Google shows almost 800 English-language articles about the Kauai kerfuffle worldwide. I'm sure the Japanese press is following it as well. So this is the Aloha Spirit that attracts tourists to the islands?

This side of Dusty is a rare thing on this forum. I salute your passion and expressive points regarding this subject Dusty

The hitting cars and letting air out of tires was really a tragicly dumb idea. But I gotta say the human barrrier on Kauai peeked my interest. Had I been on island, I fear I would have been out there too, showing my Aloha Spirit! LOL

black mamba - affirmative, pending ruling in maui today

http://starbulletin.com/2007/08/29/news/story01.html

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2...ews/news01.txt

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...007/Aug/29/br/

oops, meant this link

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...823957106.html

I've not been following the story in the Hawaiian press, but here's a summary article from today's NYT....

http://tinyurl.com/3dr8ut

saw the c130 unload 8 coastguard boats to launch from port allen today. should be interesting tomorrow...damn protestors are p*ssing off everyone.

found out from an er friend, those prot. are regulars at hospital needing their fix...

Hearing delayed until Monday, Sept 10

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...236974851.html

Blame the greedy Superferry management for forcing the protesters to do what they did.

Its been a sweetheart deal from the beginning.

An alternative interisland transportation method will be nice, but not at the expense of the environment.

Arrest Lingle & the Superferry management for trying to circumvent regulations.

I know, so embarrassing, these protestors!! Speaking of taxpayer dollars: the air force helped the coast guard bring in four more boats this week to help with the whole situation of protesters in the water. Nuff said--I don't think I need to comment more on that.

benny, I read your little tirade to my boss (also a haole) and he laughed out loud at the "invasive species" comment. That became our phrase of the week!

Superferry management FORCED the protesters to do what they did???? As if they were forced against their will ????

Unbelievable that someone would make such a stupid statement !

Fight, Fight, Dusty vs Rusty!

They had no choice than to do what they did in order to stop the Superferry operate without any consideration to the environment.

I wonder what you would do if some company tried to operate in your back yard with no regard for you.

The Superferry started up AFTER the Hawaii Supreme Court stated that there should have been an EA.

Unbelievable that any company would start up two days early knowing that they would be in court the following day for environmental issues.

Unbelievable that people like you would just let big business come in and do what they please with no regard for the environment.

People went through the legal system to try to get the Superferry to operate within the regulations.

When the Supreme Court sided with them, the Superferry started up anyway. Unbelievable! Actually its not unbelievable as that is the way big business operates. Get politicians in their back pockets and get what they want with no regard to the consequences.

I hope the Superferry sinks in the harbor.

Two years ago, both the federal and state courts in Hawaii found in favor of the Superferry and threw out lawsuits demanding an EIS. The Superferry relied on these courts' rulings and proceeded with business.

In August of this year, they were ready to operate, including hiring local crew and staff for the boat.

At the last minute, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the Ferry needed an EA. HOWEVER, at the time of the Supreme Court's initial ruling, NO INJUNCTION AGAINST OPERATION was ordered; thus, the Superferry's operation was LEGAL when the protesters felt "compelled" to violate federal law and block the ferry's entry into the harbor as well as interefere with the ferry's business relationships among local families. Why they were not all arrested is beyond me - I suppose mob rule can sometimes work, huh?

After the injunction was ordered, the ferry ceased operation in compliance with the law.

The protesters didn't just "act" like criminals, they actually *were* criminals violating federal law. Do you think they will protest against their own lawless action? Probably not. Like I said above, hypocrites.

MelissaHi - I meant no offense to your boss, I'm sure he's a great guy, hopefully with a sense of humor. (I'm not prejudiced againt haoles specifically, I am equally prejudiced against ALL races).

About the politicians in back pockets -
Linda Lingle is the first official in a long time to try to buck the "old boy" network that has had a stranglehold on Hawaii power for decades.

Try reading up on the history of the Supreme Court appointees to Bishop Estate, for starters.

