text: I used to dive from the bridge and swim the Ala Wai.  Used to crab there all the time.  I miss that.  The worse we got back then was a dead body dumped in by the Syndicate and putt-putt boats with a colored light on the bow.  Then it became polluted.  I don't think it coincidence that Ala Wai's rise in pollution is directly proportional to the rise in Honolulu's population, that in turn, is directly proportional to the soar in land prices and property taxes, that in turn, are directly proportional to the escalation of utility costs, all of which dynamics had changed open marsh Ala Moana into a concrete mega-malled shopping complex, dumped a Magic Island right on top of South Shore's best surf spot, and alienated so many locals from Ala Moana Park....and then, from Honolulu to live in Las Vegas.  There's just too many people competing for too limited resources.