• You weren’t around then • Banana Republic of Hawaii • Ferrying resources • Cardoza’s courage • An idea … can’t do it myself You weren’t around then This letter is in response to all you “malahinis” and some “Hawaiians”
• You weren’t around then
• Banana Republic of Hawaii
• Ferrying resources
• Cardoza’s courage
• An idea … can’t do it myself
You weren’t around then
This letter is in response to all you “malahinis” and some “Hawaiians” who are so vocal in destroying our other possible mode of interisland transportation, the Superferry.
Most of you may not have been around when our only way of transportation interisland was by boat. During the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, we had the Interisland Steam Navigation ships, the SS Haleakala, Hualalai, Kilauea and Waialeale. There were others that carried 12 passengers such as the SS Humuula, which was primarily a cattle boat.
They were fine ships for the times and some of them, like the Haleakala, carried as much as 200 passengers. I know this, as I was a crew member during World War II, when we carried as many as a thousand soldiers, stocking the military installations in the Pacific. I believe most of these fine ships were sold to the Philippine government and were used to service the many Philippine islands.
Those who traveled steerage, made do with the many incidentals. If we traveled overnight, we brought our own bedding and were confined to the aft of the ship. I believe the fare was $7.
Many of us Kauaians abhor travel by airplane, but we do it because it is our only way of visiting family and friends living away from Kaua‘i. I remember my good friend and famous politician, Raymond Souza, who refused to travel by plane when Interisland Steam Navigation quit operating its ships. I am sure there are many more residents like him.
I attended the hearing concerning the Superferry at the Kauai Convention Hall. It was an embarassment. I stood in the back of the auditorium as it was packed to capacity, I’m sure. I am 84 years of age, and if I was 50 years younger, I would “have it out” with this young punk next to me, who with his loud mouthing of disrespectful words, harassed our governor and Hawaii dignitaries.
I did not stay long as I know there certainly would be a confrontation with this “idiot.”
I was shocked to see that the auditorium was crawling with law enforcement officers, yet nothing was done to control the disorderly conduct of the protesters.
Paul D. Lemke
Kapa‘a
Banana Republic of Hawaii
If only our governor was so impassioned as she is for support of the Superferry to solve the already existing, amd overwhelming poor educational resources, and the terrible crime and drug problems we face. Why hasn’t she convened a special session to have an emergency response to these issues among many others? When everyone on the planet is trying to carve out a piece of the Hawaiian pie how can she say business will be discouraged because we follow environmental law? Is this the Banana Republic of Hawaii? It seems so, if those in power don’t like the law well they will simply rewrite it.
Jennifer Klein
Kekaha
Ferrying resources
I wonder how many people in Kaua‘i noticed this exchange between Isaac Hall, representing Maui residents, and the Superferry attorney Lisa Munger: Hall said in the couple of days the Superferry was in operation on Maui, “true irreparable harm” was done when 1,000 imu or cooking stones were loaded on three pickup trucks en route to O‘ahu. He said Maui residents are concerned about ferry visitors taking other resources, too.
Superferry attorney Lisa Munger said, “The resources described by rural Maui residents were not Valley Isle resources, but state resources belonging to residents and visitors.”
Is everyone happy to hear that fish, plants and other natural resources on this island can be loaded into the backs of trucks and hauled off by anyone who travels on the Superferry, according to their own spokesperson?
Cathy Granholm
Princeville
Cardoza’s courage
Maui owes Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza a supreme round of applause for the judicial courage he displayed in his recent ruling upholding the state’s environmental law against the efforts of Gov. Linda Lingle, the state Department of Transportation and the Hawaii Superferry to subvert it.
The law clearly states that an environmental assessment must precede any effort likely to have a negative impact on the natural environment which lies at the basis of our tourist and agricultural industries. The language of the law is plain as day.
It is to Judge Cardoza’s great credit that he ran a meticulous case giving wide hearing to both sides and still concluded that special interests and political power should not trump what we all hold dear.
This case was not about “stopping the Superferry” as some tend to report the story. It was about standing on the vital principle set so wisely by our legislature decades ago that the aims of business must be balanced with stewardship of resources for the long-term good.
What a pity that Lingle is asking the Legislature to go into special session to undermine the court and the law of the land to benefit a private, out of state, start-up corporation.
Laurel Murphy
Pukalani, Maui
An idea … can’t do it myself
Now that more than one poll has revealed that Superferry supporters comprise a clear and distinct majority on Kaua‘i, it is time to find a dignified and lawful manifestation of what we knew all along. I know that you, my fellow supporters, have been as frustrated as I have been in watching our local politicians pander to a minority viewpoint. This is why I suggest a recall petition drive affecting a single local politician as an effort worthy of our endeavor. Personally, I am flexible about the choice: Sen. Gary Hooser and representatives Mina Morita and Jimmy Tokioka have been stubborn panderers.
In my opinion though, the choice is obvious. One local politician helped organize and incite the crowds. One local politician failed to provide the on-scene leadership necessary to prevent aborhant behaviors. One local politician made us look stupid and provincial by not knowing what a leaderless crowd can do.
That is why I am suggesting the recall of councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura.
Now, many of the “protesters” will defend her and her activities. That’s fine. They can vote in her favor during the recall. That is more participation then they have allowed our point of view in recent months.
If you google “Kauai County recall procedures” you can read Article XXVII and how a recall petition needs to be signed by merely 20 percent of voters registered in the last election and fall within a 30 day period. Despite being highly motivated, I have too many professional and volunteer obligations to make such an effort successful. If someone or a group can devote themselves to this, please know that I, and many others, will assist in every way possible.
Peter Antonson
Kapa‘a
