Sunday Nov 4 Solidarity with Kaua'i Event on Maui
by Karen Chun
(Sponsored by Maui-Tomorrow, The Sierra Club, Maui Community College Sustainability Club and SaveKahuluiHarbor.com)
The Action was WONDERFUL. Really spiritual, chicken skin, tears in the eyes.
It was pouring rain but still 50+ [Irene counted 50 when we started the circle and a few came late] people showed up...which I thought was amazing given the heavy rain. We were under the overhang. So we were all dry.
There were signs such as "Thank you Judge Cardoza", "The Court Spoke" "No special interest bills" "support Hawaii's environmental law" "respect the law" etc.
A lot of press showed up. It will be interesting to see what spin is put on it.
We said we were here in solidarity with Kaua'i and to bless the court and show our support for the rule of law rather than special interest misuse of the law.
First there was an update by Irene from Maui Tomorrow: Basically, we've been negotiating with Gov. Lingle (talked about the 13 knots in 100 fathoms only adding 15 minutes to the trip so this is very doable, etc)
Said the next step is Gov Lingle issues her conditions and then HSF goes back to court to ask for the injunction to be lifted.
Of course we are arguing (if the conditions Lingle puts in aren't strong enough) that this is a special interest bill, violates separation of powers and is thus unconstitutional so anything could happen.
Then...and this is so cool because the whole thing was put together so fast we didn't have anyone to do the blessing...we had a back up plan of doing a silent prayer...but one Hawaiian lady stepped up to do the blessing.
Then I organized I ku mau mua which is what Hokulani Holt Padilla advised that I do and that was really great and a lot of fun. And very stirring even though I was being told not to rabble rouse.
Then we went around the circle and people got to say what was in their hearts. Judith from Maui Tomorrow was so skillful in guiding people into a positive place. In fact, one young person said she came all mad but our positive energy inspired her and changed her mood. (that was great because that was what we were aiming for.)
Then idiot Joe Bertram (he is going DOWN along with McKelvey and Souki) spoke. And it was funny because all of a sudden people started closing in and it was like they were so pissed at him...but the Judith made a point about listening to alternative views "I may disagree with you but I'll defend to the death your right to speak". And I jumped in to direct everyone's attention to the positive having them give a round of applause to English, Tsutsui, Baker, Mele Carroll, the County Council and Mayor Tavares so we got past that in a good and positive way.
But what a dope -- apparently he sold his vote in order to get more DLNR guys...Doesn't he realize that the LEGISLATURE funds and that a better way is to bring home the point Lingle is WITHHOLDING those funds.
One person said the old kapu system made it clear that not all things should be accepted. That this idea of saying EVERYTHING can come in is not really Hawaiian. Some things just aren't beneficial overall.
Hannah Bernard made the point that people have to be educated. That it is wrong to come to the neighbor islands and just take without asking.
One young person talked about the increasing problem of lawlessness and the bad example Lingle and HSF set and how she was concerned about gangs.
So then some more people spoke. And they were so articulate. Finally the Hawaiian women who were holding signs when the Superferry came in the first time spoke.
And she was AWESOME. Her message was "peace be with you" and she made the point that she, as a Hawaiian, was an endangered species. And that we should all go out and talk to people with aloha in our hearts because they will listen then and they support the Superferry because they don't know any better. And we need to educate them with kindness.
Then we all joined hands again and said a silent prayer for our island.
It took about 1 hour 15 minutes and I am so pleased about the event.
Nawiliwili Ti Party: Maui Solidarity Meeting 11/4/07
I attended. About 45 committed people were there. The gathering was led by Maui Tomorrow reps. It was positive and intended to show support for the Hawaii Judiciary to stand firm in support of the existing law HRS 343 and not be swayed by the new unconstitutional bill recently passed. Most of the people there spoke and had something good to say. I was impressed by an MCC student named Suzanne who rode her bike to the Wailuku courthouse from Pukalani in the rain to attend this meeting. That's like 14 miles in the rain. This things not over. I'm thinkin' the Superferry manipulators have no idea of the kind of commitment they're up against. A few phrases came out of some things people were saying there: Superferry Kapu!, Aloha Aina, and Malama Maui or Malama Kauai.
BTW, a couple of speakers there mentioned the military aspects and DU issues associated with the Superferry. One of the people there has constructed a good web page on Depleted Uranium in Hawaii at:
Aloha, Brad