How Do the NI folks really feel about the Superferry?

General Discussion
1

I am addressing this to the Sways community on the neighbor island:

I thought that the idea of a superferry would be great because it would be a great way to see my friends and family on the neighbor island, bring my toys over (i.e. OC-1, OC-6, SUP, surfboards) and load up my truck with goodies/food for all my relatives that I visit. I was even thinking about bringing some of my tools over too to help make a few boards.

I think this would be great especially during canoe racing events to bring our canoes and families over for racing event. I know that there environmental issues that need to be addressed before this can happen. But I really feel that the superferry would be a good thing for surfing and watersports in general.

Apparently, there are those that disagree with the idea of the superferry. Is this the majority of the Neighbor Island people or just a small amount? What are your assesments?

Let’s keep this discussion rational and on point. I think the issues should be aired out in the process of Ho’oponopono.

I remeber being anti-H3 freeway. Now I love it and use almost daily.

Mahalo,

D

2

the issue is not as simple as surfing.the governess has attempted to by- pass the law to protect a private interest.the Judicial system has ruled in two courts that the law must be honored.it is the governess who has divided our community.Mr. Awo’s DLNR testimony on Maui said it best see if you can find the transcript or watch Akaku.Maui and Kauai are under serious assault from rampant growth and people are making every attempt to save of what remains of the country feel.The stewardship of all the islands is everyones responsibility we all dream of simpler times the assault of big money with no regards for the people is the new mantra.water shortages on Maui are real and rationing for everyone is real except those who own mc mansions their Hana landscaping in the arid areas of Maui is a total lack of disrespect for the idea of stewardship.And the tension in the surf is now becoming common place on Maui just ask the local and oldtime longboarders at Kanaha about the standup guys.and the surf on Maui as you know is not the most consistent.the idea of Ohana is being assaulted by a government that is out of touch with the needs of the people and attempts to divide us do not let them we are all stewards and need to stand up and be heard.we must always remember to respect each other and what we are entrusted by Akua to protect.your Aloha comes thru all the time on your post and i am sure you are welcome where ever you travel on these islands and world with all respect aloha…

3

First of all the EIS as required is only for the harbor improvements nothing else so it’s a lame excuse flamed by badly written legislation which will hopefully be correctly during the special session. That should also eliminate all the pending(molokai) and future court cases currently being initiated by the vocal transplant minority.

Secondly, the only invasive species of concern on island other than miconia and coquie frogs are these many species of this dastardly weed called combustion engine powered land vehicles. Find a way to get rid of those geometrically populating mechanical weeds and you’ll have pretty much solved most everyone’s everyday problem. Or make like china and limit one per family but instead of desiring a boy make it a solar or air powered gender.

Shutting down all the neighbor island airports to reduce the influx of their primary invasive species of concern, the malahini(visitor) and having them sail or paddle canoe to oahu to get to the outside world would also help save them from the further contamination of outside development and foreign influence.

what’s happening now is Hawaii at it’s very worst.

maybe we should start renaming some of the neighbor island locations to, Newport Beach, Laguna Nigel, Long Island, the Hamptons or even Malibu.

When did we turn our foundation of aloha into the bylaws of a gated community.

4

Hi Uncle D. so far I have only heard one person say the truth why they dont want the ferry coming to the island. She just didnt want it coming to the island. Thats pretty straight forward. But do I hear right that if the E.I.S was done properly

then alot of the protesters would want the ferry? We as a state are all going to pay in the end I hope theres something to show for it or someplace is getting a great deal with our aloha

5

I don’t live on Maui anymore, but my family/friends still do, so I can convey their feelings as I understand them.

There are lots of viewpoints on this, not all of them from calm heads.

Some friends I’ve spoken to are mainly concerned about the crowding aspect (too easy for piles of Oahu people to come over and increase already crowded recreational resources). A point that makes some sense is how does anyone on Oahu feel when their local breaks are overrun with tourists?

Some are mainly concerned about the real/perceived legal sidestepping, as was very well-put in the previous post.

Some feel much of the uproar is B.S., and has been orchestrated by big business – e.g. the airline employees union. We all have friends and family on many islands, so it makes sense that none of us will be upset to see our friends and family more often.

