US Invades Kaua'i's Nawiliwili Harbor

By Anonomous Attendee at Restricted Meeting
Sept 3, 2007

At a meeting this afternoon on Kaua'i, the Coast Guard 'read the riot act' to the people and groups assembled.Obviously, the Coast Guard plans to get tough and is bringing in help.

Here is a report from someone who attended:

(The names of individuals have been deleted.)

Ok, I went, and now I am having a beer and trying to compose myself. Thank goodness others were there too. Also in attendance were the Coast Guard, an admiral, lawyers galore, DOT, Police, Asing, Nawiliwili canoe clubs. No press, they were kept outside but made interviews as we left. Some made impassioned pleas and then stormed out.

The Coast Guard read the riot act. They have declared an emergency and have set up Nawiliwili as a Security Zone by executive order (to come out in Federal Register this week) They are planning on putting a floating boom across Kalapaki Bay to delimit the "stay behind" area. This closes in surfers, canoe clubs, turtles and monk seals. Also put all of DOT lands under federal protection. Then they handed out a sheet "informing" us of all of the severe penalties if we break the federal laws. Made a point that this was not threatening us, just informing us. They have called in reinforcements, including the FBI, State and County enforcement officers. They said they have not called in the National Guard, that is the Gov's decision.

People asked for the Mayor to step up and ask HSF not to come. He waffled. Folks mentioned that CG and Government has already gotten a black eye in press, world wide and they are asking for another black eye and a bloody nose. Someone pointed out that Kauai is standing up for self control and to stop people from taking everything from us. Gives young people a sense of empowerment sorely missing. Now we are just waiting to see what happens on Maui, and proceeding with TRO on Kauai.

Also see Star Bulletin Environmental review for Superferry will encompass entire state

Letters From Outraged Americans
(Names omitted to protect them from retaliation by the US government)

Aloha, Governor Lingle:

We are horrified that the State will now treat peaceful protest as a threat to the well-being of a corporate entity (or any person or entity, for that matter).

The idea that ferry protestors need to be "controlled" has gone far enough. The fact is that Superferry should have gone through proper environmental reviews, but it chose not to, knowing that there could be severe consequences by avoiding or testing the law.

The court has unanimously agreed that Superferry must follow the letter of the law. Why in the world would the very people who brought Superferry's avoidance of the law to light (free, U.S. Citizens) now have their guaranteed civil rights taken from them (especially under the guise of "security" when no one's security is under threat) to protect a corporation's financial interests?

Guaranteeing the right to peaceful protest is what our friends and neighbors are supposedly fighting for in faraway places like Iraq and Afganistan. We are ashamed that this is the course that our government has taken in this issue.

Please use your integrity and power to stop proposed harbor restrictions from usurping civil liberties in Kaua`i and beyond. Despite your support of Superferry, or even military activity in Hawai`i, we trust that your love and respect of true freedom will extend to those residents who are using that freedom to protect the land and people of Hawai`i in a 100% American, heartfelt (and obviously, from the court's rendering, correct) way.

Mahalo for reconsidering this issue and the rights of Hawai`I's citizens above those of a corporation.

Best regards,

Kailua-Kona

Last update: September 5, 2007