In response to Mark Middleton (11/1/07 – “Anti-ferry energy could be better used”): Mark, do you live in another island chain called Hawaii that I don’t know about? The passion to which you refer regarding drug abuse, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, poor education, inefficient government, crime and drunk driving in the Hawaii where I live is strong and vocalized every day.
The loudest outcry most recently was regarding inefficient government. Don’t you think the time, energy and money involved in our Legislature bailing out Hawaii Superferry because of gambling on a poor business decision would’ve been better spent addressing the problems you mention above; problems that have been with us far longer than Hawaii Superferry, and yet cannot seem to garner the attention of our Legislature that Hawaii Superferry has? Have there been special sessions addressing any one of those concerns?
The Superferry has been cleared to operate. And for the first time in my life I am hoping beyond all hope that I will owe an apology to many people.
I’m hoping I’m wrong in thinking that many, including our legislators, made their decision without having the facts, or by simply ignoring them.
I’m hoping I’m wrong for thinking that people are short-sighted when saying that the coqui frog, fire ant, etc. weren’t brought here by the Superferry because, although they are right, they haven’t thought about how much more quickly these species can be spread by the Superferry.
I’m hoping that NOAA has no idea what they’re talking about when they recommend vessels travel at 13 knots or less when whales are present.
I hope I’m wrong, and that a report on PBS which says, “A sperm whale is killed after a collision with a fast ferry traveling between the Islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. More collisions between whales and ferries occur in the Canary Islands than anywhere else in the world due to a combination of tourism growth and high densities of cetacean species” was just some whacko making things up.
I’m hoping that DOT is really concerned about traffic and is ahead of the game, and that the information printed in newspapers was wrong when it said that only after Judge Cardoza ordered DOT to address traffic measures to be taken in order to ease congestion around the busy intersection at the Hawaii Superferry site at Kahului Harbor, were those measures taken by DOT.
And I hope I’m wrong about a myriad of other issues which so many people have seemingly disregarded.
I hope I’m wrong in thinking that those legislators who voted “Aye” to pass the Superferry Bailout Bill did so due to either ignorance of the facts, denial of the facts, lobby money, politics, or fear of conviction.
But mostly, I’m hoping I’m wrong in thinking that this move to save Hawaii Superferry through a legislative bail out is not the beginning of the end for our environmental laws and for our three branches of government in the state of Hawaii.
If, indeed, I am wrong about all these things, I’m ready to apologize. My fear is – I will have no reason to do so.
Jeff Sacher
Kawaihae, Big Island