But if it’s cheaper and easier, as you said, to “load up my truck” and “bring my toys over” then who is gonna by all those empty seats on Aloha and Hawaiian? So, maybe they are protecting themselves from this perceived threat to their position.

Mostly, thought, my parents and friends perceive it as an Oahu thing, and that’s why they’re not too fond of it – nothing to do with the people who might use the service. They feel it was developed without sufficient input from the NI, and don’t like that feeling.

6

Mahalo all for some great comments and as always it’s great to hear from you Bernie. After touring the Superferry, I said that this would be a great thing for local people. I predict that passangers would be about 80% residents/business of Hawaii. I was thinking also about how great this would be to see community groups taking advantage of this means to visit the neighbor islands. Imagine boy scout troops, pop warner football teams, 4-H clubs, etc. participating in events on the neighbor island. Or how small business can expand their products and services state wide.

Perhaps the environmentalist raise points that need to be addressed and an EIS is required but the ugly part is that this issues polarizies local people. There are some that want this to sound like it is the NI vs. Oahu. I certainly wouldn’t want to bring my truck to Kauai if the majority of the local residents were against the Superferry.

I am sure compromises and middle grounds can be reached. We all need to accept the fact that things change and a lot of changes are for the good. I really think that this one is for the good of local people but there are others that may disagree.

It will be interesting what happens in the Legislature today during special session.

Again mahalo for the respect shown.

D

7

Aloha D-

I think this a good thread idea, but could be very limited as there aren’t that many of us into Sways. Initially, the ferry seemed like a good idea. There are business people that would like to use it here, others for whatever reasons, family/surf whatevers.

I can’t speak for anyone but myself, obviously, but i don’t see my family using the ferry. We live on this Big island because we love the “outer”… less people/traffic/confusion.

Although, Puna has been noted as the fastest growing area in the state, and changing things drastically. We really don’t need an influx of cars here, too many already. Not to mention the cruise ships.

Natural resources are abundant on our island, and that is a huge concern.

If i needed to visit the rest of the chain, it would be much easier to fly and rent a vehicle. I don’t visit the rest of the chain much, usually just passing through. But for some, the ferry might be a fine option.

Another thing, if the ferry does come here, don’t get seriously injured or sick on this island, Hilo is behind Africa in medical facilities, the only good place is in Waimea/Kamuela. Better Medivac to Queens. $$$.

That said, change is constant, we need to roll and flow with what comes. As in all facets of this life, respect respect respect, if that is everyones priority, all will flow.

Aloha Nui

8

Howzit Uncle D, Yeah the Super Ferry thing is quite the big thing these days. If they had followed the right path and done an EIS in the first place there wouldn’t be this problem. Oneula had some good thoughts on this i think and it even brought him back to Sways to post. I’m sure you have read some of the things in the paper about how the ferry can actually cost more than flying and renting a car, but for surfers it would be a nice alternative sine no extra charges for bringing boards. It has become even more of a concern now that Lingle wants to make a law so the ferry can run while an EIS is done. The people on Kauai are very out spoken, but not necessarily against the ferry just the process that is being shoved down their throuts. Take in to the fact that they ferry owners stated running before the original date and the price they offered was not a good faith thing either, then they threaten to leave if we don’t let them operate. It is all about money now and after reading about how much money they donated to politicians it seems they tried to buy their way into the market. Only time will tell if things will go in their favor or not. Remember back in the 70’s when Gov. Arioshi (spelling) wanted to limit the population of the islands, would have been quite interesting to see how that would have worked. As for me I like to fly and get to another Island as quick as possible so I probably wouldn’t use the ferry any how’s. Aloha,Kokua

9

I’m interested in this situation and would like to hear about mitigating issues of not only environmental concerns. The most obvious problem to me seems to be the traffic influx. How do 200 cars fit into the already crowded roads? Kauai, especially on the Eastside, south and Northshores where they already have traffic jams. If there is a lesson from the mainland, let it be traffic mitigation. In development concerns, traffic is now the X factor where water used to be.

