If "blunder" can be defined as, "a usually serious mistake caused by ignorance or confusion," then the County Council's handling of the rezoning for Wailea 670/ Honua'ula fits perfectly. After all, the Council's narrow 5-4 vote to approve the massive South Maui project for luxury homes, a private golf course, and a smattering of affordable rentals slated for a North Kihei light-industrial zoned parcel quickly wound up in court. Judge Joseph Cardoza agreed with five citizens who said their right to public input guaranteed by the state's Sunshine Law had been violated by Council Planning Committee Chair Mike Molina's continuing meetings over several days without allowing public comment on new information. Add the Council majority's complicity to allow a golf course to replace remnant dryland forest native plant habitat and cultural sites, and to approve private water and wastewater systems, in light of Molokai Ranch's recent efforts to punt from their obligation to operate similar private utilities. But, votes in a readers' poll don't always equate to votes on election day, and come November, those five Council members who voted to approve Wailea 670 may just blunder their way for another two-year stint of public service.
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