• Kaua‘i more important than any of us • Real concern, Honolulu sprawl • Superferry, be good citizen • Imagine a real co-op • Let’s be fair Kaua‘i more important than any of us A friend once told me that
• Kaua‘i more important than any of us
• Real concern, Honolulu sprawl
• Superferry, be good citizen
• Imagine a real co-op
• Let’s be fair
Kaua‘i more important than any of us
A friend once told me that as stewards of this island, it is our responsibility to protect and care for this beautiful place we are so fortunate to call home. If we put Kaua‘i first, the island will care for its people.
It is good to have wise minds thinking of ways to relieve traffic congestion and look at entrances and exits to bypass roads. Traffic is very important and ways to directly give immediate relief is wonderful. Let’s also not lose sight of what else traffic is showing us and keep focus on the lessons we can learn. The widening of roads and additional lanes can only be helpful if in conjunction with smart growth and a commitment to putting Kaua‘i first.
I encourage these minds to also think of ways to help traffic that doesn’t involve pavement. Working closer to home and supporting local agriculture are just a few; there are many ways if we continue to make it our priority.
At 38 years old I have lived my whole life on Kaua‘i and without a doubt, I am a visitor whose number of years is only relevant to the impact I will have and the effect it will leave on the generations to come. Let’s all walk lightly and with respect, keeping in mind that Kaua‘i, the island, is way more important than any of us.
Joel Guy
Hanalei
Real concern, Honolulu sprawl
Kimo Rosen is quite correct (“No EIS should be required,” Letters, Sept. 1) that the Superferry is a form of mass transit. Now that is the heart of the problem.
Those against the Superferry deserve themselves by overly emphasizing the dangers of whale collisions, pest introductions, influx of undesirables, drugs, etc. Those dangers already exist with existing modes of transport.
The real, basic problem is the mass transit. It is the autos that will be “driven” to Nawiliwili. It allows Honolulu to be right on Kaua‘i’s doorstep. And so will be Honolulu sprawl — ready to keep right on going.
City sprawl with all of its problems is, of course, a national bane. Sprawl does stimulate the economy to be sure, but it also takes a heavy toll on people and the environment, especially in the long term.
Only the Superferry, among the different modes of inter-island transport, can carry auto traffic, and is therefore capable of abetting sprawl. Which is why an independent EIS to identify problems and then having those problems addressed, should definitely be a requirement.
Dave Au
San Diego
Superferry, be good citizen
In responding to Kimo Rosen’s letter (“No EIS should be required,” Letters, Sept. 1) where his clearly stated point that Superferry should not be held to an EIS because all the others weren’t, I can only state that two wrongs (or seven wrongs of the past) don’t make one right in the present.
The other forms of transportation got grandfathered in before the Hawai‘i environmental law was in place. I bet it was put in place for the very reason that people saw the environmental harm happening because there was no law. So to continue letting new companies off the hook because predecessors were unconsciously operating in the present is wrong.
A dear friend of mine had to do an EIS for a Hawaiian charter school project on this island. It cost over $25,000 for a small school. Its impact on the environment was small, yet they did this study willingly and shelled out the money.
It’s Superferry’s turn to be the good citizen, or have the good citizens insist it be a good citizen too.
John Cragg
Anahola
Imagine a real co-op
It seems the true definition of a cooperative has eluded all of us who continue to pay our outrageous Kauai Island Utility Cooperative electric bills. A cooperative is defined as a formation for the good of all. Our electric billings do not reflect that and continue to rise with “energy adjustment” of double the usage or more. I have done all possible to reduce my electric energy usage — and for what? My decrease of usage has met with no decrease in billing. What’s up here?
Imagine what would occur if we all paid our fair share of usage and did not pay the “energy adjustment usage.”
Judy Angus
Kapa‘a
Let’s be fair
I echo Kimo Rosen’s letter (“No EIS should be required,” Letters, Sept. 1).
I wrote something to Rosen’s letter in the TGI on the 29th of August this past Saturday. However, Rosen’s letter expresses my opinion. Especially on the other companies (cruise ship, airlines, yachts, etc.) don’t have to have an EIS to enter Kaua‘i. So why single out the Superferry?
Let’s be fair and let the ferry return. Let’s give it a try for a month or so.
Howard Tolbe
‘Ele‘ele