I’ve heard concerns of invasive plant species coming in on vehicles, of endangerment of protected Marine mammals, and of the speed in which the superferry travels through the marine sanctuary.

[b] Obviously I’m not from the islands, but I do care about what the people want and what say they have in their government. I do hope this isn’t too out of line for me to ask some questions.

Aloha

[/b]
10

Howzit E-pacman, Since you have visited Kauai in the past you are familiar with the traffic problems we have. But thes started in the 80’s and I watched it happen right in front of my business in Kapaa. A lot had to do with the addition of stop lights ( 3 added i Kapaa alone ). Now a days it’s a crap shoot when it comes to bad or good traffic on the roads. But as for the 200 cars from the ferry, it’s a trade off since people who fly in rent cars, so one way or the other there will still be more cars on the road. The big thing is the invasive plants and species like the coque frogs, mongooses, fire ants,etc. We already have the frogs and ants but they are confined to a very small area here but don’t need any more hitching a ride on the ferry and spread across the whole Island. There is a lot more to the facts concerning the ferry, such as special conditions that were made so the ferry could obtain financing, in fact they have a 2 million dollar payment due real soon and no income to cover it. Bottom line is they had plenty of time to do an EIS before the ferry was brought over and didn’t do it, so now they are paying the price.Aloha,Kokua

11

Aloha Easternpacific, et al:

Yes the traffic problem is a good point. I remember how bad the traffic can get traveling from Kapaa to Leihue right after they room the contra flow lanes on Kauai or traveling from the airport to go to up-country Maui in the afternoon rush hour traffic. Not quite as bad as the traffic Oneula described between Honolulu and Ewa Beach via Ft. Weaver Road but still junk. However, I don’t think the ferry will add more traffic just different traffic such as visitors stuck in personally owned vehicles rather than rented vehicles.

The invasive plants issues are more of a problem of “bad landscaping gone wild”. That along with speeding through whale sanctuaries can be controlled and regulated.

Yes there are issues that need to be addressed and of course this not the forum to resolve any of this. But what is important is to get a feel for how the Superferry personally will impact others.

Anyway thanks for the responses and here is where you can read about special sessions bill HB1: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/splsession2007b/bills/HB1_.htm. It’s along read but it looks like any honest attempt to address most of the issues.

Mahalo for sharing,

D

12

I question the honesty of this call for the EIR.

The elite of Kaui…I am talking about non locals that found there little slice of paradise…just don’t want more people and cars running around there. But to deny true locals the opportunity to vist family and see the other islands in an affordabel manner…well where is the Aloha?

The other thing is the homeless issue. There are plenty of broken down people and vans all over Oahu who would like to be your neighbors and use your parks. There are alot of issues…but the EIR aint one of them…There are dozens of boats coming and going between the islands…many of which are much bigger than the SF…

When the locals would not let the Gov. speak at the meeting last month…and LOUDLY intimidated everyone that was involved…I was offended…

Lets just be honest about the real issues here.

Looking forward to coming over as soon as the right thing is done!! Hey Ambrose or Kokua…can I park in your driveways?

Roger

13

Uncle D-

Do you know if the MATSON cargo ships and the Cruise lines ever had to do an EIS?

It’s tough for me to witness all of this quarreling between the islands.

14

the traffic problems are on state highways.

we asked for help. the state gave us cones.

we asked nicely and got no response satisfactory.

there are permits pulled to build 2500 units

maybe more. There is no relief in sight.

then somebody asked for a super fairy

with wings and a wand to fix things …

maybe…

the fix for the boat tours in hanalei

took forever to get nothing fixed…

the permited operators

were being driven broke

while illegal opperators

made visible fortunes while abusing hanalei

the ‘‘protestors vocal’’ picketed

the entrance to hanalei

and the degrading of the hanalei estuary

was positivly affected…

the dominion of the step children

of the outer islands

to determine anything about their

future has been limited.

the airport was over parked every weekend

after the hurricane restoration started

kauai has been historicly exporting Money to oahu

and the world.

