Kokua Line
Kokua Line
I am concerned about private citizens being allowed to use state land without paying rent. At Waimano Training School and Hospital, the state has allowed a rancher to use a large area for 10 to 15 years for his animals. The agreement was to have him run a 4-H program there, but that's not been done. Why is this being allowed when the state is in such financial straits? Waimano rancher helps
hospital; state rent is freeBased on your complaint, the state Department of Health will review the month-to-month revocable permit to Rodney Biven, said spokesman Patrick Johnston.
The department first issued the permit in 1982. The most recent permit was issued in 1986, and at that time it was signed off by the Department of Land and Natural Resources as well, Johnston said.
The permit allows Biven to use, rent-free, about 20 acres of land -- from an original 85 acres -- adjacent to "Waimano Home" for grazing. He cannot profit from the land and is supposed to run a 4-H program there.
The purpose of the arrangement was to have someone keep the foliage down and to reduce the chance of brush fire, Johnston said. Biven also put up fences as a barrier between Waimano and Pearl City High School.
Until yours come in, "there haven't been any complaints," except one minor one, Johnston said.
Biven said he has asked the state to give him a long-term lease, with rent, but was told that the state did not want to make such a commitment because of uncertainty over future use of the land.
He's frustrated because he'd like to make money by renting out stable space -- in what was the old state piggery -- and by growing vegetables.
"I've done what they wanted me to do" and more, he said of his permit, including helping to build structures for the Sun Project, clearing away land for the school and, at one time, running a petting zoo for residents.
Biven said the 4-H program ended last year because of a lack of participants.
He keeps eight horses and four cows on the site.
Waimano Home administrator Mike Tamanaha said seven nonprofit agencies dealing with the developmentally disabled pay nominal fees to use Waimano facilities. Four other state agencies also use Waimano facilities.
No rent is charged to Biven and those involved in a community garden because they are using unneeded space, Tamanaha said.
Plus, Waimano Home "does benefit" because Biven, besides providing fire breaks and fences, "does us favors by doing maintenance."
"It's been a good working relationship for us," Tamanaha said.
Because he is allowed to use the state property for free, the idea is that "he would be doing some sort of service that benefits the public," Johnston said. "He does this to a certain degree by maintaining the property. However, 4-H clubs serve another purpose."
Waimano Home, once a major institution housing the mentally retarded, is now down to 24 residents. The focus now is on providing a safety net for clients mainstreamed into the community.
When are they going to deliver the 1998 telephone directories? There are a few homes in Kaneohe that have not received them yet.
an Oahu deliveries were finished around June 6, said GTE Hawaiian Tel spokesman Keith Kamisugi. If you have not received a directory, call 487-5138, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., or 1-800-888-8448 after hours.
Also, old telephone directories can be recycled until June 30 at city recycling centers set up at 59 schools around the island.
Old upright, needs tuning, for whoever can come and pick it up. Call 671-2773. Free piano
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
