The Carroll Cox Show - 6/08/08
Carroll and his guest discuss issues regarding
abandoned cars on a Big Island property, and how
our state agencies have failed to act appropriately
I also own property across from the Buddhist Monestary on Maunakea Dr. in Mt View. We have tried for several years to bring this Monestary into realization that they are in violation of State or County laws. In every case there has been a blind eye turned toward our complaints or inquiries. The Monestary has been abetted by the government to dam up the free flow of the river through their property, have used the dammed area for bathing and cleaning of textiles of various types, such as rugs and mats, has built their stone wall and fence along their property on the easement of the County road instead of on their property and has raped the forest land of native plants and birds, specifically the large owls that once flew through our area nightly. This property was once agricultural zoned, but they are not in the agriculture business. They are not tax paying citizens of Hawaii, because they are not US citzens. They keep their property completely closed off from access even by American Buddhists; you have to be a European Buddhist to access their Monestary/Retreat. They have been allowed to do as they please because of the appearance of propriety by being a religious sect. Even the local police have blindly believed what they are told by them about problems in the neighborhood simply because of their status in opposition to the status of a simple American working family. What bothers me about the cars on the property being ignored so long is that the water table could be effected for long after the cars are removed. The river runs along several areas where the cars are breaking down into the earth with their oil, gas and other volitile fluids leaching into the soil, and subsequently into the river as it runs down through Oshiro Road subdivision, Fern Acres and/or Hawaiian Acres subdivisions and who knows where from there? Eventually it makes it to the ocean I'm sure. How many people in the lower areas are connected to the water tables for their water use? Why does the State Government allow the biggest violators to go on unabated in their abuse of the land, the natural resources and our tax paid services? Why does the County not have to answer to its citizens complaints? Why do we put up with Officials who do not do their job!
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I have just read Phyllis Dekok's comment and would like to point out a few things that I think are not put right. The monastery is put into a very bad light for which there is no reason. The monastery on Mauna kea road is definitely not a sect. It is a place where people can go if they want to practice Buddhism and for people who have health problems or other kinds of difficulties in their lives. The people, who come there, come in order to better their lives by practicing Buddhism, doing daily exercises, and many volunteer to help in the fields or on projects. Many people are able to improve their health mentally and physically and improve their lives. There is a requirement to attend two retreats in a center in Europe first before coming to the monastery in Hawaii, but the monastery is open to anyone of any nationality. Saying that the monastery raped the land of native plants and birds is not true. I don’t understand why the land being agricultural land is of any importance. It is not required that one has to do only agriculture on this kind of land. On top of this, the monastery does do a very large amount of agriculture on the land. It grows many different crops over a large area of the land.
Whether the monastery has to pay taxes or not, I do not know. I know, however, that citizenship has nothing to do with paying taxes. Non U.S. citizens have to pay taxes as well.
Regarding the cars on the property of the monastery, they have not been brought there by them, but by the person who previously owned the property. The monastery has been working on removing the cars step by step since the property has been purchased, which has not been too long ago. Removing the many cars is a big project and I think it is very nice of the monastery that they remove the cars. Under other owners it might not have been put into action as quickly or not all. The monastery works on beautifying its property continuously and everything inside of the monastery is kept very neatly and clean. Much of the previous land that the monastery has bought has been in a very run down state with trash on it. The monastery has cleaned up all of this. Also, the monastery is very active in benefiting people in Hawaii and around the world. Every year at Christmas, the monastery puts together hundreds of flower arrangements for all the patients of the Hilo Hospital, residents of nursing homes, and residents of similar care facilities. There are numerous important ceremonies that take place in the monastery every year some of which the mayor attended as well. The founder of the monastery, Supreme Matriarch Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim teaches Buddhism and helps many people all over the world. A medicine, called Caricol has been developed by Supreme Matriarch Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim, which is sold all over the world including America, Asia, and Europe. Paintings, which are painted by Supreme Matriarch Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim are exhibited for many people to see and are a tremendous
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(continued)
benefit for anyone who owns one of these paintings. The monastery has a very good reputation and is also highly recognized by the government.
The monastery has never tried to bother anyone in the neighborhood, but rather has helped to make improvements such as improving the entire Mauna kea road and paving large sections of it which has been a big improvement for everyone in the neighborhood. The road was in a very bad state prior to the paving and it used to take a very long time to drive up the extremely bumpy road. Another important point is that while clearing the side of the road before paving, many rusty and old cars where found along the road that were overgrown and not seen by anyone. The monastery removed these cars as well.
Trying to find faults of the monastery and searching for things to complain about or looking for things to have a reason to be in conflict with the monastery is sad for me, since it would be much nicer to have peace. I wish this will happen one day.
Neighbor of the Monastery
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very nice share.. i agree
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Speaking as a lifelong United States citizen, Hilo resident, & Temple member, Phyllis De Kok is factually inaccurate. Her comments are appalling. In my opinion, she is slandering a reputable, law abiding, and tax paying U.S. registered organization.
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