god bless the super ferry

god bless the rightous concerns

for this garden island

I hear about local people on the news

who now live in san diego

I hear of people getting yelled at in the water

I think the people yelling dont know

people on kauai dont act like that

until…

I think

we still need a super fairy

I don’t think she is bette migler

or peter geuber or

Pierce brosnan or

sylvester stalone

.they will just build big houses

and sell em and take the money

some place else.

the super ferry guys

wanna go broke so they can take

the grant money some place else

hemmeter sold the kauai surf to the japanese industrialists

and took the money to laughlin and new orleans

we have seen it all before.

this is just another scam

we will be left holding the bag.

oh yeah ride the ferry bitchin.

lets just watch how it plays out

martial law/

no one can be in the water in kalapaki when the ferry is in

You cant pick up freight at y.b if you dont have a permit

the outer islands are getting hemmed in

…aloha from waipouli…

three more hotels for what and who?

…ambrose…

local people from off island?

san diego?

?..

dont say nothing or you might not be nice…

lay down here comes the world

to help us…?

who are the real …

god bless those who really care for others.

15

to all,

are any of you watching capital tv on Oahu if you are then you will see that Hawaiians and non have testified and the majority is against the special session same thing on Kauai ,Maui and Big Island.we could go on and on on this subject but have we become so jaded to what is right that we allow the outside money mongers to rule?look into your hearts and ask yourself how much more concrete do we want to pour over our home?we leave nothing for the future generations to cherish except memories i sensed a bitterness in an early post that was edited and we talk about aloha.Judge Joe Cardoza was so grossly criticized in the Honolulu advertiser blog some of most vile reading is this the mentality that prevails these days? go read some and then ask yourself if you think that way?He is a honorable man and should be thanked for honoring our laws and so should the Supreme Court be honored. The blame lies with lingle but people have blinders on and think this is acceptable.the checks and balances exist so that no part of government has  absolute power.This reference to gated communities is insulting to all the Hawaiians on Maui who testified against the special session cause they don't live in them.One Hawaiian brother on Oahu testified  their are hundreds of baby Luaus on Oahu and no more opihi on Oahu and he would not like to see the outer island stripped to accommodate that.Oahu is the most beautiful island but planning gone wrong,when the military occupied Oahu for better or worse depending on anyones view the expansive growth was inevitable look to anyplace that has it and you will see the same pattern. do you wish that on the outer islands or would you like to see a place where maybe your children can go to one day and you can tell them stories about what you see and how special it is.On every island there are struggles and we must stay unified as one voice and not be divided as that is how they got so much power in the first place."what is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right"it hurt my soul to see the division this garbage is causing and i wish everyone the best in life.....
16

Just a quick thought about the traffic aspect. If 200 cars land on Kauai why does everyone think that there won’t be 200 going from Kauai? I think that traffic will stay the same, just Hawaii cars mixing up amongst more islands. If 30 Big Island surfers want to come here and taste Sunset for the first time I bet 30 from Oahu will be checking out the BI. Aloha, Tripper

17

Its kinda sad to see how this issue has sort of alienated the islands from one another. I got the feeling that the Kauai surfers did’nt want Oahu surfers coming over. I’ve been going there for the last 30 years and have always experienced good vibes on Kauai. Personally, I probably would’nt use the SF, to me it would take too much time getting over there. I don’t take to ocean travel very good too. I do hope when the smoke clears, that there will be no animosity between the islands. It will be interesting though to see how this thing pans out.

18

I was born and raised in Ewa Beach from the late 50’s

my family comes from a watermelon farm in Lualualei and homestead land on Nanakuli and Maile Beach before the state kicked them out just like Haseko kicked us off our beachfront land here in Ewa Beach almost 30 years ago to build the Ewa Beach Marina. My grandfather and my father mapped out all the harbors in this state by dropping lead weights with strings and recording the depths from a row boat for the Army Corps of Engineers.

I think we’ve paid our dues to call this place home

If you don’t live in the Ewa Plains I don’t think you have the right to complain about anything concerning development here in Hawaii.

We’ve constantly had it shoved down our throats for the last 40 years for the sake of progress for the rest of this island and this state and no one up through today gives a hoot about the hell we have to put up with every day.

