Lead Poisoning
So I learned today that the most polluted stream in the entire USA, at least until 10ish years ago, is the lovely Manoa Stream that flows through campus. I've said before that there's a distinct lack of care for the environment here. I didn't know it was this bad. So there's this lovely habit people have here of just dumping their cars, and particularly dead car batteries into streams, ditches, and back-roads. Instead of taking them to a junk-yard or disposing of them, they just leave them somewhere. Manoa Streams lead levels were insane. I was told that the levels are down to about half what they were, but this is still very high considering where we came from (worst in the country).
Also - somebody just got flesh-eating bacteria from falling into the Ala-Wai canal a few days ago. The sewage pipes are broken, there's shit in the water (really), and car battery fluids from up here..... sounds like a good time.
posted by geekedout @ 4:43 PM
5 Comments:
So why do so many people go to Hawaii on their honeymoon???
They forget to mention the water for some reason...
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http://www.askmen.com/fashion/travel_top_ten/56b_travel_top_ten.html
Number 1
Hawaii
Hawaii is the ultimate honeymoon destination, with its beautiful beaches and many islands, each of which has its own personality and attractions. Maui has great weather and an active nightlife while Kaua'i is much less commercial with its scenic valleys, clear waterfalls and dramatic coastline. If you can't make up your mind, you can take a cruise that will allow you to visit all the islands.
Special attractions: The active volcanoes and the black sand beaches of "The Big Island" (Hawaii).
Well, all of that is quite true. The ocean, beaches, etc are very pretty and well protected. The ocean is very clean, as is the air. It just happens that you would be swimming in battery acid if you fell into the streams in the city. It's the people and the city that are dirty as hell. The Ala Wai canal dumps well away from the popular beaches so that on most days you wouldn't know it was there. And the tourists all stay away from the ghetto anyways. It's just the industrial parks, dumps, and Kalihi (for Sean) where it's really bad......
So the main point is to stay away from the real Hawaii (where the real people actually work and play) and stick with the resorts that are run by big business when it comes to taking a holiday in Hawaii...Nothing like commercialism being at it's best. I am proud to be a Generican...
Proud to be a Generican!
So that was probably the most suprising thing about Hawaii. Having been to Maui w/ my family (when I was ~15) and doing the whole typical tourist thingy, coming and visiting for almost 2 months really made me re-think what "visiting" a place is all about. This whole superficial-stay-in-your-hotel thing really gives you a fish bowl view of the place. Sure, if you never leave the 5 block square that is Waikiki- you don't get to see the garbage, the anger in native faces, the poverty...but then in my opionion you never get to SEE Hawaii. So then you come home, talking about how beautiful everything and everyone was there, but they never talk about how polluted it is, and how poor and under-educated everyone is there. That's not to say that it isn't beautiful, its definately that (even tho it SUCKS-hehe- inside joke) but they need to keep its beauty, cause that's Hawaii's hottest comodity.
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