• Live up to state motto • Setting the record straight • Thwart disaster Live up to state motto As a long-time activist for social justice, I never thought I’d be singing the praises of the judicial system. But Monday’s
• Live up to state motto
• Setting the record straight
• Thwart disaster
Live up to state motto
As a long-time activist for social justice, I never thought I’d be singing the praises of the judicial system. But Monday’s unanimous Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision, following their initial unanimous decision, has brought light into darkness.
It has also completely destroyed any credibility or trust we may have had in Linda Lingle and Mark Bennett. They have become tragic cartoon characters of their own making.
The Supreme Court justices have become the people’s heroes by their wisdom and their courage to give us the truth, no matter what the opposition on O‘ahu or anywhere else.
As my lawyer friend said right after the Supreme Court decision: “The Legislature should have focused on impeaching the governor and the attorney general for participating in a conspiracy to violate the law, rather than passing special legislation to protect a private business.”
What a sorry bunch of “leaders” we have in Honolulu, with a few notable exceptions. How many unanimous Supreme Court decisions does it take before the criminals and the corrupt in our government understand what they have done? All in the name of “necessary for the economy” and “even more tourism.”
The jails aren’t big enough to contain all those who would profit by raping the environmental laws protecting the ‘aina.
Remember the state motto? Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka ‘Aina I Ka Pono. Try to live up to it.
Fred Dente, Kapa‘a
Setting the record straight
In response to the letter “Stop DAT Complaining” in the March 13 edition:
1. The letter writer incorrectly claims that helicopter landings that already occur at two sites on Kaua‘i “have not even caught the attention” of Stop DAT! (the Kaua‘i coalition to Stop Disrespectful Air Tourism). In fact, we have long-pressed for enforcement against the illegal landings that occur at the first site.
Regarding the second site, members of our group protested to the Planning Commission in 2006, predicting that issuing permits for that site would lead to more requests to further expand the air tour industry. That prediction came true at the commission last week. Even the Planning director and several members of the commission acknowledge that the issuance of these new permits may lead to more requests for more landing sites by other helicopter companies.
2. The argument (made by Island Helicopters) that approving more landing sites will lead to fewer, rather than more, helicopter flights over our neighborhoods and parks is ludicrous. Quite simply, the purpose of Island Helicopters’ permits is to increase the number of tourists who take air tours, compared to the number of tourists who take air tours today. More passengers means more flights by the industry, not fewer.
3. The letter writer incorrectly writes that Stop DAT’s mission “is to oppose tour helicopter operations.” We have made it clear that our goal is to end disrespectful air tourism. We have made several attempts to meet with the air tour industry to: (i) work out flight paths that will not intrude over neighborhoods and other sensitive areas; (ii) implement a cost-effective GPS-based system that can identify the air tour companies that do not “fly neighborly” or land at illegal locations; and (iii) create a Respectful Tourism Council that can sanction the “bad apples” who do not operate with respect for residents or who break the law.
Unfortunately, the air tour industry has so far chosen to ignore all efforts to work with the community. Instead, it chose to undermine attempts at constructive solutions by concocting a “fox guarding the henhouse” phone line that is ineffective, has no enforcement capability and zero credibility. Why should anyone trust an air tour complaint line operated by the same helicopter industry that generates the complaints? Would you call an oil spill complaint line staffed by Shell Oil, or an illegal grading complaint line operated by Jimmy Pflueger?
4. Finally, the letter writer raises the red herring that we must choose between jobs and respectful air tourism. Stop DAT! disagrees. Air tourism can respect residents and be a healthy contributor to Kaua’i’s economy. But on the other hand, disrespectful air tourism will most definitely harm Kaua‘i’s economy in the long run by driving away visitors who come here for the peace and tranquility — Kaua‘i’s primary selling points.
Maka‘ala Ka‘aumoana, Kilauea
Thwart disaster
I certainly hope that there are emergency plans for the county to fortify the existing lack of structure to prevent another slide by Kalihiwai Bridge before it occurs.
It was fortunate that there were no injuries with the initial slide a few weeks ago but for now, that bare steep muddy hill side looks like an accident waiting to happen.
P.S. Britt, Princeville
