bobludlow

Sorry - I realize that this post deserves its own thread:

Looks like I might have been wrong about the Super Ferry. Local airlines, freight carriers, and unions have all discovered an environmental conscience and are pushing through a law that would require the Super Ferry (and the Super Ferry alone) to complete a lengthy and onerous environmental impact statement that will force them to default on their agreement with their shipbuilder - thereby putting the company out of business. The local legislature appears to be following along in an attempt to make the governor look bad. So in the end we won't have cheap and easy interisland traffic (for tourists, locals, high school athletic teams...). We won't have fresher local produce (Wainaku corn, Waimea lettuce, mmmmmmm). And we will get gouged by mainland rental car agencies every time we visit friends on another island.

Now I am as ecologically conscious as the next Gen Y-er, but these ferries will have modern diesel engines, they will offload all garbage and sewage at the dock, and the company even plans to change their routes every Fall to avoid shallow places where humpback whales congregate.

I'm pissed off that we now might not be getting this ferry that could make visiting AND living in Hawaii so much better.

Patrick

No offense, but what part of this scenario surprises you?

here_today_gone2Maui

You mention special interest groups, but wouldn't allowing the Superferry to proceed without an EIS be pandering to a special interest?

There are definitely some impact issues that need to be worked out here on Maui. I'd rather see them delay the ferry and address all of the potential problems than rush into this and have it fail or create larger infrastruture and environmental problems. Small islands=potential for big problems.

Honolulu may be able to handle increased traffic, but the latest reports on Kahului don't look so good for Maui. And as much as farmers want to ship their produce to neighbor islands, who is going to insure that they aren't getting alien species from neighbor islands in return? How will the increased traffic impact alien species eradication efforts? And, yes, what impact will the ferry have on inter-island flights and on Aloha and Hawaiian. While the ferry would be a nice option, we can't loose our flight options.

A better question would be why was the EIS not done before the financing was in place? I thought it was the law that all major projects such as this required an EIS and that it was necessary secure the Federal funding? And if, indeed, all of the environmental issues have been addressed then there should be no trouble getting through the environmental review. But if there are unespected issues, isn't it best to find them now, rather than after the fact?

joan

here2day, apparently there was no reason to fund an EIS because it was not required - until the fear of competition loomed. Then bills were introduced, affecting only this new enterprise, not the existing cruiselines and shipping lines. What does that tell you? Call me a cynic, but my guess is voila they will find a horrible environmental impact, of course not one shared with the shippers and cruiselines. Here's an interesting both-sides article:

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacif...4/daily72.html

lcuy

yea, but the funny thing is that this ferry will dock the same as the inter-island barges and cruise ships. You'll be bringing the same foreign species that now travel on airline passengers feet, pleasure boats and on vegetables and flowers currently going interisland.

The same cars that can be shipped to Maui on the barge now will be able to escort its owner, so the big difference will be the time involved in shipping. I think the airlines and the rental car agencies fear this the most.

I can see where nieghbor islanders fear more volume of tourists with cars, but really won't it just be the same number of tourists& cars, but different owners?

And won't the neighbor islanders benefit when they come to Oahu? Those are the people that seem to be hurt the most by high airfares right now.

I also think it might be nice for farmers and growers to have a cheaper, faster way to get their goods to the bigger markets?

Somehow I don't see this a something that will dramtically change the number of visitors to any island... prices will still be high enough that most people won't be driving over for dinner!

I don't know. I'm sure there is much more to this issue than I see. I am just so tired of the current air situation and am eager for other options.

here_today_gone2Maui

That PBN article glosses over and even misses the mark on some of the issues. The canoe club issue is not "the volume of harbor traffic" interfering with paddlers, but rather the loss of the only place that paddlers have on the north shore, and a facility used by youth groups and high school paddle teams (called insignificant in an early report repared by engineers from Honolulu). To some the loss of youth programs to more commercial business might be "insignificant," but there are others trying to work it so that there is a place for both.

It is my understanding that the EIS was not necessary as long as the ferry was able to use exisiting facilites, which is why cruise lines, etc do not require an EIS. But, as Harry Eager wrote a few weeks ago, "Kahului is not designed for this sort of bigness." And, if I recall correctly, talk of an EIS is not a new issue, but something that has been discussed for some time. The fact that attorneys for Hawaiian Superferry, the DoT and the Governer's Office decided there was no need for an EIS does not convince me, especially when there have been calls for environmental impact studies from others from the very beginning.

I am all for the ferry and there is definitely a need for something along these lines, but there are many issues still unresolved, especially in relation to Kahului Harbor. I think this sums up a lot of the issues and concerns regarding Kahului and the ferry: http://www.savekahuluiharbor.com/ferry.php

I'd love to see the ferry in operation. I just worry that perhaps this is just another thing that is being rushed through without proper evaluation and planning for the future. We have enough infrastructure and environmental issues on Maui as it is, thanks to more concern being given to the almightly dollar and the tourist trade than the `aina and the future impacts. (Of course, once we finish paving paradise, the pandering to the tourism industry will end.) I believe it is possible to make progress without leaving scars, or significant negtive impact on culturally and environmentally senstive areas. It's just too bad that the dollar seems too often to take precdence over reason.

lcuy

The Honolulu Advertiser reported this mornng that an EIS will not be required.

Hopefully this means the ferry is still on track, but I guess Maui needs to continue to debate how or if they want to be a part of it.

Now if only we could get our potholes and sewer lines fixed with so little discussion....