Letters for Friday, September 7, 2007

• Making money most important

• Clandestine maneuverings

• Salvaging our island

• How long will it take?

Name calling

After returning on Labor Day from a nice weekend trip to the Big Island, I was quite amused after reading the Sunday and Monday Letters in The Garden Island. I must agree with Steve Valiere (”Match on gas equals flame,” Letters, Sept. 3) that bad news does tend to sell newspapers. Although, I’m sure reading about stupidity sells a lot more. On Sunday, Aug. 26, we just happened to be at the stop sign outside the Matson gate at the exact same time the televised Explorer pulled up to the exit gate; and witnessed the mob (protesters) surround the vehicle like a pack of wolves. My family and I had just left the small boat harbor after taking our 4-year-old son to get a look at the Hawaii Superferry. And yes, there were several protesters who felt a need to step out onto the street in front of our vehicle to block our path as we were leaving the area; because they thought we had come off the Superferry. Screaming their obscenities at us was such an educational lesson for our 4-year-old son on how not to act when you grow up. There seems to be some agreement by the protesters that they were only beating the Explorer and trying to flatten its tires because they felt threatened. I heard one of the protesters on KQNG radio the next day, giving a play-by-play of the incident and seeming to want a pat on the back for his actions. I thought it was quite funny that this protester felt so threatened by the Explorer that he said, “I sat down in front of the vehicle because the driver was trying to drive her vehicle into the crowd.”

Can you say “Stupid?” I’m pretty sure that any person in their right mind, who felt threatened by a vehicle that could probably squish him like a bug, would not feel a need to sit down in front of it. I was in the same position as the woman in the Explorer, with my child in the vehicle. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I too was willing to do anything to protect my child from the so-called “peaceful protesters.” Hate to tell all you “peaceful protesters” that there won’t be any “pats on the back” or “atta boys” coming at you, any time soon. In fact, I’m sure the owner of the damaged Explorer can send the news footage to some reality TV show like “Dumb Criminals” and earn some money to repair the damage caused to her vehicle. Of course, that would be after she uses the video to press charges against those responsible.

Also — just wondering why on cruise ship days, the harbor resembles Fort Knox with all the security presence, but a different story on the inaugural Hawaii Superferry voyage. As an added footnote: had the Superferry been running this long Labor Day weekend, maybe the parking lot at the Lihu‘e Airport wouldn’t have been “Full.”

Francine M. Grace

Kalaheo

We need the alternative

I have owned a small home-building company, usually for local people or first-home buyers from the Mainland who eventually would like to settle here after working their respective behinds off ( local and new residents alike) and see the ferry system as a reasonable alternative for travel and light shipping needs, as we have been forced to one way of travel for the last 30 plus years that I have resided on Kaua‘i. It’s my opinion that we need to allow the ferry to operate while the court decides what to do, regardless what the DOT may or may not have properly done right or wrong. Give it a chance so we can see what will happen. I, for one, am for the opportunity to make a determination what I’d like to do and I believe that the ferry will have a positive impact for Kaua‘i. I truly wish we can find a resolution to this matter and one that leaves Kaua‘i’s people another long-awaited alternative to travel inter-island.

R. L. Bentley

Lihu‘e

I’ll stay away

Protest has succeeded in keeping at least one person off Kaua‘i for good — me. Low airfares meant two nice trips to Kaua‘i for my family this year. But I’ll get more aloha from ‘ohana in Vegas, L.A., or Maui. Some say Kaua‘i doesn’t have the Mainland’s problems, but I see gang mentality is alive and well. I take it personally because I’m a nurse who, in the ‘80s, flew over in an air ambulance many times to bring your critically ill children back to Honolulu for care. I also flew to Hawai‘i the day after ‘Iniki to help. Many want the benefits of modern life, but don’t want to give up anything for that safety and convenience. The ferry is good for all of Hawai‘i, in my opinion.

The 10 percent of your residents who signed petitions clearly feel they speak for all of you. Like letter-writer Steven Shioi, I wonder if the loudest ones are from somewhere else. I suspect relocated SoCal surfers who don’t want to share a set, and other Mainlanders who made a killing flipping condos, now feel they own the place. My son just returned from an Indonesian surf trip and was amazed and humbled by how kind the people were. But Kaua‘i surfers? God help you if you drop in on them.

If we follow the protestors’ thinking, O‘ahu residents will now refuse to let Matson off-load any cars, food, or other goods bound for Kaua‘i. Why congest our harbor with your “stuff”? Send it all straight to Nawiliwili and you figure it out. Was this some valiant act against corporate greed? Matson and Young Bros. are laughing their way to the bank about that thought. The inconsistency is now in the courts. If the ferry needs an EIS, I suggest the same is needed for all vessels bringing Kauai-bound cargo into Honolulu Harbor. Let’s just bring the whole state to a grinding halt.

Mahalo to those with cooler heads who wrote letters — like one from Pam in Kekaha. Did you used to be my house supervisor? If so, I hope you and the family are well.

Kaneohe, Hawai‘i

How about ‘no nothin’’?

Mr. Richard Hoeppner and all other protesters of the Superferry.

Do you all drive a vehicle? If so, why? You don’t want the Superferry to bring more cars to the island. Yet you contribute to the traffic problems here on Kaua‘i.

I would bet that 100 percent of you protesters enjoy the comfort of modern living. Yet, some of your high-tech equipment somehow contributes to some kind of enviromental pollution. Why don’t you throw it all away (high tech equipment)? Go back to the basics of living with no electricity and no cars.

If you (protesters) are all so smart, I’m sure you know what I mean. Never mind living a double-standard life. Kaho ‘olawe is still open for your style of living. (No traffic, no Super Wal-Mart, no Superferry, no nothing).

‘Ele‘ele