I have no regrets about the statements I have made publicly in supporting the Kaua‘i community in protesting the arrival of the Hawaii Superferry on Monday at Nawiliwili Harbor. I was not present at the protest on Sunday and I
I have no regrets about the statements I have made publicly in supporting the Kaua‘i community in protesting the arrival of the Hawaii Superferry on Monday at Nawiliwili Harbor. I was not present at the protest on Sunday and I do not condone the actions of a few individuals who directed their frustrations and anger at arriving or departing passengers that evening. One of the reasons I attended the protest on Monday was to observe the crowd and to assist in whatever way I could to ensure that those isolated events on Sunday did not occur again.
It is sad that the actions of these few individuals have become the “face” of the majority of the protesters who were peaceful. And, it is unfortunate that the media chooses to exaggerate the confrontation by the repeated showings of this small part of the total protest instead of focusing on HSF and the State Department of Transportation’s blatant disregard for the law especially in light of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision requiring an environmental review.
In my role as a state legislator and chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, my position on the HSF has always been consistent with the fact that the law is clear that an environmental review is required. This position is reflected in House Standing Committee Report 266, and House Bill No. 702, House Draft 1, filed on Feb. 6, 2007.
The purpose of an environmental review is the preparation of a disclosure document containing information of the environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts, both positive and negative, of a new business like the Hawaii Superferry which will use both public lands and public funds for its exclusive use. This kind of disclosure document offers a structured review, with strict rules and timetables for both opponents and proponents, which should lead to better decision-making tools to lessen negative impacts. Also, it is very important to note that an environmental review was requested by the Hawai‘i, Maui and Kaua‘i county councils through passage of resolutions in each county. This is the type of scrutiny that the state Department of Transportation and HSF sought to avoid by disregarding the law.
The state Department of Transportation has not articulated a clear and concise reason of why the HSF’s operations should be exempt from the law and this has been confirmed by a Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision. It is unfortunate that the DOT’s avoidance of full disclosure and public scrutiny of the HSF operations pursuant to Chapter 343, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes was done solely for political expediency. And, it is so ironic that county and federal police actions of the Kaua‘i Police Department and U.S. Coast Guard have been directed against its citizenry who have been trying to uphold the law in dealing with this state issue.
The problem of the Hawaii Superferry operations cannot and should not be fixed by politics or money thrown at public relations and $5 promotions. It can only be solved by following the law which requires a full environmental review process and full disclosure of its operations which should have been done at the conception of this business.
• Mina Morita is a Kaua‘i representative for the 14th District and is a resident of Hanalei.
