These are challenging times for all of us here on Kaua‘i. Decades of lacking infrastructure development coupled with hibernating development entitlements from 35 years ago, low interest rates that have fueled a booming real estate market, natural disasters, 9-11, etc.,
These are challenging times for all of us here on Kaua‘i. Decades of lacking infrastructure development coupled with hibernating development entitlements from 35 years ago, low interest rates that have fueled a booming real estate market, natural disasters, 9-11, etc., are all elements contributing to an era of growth that none of us could ever have imagined.
I believe the Superferry issue has become the lightning rod to which all our frustrations and concerns are being focused. Nonetheless, the reality that we face is that the Superferry will be arriving at Nawiliwili at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26. Passions are running high on all “sides,” which could lead to a possible volatile situation. Good people with differing opinions and roles are all part of a precarious situation that will unfold on Wednesday and in the weeks to come.
I implore each and every one of you to exercise your rights and responsibilities in a safe and peaceful manner.
To law enforcement: We know you are doing your job and fulfilling your mission of allowing safe passage of legal vessels (per all legal decisions to this day) into ports of call. Please remember that those who choose to protest the arrival of the Superferry love Kaua‘i just as you and I do; they may be neighbors, friends and family members. Respect their right to protest and to voice their opinions in a lawful and non-violent manner. Please take every opportunity to encourage the exercising of their rights in a legal manner. If people choose to break the law, be as careful as you can to prevent injury.
To the enthusiastic protester: Continue to voice your opinions and conviction. Exercise your right to do so while honoring the rights of others. Those who are not directly related to the situation such as cruise ship passengers, people shipping their cars, people forwarding freight, people driving through or doing business in Nawiliwili, etc., should not be adversely affected by the controversy. I ask you to refrain from breaking the laws that are in place at this time. Remember those who have taken oaths to uphold the law are obligated do so. They too, are your neighbors, friends, and relatives, and they love Kaua‘i as you and I do. Let’s allow the courts to make the final decision, while continuing respectful dialogue, with peace and safety at the forefront.
To the Superferry supporters: Please understand the passion of those who don’t want the Superferry to come into Nawiliwili until the environmental studies are completed. I believe most of them, if not all, will protest in a law-abiding and ethical manner. If by chance, a few make the conscious decision to break the law, please do not generalize that all of the protesters have no respect for the law.
To our leaders: Whether we are heads of families, elected officials, or simply recognized as leaders, we all have a primary kuleana or responsibility for the health and safety of our families and constituents. With the conditions that exist today, nothing legally prevents the Superferry from coming into Nawiliwili Harbor. Philosophical debates inside the courts are still in the process of providing the clarity necessary on legal issues. Until these realities change, we should encourage people to voice their opinions but not infer or imply that it’s OK to cross the lines of demarcation or allow passion to infringe on the rights of others. The legal process will run its course and unless the courts specify otherwise, the Superferry will arrive in Nawiliwili on the 26th of September. Let us all focus on peace and safety first in our role as leaders. It is paramount that the unintended consequences of people’s actions not harm them for a lifetime.
To our ‘opio (youth): As our future leaders this is an exciting period in your lives as you learn and grow and take in all that surrounds you. It is important that you participate in creating a framework for our future in a legal manner. I encourage you to be actively involved and part of the solution to the larger challenges that we face such as how we grow, how we change, and what we want Kaua‘i to look like in the future. We hope you will use your best judgment in decisions regarding the Superferry’s arrival. I ask that you educate yourself on the many issues regarding this matter. Speak with others, including those who have varying perspectives. But most importantly consider your actions and understand their consequences. There are legal ways to do things. In this case, we need to allow the courts to make the decisions on the Superferry.
Sept. 26 is a day of many possibilities. Let us show the world that Kaua‘i is still a place of incredible beauty, a place of peace, a place where we can all be safe. It is a place where good people can disagree, where it is not about winning or losing but about finding solutions. While we have a passion for our beliefs, we at the same time have a respect for differing opinions. And always, we treat each other with aloha.
Today, as we celebrate Peace Day in Hawai‘i, let us embrace the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”
• Bryan Baptiste is the mayor of Kaua‘i. He lives in Kapa‘a.
