regular rental housing. The impoverished class will continue to grow and fester in an area that probably decrease in size.

The "ownership society" will eventually subsume the impoverished area. The impoverished, who will continue to actively breed, will be forced into an even smaller area. Eventually, more homeless will be spawned from the intolerable population density. Did I mention the sheer number of automobiles parked and driving around in the area?

Of course, traffic and parking problems are almost universal across the island. Even in posh Hawai'i Kai, there are vehicles parked everywhere. Some homes have five or six cars that are a conspicuous part of the family. The reason, of course, is that most households are multi-generational, much like the more impoverished neighborhoods.

The automobile dealerships are overstocked with vehicles. I couldn't help but wonder whether those vehicles would be sold. Thousands of new vehicles, ready to roll in already congested roads. Everyone wants an automobile, from teenagers to immigrants. No one wants to ride the bus. An automobile is a sign of affluence and status. Some of the potential automobile owners are probably unaware that their new vehicles may end up being homeless motorhomes.

The snobbery in town has become quite pronounced and usually perpetrated by the haoles. The more affluent locals have assimilated, becoming quite snobbish as well. The lower class of locals have transformed into urban warriors, complete with warrior tatoos and beligerent troglodyte attitudes. Little wonder why there have been increasing violent clashes between the snobs and the warriors. Not to worry, the "aloha spirit" has been dead for decades anyway.

By the way, I have recalculated my petrol expense using recent falling prices as a guide. I will be using approximately $100 more petrol per month since moving to Waimanalo. So, including rent for housing, I am still paying out about $100 to $250 less than rent alone in town. For now, that's not too bad. There are other ways that I could cut expenses even more. I could mummify my morning coffee binge and save $42 per month. I could also restrict my movements to Hawai'i Kai and eliminate the need for a $60 monthly bus pass. I could also mummify the $35 per month cellphone service. Should I? Would I? Could I?

Usyal Hawai'i Kai visit. Moms is doing fine. I was fairly fatigued after completing my usual workout at the gym, so I returned to Waimanalo before 6pm. No evening outing in Kahala. The buses were running about 20 minutes late, which further supported my decision. With enough daylight remaining, I walked to "downtown" Waimanalo. There aren't too many shops, but enough to serve the community. Lots of real locals were milling about. There was a homeless guy sleeping in front of one of the closed shops. For a brief moment, I thought that I was in Wai'anae. Sheesh!

Waimanalo has really grown in size. Not the shopping area, but the residential blocks. There is even a new suburban development under way across the shopping area. Quite disconcerting. Soon, there won't be one parcel of land that isn't developed for housing. Time is rapidly running out for the ol' lavahead.