So much emotion in all the passionate answers. Very good for discussion but the fate and the reality of the situation is inevitable.

oh, benny, no worries, that's why he laughed out loud. We all understand this is Hawaii, we make fun of each other and ourselves. He thought it was a GREAT comment, and that's why it turned into our phrase of the week! I still giggle when I say it.
:)

"At the last minute, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the Ferry needed an EA. HOWEVER, at the time of the Supreme Court's initial ruling, NO INJUNCTION AGAINST OPERATION was ordered; thus, the Superferry's operation was LEGAL"

Even Stevie Wonder can see through your BS.

The Superferry not only operated without the EA. They operated two days ahead or their scheduled start because they knew an injunction was coming. When they started up, THEY KNEW the Hawaii Supreme Court said the exemption was wrong.

As far as I'm concerned they operated without any regard for the environment, knowing the Supreme Court had said it was wrong for them to get the exemption. That alone makes it illegal.

The entire Superferry was a sweetheart deal with $140 million in guaranteed federal loans & Lingle in their back pocket. They told the Lingle Administration that they would bring the Superferry to Hawaii only if they received an exemption to the EA. Guess what they got for Christmas that year. And I bet Lingle got some nice political contributions in return.

Once again I hope it sinks in the harbor.

bennyb

You think Lingle is bucking the "good old boy" system?

How about her trips to Philippines & other places that was paid for by local companies in exchange for "rights" to deal with companies from those countries when they visit Hawaii? When she was caught, she said she wouldn't do it any more.

How about a recent $11.5 million "emergency non-bid contract" to a supporter to a company just incorporated that day. It was to deal with the homeless. Now I can see dealing with the homeless problem, but an emergency no-bid contract to a political contributor?

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...708310369.html

Another company received 5 no-bid consultant contracts. Again another huge Lingle donor.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...709020358.html

How about Lingle giving her ex-husband an illegal contract when she was mayor of Maui?

Just because you don't hear about her corruption, its there.

Stevie Wonder can see through her BS too.

Yes, that's all a drop in the bucket compared to the abuses of the previous (democratic) administrations.

But anyway, the point of this board is the ferry itself. Maybe to YOU it was illegal for the boat to operate even without an injunction, but your personal opinion doesn't make it illegal. If they protesters wanted an injunction, they should have requested the court to order one. If they requested and the court failed to do so, that's the court's fault.

And the protesters' arguments still ring hollow. Save the whales? How do you save a whale by keeping the ferry out of the harbor? Are there whales in the habor? I don't think so. It's not even whale season yet.

And perhaps the people swimming & on surfboards had no idea the Superferry had altered their scheduled startup date. After all, their startup date was to be on a Tuesday.

Are there whales between Oahu & Kauai? Are they in danger if recommended speed is 15-20 mph to protect ocean species?

People were protesting on land & in the harbor to protect the whales in the ocean because the Superferry plans to operate at 40 mph during whale season. Someone has to protect them. Lingle & Superferry management shure don't plan to.

Or are you forgetting that the Superferry plans to run all year? Or do they plan to only run during the summer season? Or perhaps slow down to a reasonable speed when it is whale season.

The Lingle samples are only a few of her administrations corruption. And I'm not sticking up for past administrations. I'm pointing out that it is the same as it was under previous administrations.

More on the Lingle/Superferry sweetheart deal:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...WS01/709060365

Once again, I hope the Superferry sinks in the harbor after the stunt they pulled in conjunction with the Lingle Administration.

BTW, you are the one who brought up Lingle bucking the "good old boy" system. All I did was give you a few samples to show that is not true.

The only lawbreakers are the professional protesters who got arrested even Stevie Wonder can see that.

All the other accusations you make are just plain embellishment of the facts and your obviously prejudiced view of the story.

This will all be moot as the environmentalists you now hide behind are selling you out and negotiating a deal with the Superferry to operate while the EA is taking place. The environmentalists don't want to loose the leverage they have gained over the years and all it would take is for John Q Public to awaken and stop all this foolishness. Your side cannot afford this to happen when all they have backing them are professional protesters and mainland environ lawyers.

Why do you think the hearing on Maui was delayed till Monday?

Dusty you write "Once again, I hope the Superferry sinks in the harbor"

Now that would be a REAL environmental disaster and could possibly cost the lives of some humans as well. Why would you wish that? Doesn't make ANY sense seeing as how you are championing the environment with your previous statements.