• Hanalei Bay tours legal • Hanalei Bay tours legal • Hanalei Bay tours legal Hanalei Bay tours legal This is Lady Ann Cruise’s dba Na Pali Explorer’s response to Mr. Carl Imparato’s letter (“No regulation the problem,” Letters, July
• Hanalei Bay tours legal
• Hanalei Bay tours legal
• Hanalei Bay tours legal
Hanalei Bay tours legal
This is Lady Ann Cruise’s dba Na Pali Explorer’s response to Mr. Carl Imparato’s letter (“No regulation the problem,” Letters, July 23).
In his emotional letter, Mr. Imparato made several misrepresented and inaccurate statements.
First, the statement that Mr. Sheehan operated outside the sphere of public input or process when he was issued an SMA Use Permit SMA (U)-87-8, Use Permit U-87-32, Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-87-40 and Special Permit SP-87-9 on TMK 4/5-5-001:033 and 034 for his boatyard operation is incorrect. The fact is, Mr. Sheehan has four permits to conduct his operations. He participated in a noticed contested case hearing before the Planning Commission. He provided the Commission with all of the information deemed necessary and the Hanalei community (and Kaua’ i community in general) was given a full, fair and unrestricted opportunity to comment. He was only then granted all above referenced permits necessary to operate. If not for an unconstitutional ban and injunction on boating that was overturned in U.S. Federal Court in 2003, the industry would have been paying its taxes and employing locals for the last 20 years.
Mr. Imparato’s focus on the “cease and desist” notice is misplaced. Mr. Sheehan’s permits indicate that the Planning Department has no authority to order him to “cease and desist.”
Second, Mr. Imparato’s insinuation that we somehow simply “started up commercial boat tours in Hanalei” is completely misleading. Lady Ann Cruises, Inc. was the first permitted boating company in operation 20 years ago and is one of his specifically permitted tenants. Lady Ann Cruises, Inc. is an identified prior operator, and does not need any additional permits to operate out of Mr. Sheehan’s boatyard.
Third, Mr. Imparato’s continual use of the words “unpermitted” and “illegal” is unfounded. He fails to cite any administrative rule, statute or ordinance which support his allegations. We are completely permitted, insured, and legal to operate.
Fourth, his statements about tour boats commercializing and harming Hanalei is totally unsubstantiated. The boatyard has been in place for 20 years and has the highest regard for the ‘aina and takes extremely careful measures to ensure the protection of the natural surroundings. We welcome concerned citizens to visit our facility and operations.
Fifth, as for harming the community, we absolutely disagree and believe that we are a benefit to our island, our economy, and our people. We are Kaua‘i-born-and-raised owners, we employ numerous local Kaua‘i residents, we uphold values promoting honesty and integrity, and are committed to taking care of our beloved home island of Kaua‘i. We are taking passengers onto Mr. Sheehan’s private property, alleviating crowding and strain on public resources (such as the Black Pot Beach restrooms). We are environmentally friendly; wash down and boat fueling is done in a designated area on Mr. Sheehan’s property. Any runoff goes directly to a state-of-the-art disposal tank. We have also chosen to operate on weekdays only, leaving the weekends for local families and visitors alike.
Sixth, his claim that “there is absolutely no reason why we soon won’t have another 50 commercial tour boats operating in Hanalei — just like the good-old-days” is absurd. No one would tolerate such a scenario.
We at Lady Ann Cruises, Inc. dba Na Pali Explorer respect the rights of the protestors and we remain open to discussing any real concerns which they have. Yelling profanities at our visitors who simply want to go on a tour is un-Hawaiian and unacceptable. However, it is impossible to have a discussion with people who have convinced themselves that they are right regardless of the law and facts. We remain optimistic that Mr. Imparato does not speak for the entire Hanalei community as we have been blessed with overwhelming support from many Kaua‘i residents, spanning from Kekaha to Ha‘ena.
Lastly, we ask that any protestor accord our clients the same amount of respect and aloha that they once received as malihini (visitors) when they first arrived on Kaua’ i.
We trust this sets the record straight for all who read Mr. Imparato’s letter. When people publish misrepresented statements, it is called defamation.
Should any kama’ aina or malihini have any questions, we invite you to contact us.
“Na ke kupa e ho‘okahua i ka pa o ka ho‘okipa a me kealoha malihini.”
Leina ‘ala Pavao,
general manager, Lady Ann Cruises
Photovoltaic should be mandatory
The KIUC upper crust appears to have the exact same agenda as many of our local politicians. They are too busy lining their pockets to care about what it is we are seeing blatantly played out every day. Shibai at its highest level.
If KIUC truly were a co-op, they would advertise not only high rebate hot water systems, but higher-rebated photovoltaic systems for individual household power. Such a system’s unused power could be sold back to KIUC, as well as eliminating the household electric bill.
If our planning department’s county/state upper crust had any sense at all, they would immediately require an additional plan for photovoltaic be submitted on all those soon-to-be-built imposing homes or forfeit obtaining a building permit. Also, all those after-the-fact permits that were issued should be required to retroactively submit plans for self-sustaining electic systems and/or that all the imposing homes built since ‘Iniki be required to submit a plan for photovoltaic power installations with KIUC becoming a lender to households to help that to become reality.
Shame to all those wealthy people who have neglected to be green, while on our simple Hawaiian Home Lands parcel, we purchased and self-installed a $4,000 photovoltaic system that absolutely meets our power needs and it paid for itself in less than two years. Be Green or build elsewhere.
Debra Kekaualua
Wailua Homesteads
Considers CAP best teen program on Kaua‘i
Mahalo for highlighting what I feel is the very best teen program on Kaua‘i, the Civil Air Patrol Cadet program.
My son, age 13, was a member for two years. The discipline and leadership skills he was exposed to helped him in school, his grades improved immediately.
I would add that it is not just for boys. It’s great for girls as well. I encourage all parents to check it out. Your kids get to learn to FLY planes and gliders for free!
The Tuesday night meetings at the hangar are fun and informative for parent/volunteers as well as the kids. Every one of the leaders is so helpful. Pastor James Merritt, of Waimea Baptist Church teaches astronomy as well as being the chaplain. He drove my son to meetings when I could not and generally went out of his way for all. Ron Heller is a wonderful flight instructor, Mike Curtis is “leader of the decade,” as far as I’m concerned. Barbara Fontana is just a joy. Bless them for their volunteer participation.
Call Squadron Cmdr. Ronald Victorino at 245-9090.
Jay Scheffer
Kapa‘a