The Kauai and Maui I would respect such complaints to come from is not the Kauai and Maui of today that now seems all distressed with the development they are all infact a product of in the first place. It’s everywhere and on every island nothing is original but re-invented to fit some malahini turned kamaaini’s vision of what Hawaii should be. Ask all those that have been pushed aside to make room for today’s residents for they all live on the sidelines out of site out of mind.

The population and worlds of Poipu. Koloa, Waimea and Kapaa are not what they were 30 years ago during cane.

Big island is no different look at the world of Waimea/Kona versus Honokaa/Hilo or Volcano versus Ka’u.

Traffic is bad compared to what it was before on every island but none of it is as bad as what we deal with here on Oahu everyday even folks from the mainland are shocked by what we put up with.

The $1 and $25 GO! interisland flight prices probably moved more folks and created more rental car traffic than the Super ferry ever will but I don’t see any of the locals complaining about that.

I don’t hear anyone on the Big Island or Kauai complain about all the major drug busts made there recently. Or do theymake statements about Black Tar Heroin ring busts run by Mexican illegals working in the service industry on Maui and on the Big Island.

But I did read about the uproar about the theft of a bunch of river bed rocks.

Bottomline is the Super Ferry won’t make that much of a difference

all it’s become is an unfortunate symbol for certain special interests groups to complain about.

If its to fails then let it fail on it’s own merit

you want to fix hawaii?

then why aren’t you cleaning out and getting rid of ala moana shopping center/waikiki, kaanapali/kihei or waimea/waikaloa/hawi/the kona gold coast or poipu/kapaa/the marriott/and all those mansions north of hanalei none of that is hawaii anymore.

I believe in aloha as I was taught as an impressionable young person.

I saw one of those teachers Nona Beamer even talk about doing her best everyday to preserve it on PBS a couple days ago. So no matter how terrible its become to live each day where we live, we still try and live with aloha. Even all the hardcores beach mokes where I surf who would stab, shoot or punch your lights out for looking at them the wrong way if they wanted to try a little aloha with strangers.

I don’t see any of that in what’s happening here now.

What I see now is not hawaiian in spirit its a reflection of mainland mentality like stopping the bomb trains by laying on the tracks. You want to see hawaiians protest, listen to and learn about the lyrics in Kaulana Na Pua the original protest we created about all this change that’s how Hawaiians protest.

http://www.huapala.org/Kau/Kaulana_Na_Pua.html

I think any of those surfers paddling in front of the ferry should first think about their name brand surfwear, surf equipment, surf mobile and how those same companies and the retailers who represent them are as much of the problem as they are before they sound off about encroaching development. The Hanalei tour boat never existed until a bunch of outsiders came up with the idea only when it finally got out of hand did the early adopters make a big stink.

There’s other more productive ways to deal with this stuff like how the northshore community did with their Paumalu investment and now with their controlled conversion to a sewage system to reduce polluting our water table like they’re doing now.

The system is not the enemy

We are our own worst enemy

Only once we realize that

can we move forward to make things better here

19

Howzit Proneman, There is so much controversy on this subject that ir has gotten way out of hand. Just read the editorial section of the Advertser. One little known fact, We all read about the 3 trucks trying to take imu rocks from Maui but there was another incident that didn’t make the papers. After finding the trucks with the rocks they started checking the other cars waiting to return to Oahu and found a car full of stolen items. This is the kind of stuff nightmares are made of. I’m sure it has probably happened with Y.B. but why open up another avenue for this. I am not for or against the ferry but do feel there should have been an EIS in the beginning, they had plenty of time to do this but never did so now they have to pay the piper. Now with Lingle trying to pass a new law so the ferry can run while an EIS is done is turning into a very unpleasant political thing. I am glad to see oneula has come out of retirement from Sways to give us a good view from the Hawaiians side. Who knows, even if the ferry gets to run it may not last like the last ferry we had in the 70’s. On another note, I watched a program about the building of the ferry and one thing is it has the bottom painted with a special paint that doesn’t allow foriegn substances to attach to the hull and it uses jet drive instead of propellers. Aloha,Kokua

20

Sidestreet:

I don’t think so nor for the cruise lines or Young Brothers.