• Open letter to Gov. Linda Lingle • Years here as credentials • Unconstitutional for all? Open letter to Gov. Linda Lingle RE: Act 2, to allow an Inter-Island Ferry Service to operate while the state conducts an Environmental Assessment.
• Open letter to Gov. Linda Lingle
• Years here as credentials
• Unconstitutional for all?
Open letter to Gov. Linda Lingle
RE: Act 2, to allow an Inter-Island Ferry Service to operate while the state conducts an Environmental Assessment.
We, the undersigned organizations representing citizens of Kaua‘i and the Neighbor Islands, reject this Act, believing that it is unlawful, unconstitutional and immoral. The 40 plus conditions, included in Executive Order No. 07-10, if read carefully, have a bottom line: that the success of the Hawai‘i Superferry be ensured at any cost.
According to the Executive Order, the concern for the safety of marine mammals is secondary to the comfort of the ferry passengers, as stated in item A2(a), of the Executive Order. Furthermore, there is no method mentioned to determine “passenger comfort,” so it is apparently up to the discretion of the captain of the vessel. What parameters to define “passenger comfort” will the captain of the vessel use?
The dates listed for the humpback whale season in the bill are inaccurate and insufficient. The humpback whales are in our waters from November through May, and other species are here year round. In fact, The Garden Island newspaper reported on Oct. 20, that the humpbacks are already here.
NOAA recommends a speed limit of not more than 13 knots in whale waters. This bill allows a killing speed of 25 knots in sensitive areas. The truth is all Hawaiian waters are sensitive; there is no way to contain whales in a given location.
The agricultural and natural resource screenings as required by the bill will be virtually impossible to implement as described by the HSF corporation in its scheduled “turn around time” of 1 hour. Thorough physical inspections, we believe, would require at least 5 to 10 minutes per vehicle. Random screening is not sufficient.
We are concerned for our homes and our environment; we affirm that corporate business interests must come secondary to these considerations, especially when that corporate business so profoundly affects our culture and environment.
Under this act, the governor oversees and can amend the provisions of the law. It is only fair, under the circumstances, to have all operating conditions under the supervision of an independent agency, charged with the authority to implement appropriate sanctions. Indeed, what sanctions or consequences are established for failure to comply? If HSF is found to be non-compliant with the specified conditions, does the Oversight Task Force, as called for in section 1a(1), qualify as an independent agency and do they have this power? If HSF is found to be in non-compliance with Act 2, does that nullify and void the privilege of operation this law affords, requiring them to stop operation?
Knowing that, as Judge Cardoza stated in his Oct. 9, decision, “there is a real possibility of irreparable damage to the environment, to the way of life in this community,” we feel betrayed. We believe critical interests, including the environmental, cultural and social qualities of our lives, have been pushed aside by your actions. Therefore, we urge all citizens of Hawai‘i to join us in condemnation of this act. The way this act is written leaves the governor responsible for the consequences; we, therefore, go on record at this time, stating that we will hold the governor so accountable.
People for the Preservation of Kaua‘i
Thousand Friends of Kaua‘i
GMO Free Kaua‘i
Hawai‘i Ocean Noise Coalition
Hui-R
Islandbreath
Kanaka Council of the Island of Hawai‘i
Kaua‘i Alliance for Peace and Social Justice
Surfrider Foundation, Kaua‘i Chapter
Years here as credentials
A common question if one lives in Hawai‘i is, “How long have you lived here?”
It’s a seniority type thing. People subliminally judge others by their length of stay in Hawai‘i.
If one is in Hawai‘i 30 years, they are better than somebody who’s been here 20 years, someone who is in Hawai‘i 20 years is better than someone who has been here 10, and someone born and raised here is better than anybody, etc.
The thing most local people fail to recognize is the people who move to Hawai‘i, move here by choice and for their love of the culture and ‘aina, while those who are born and raised here are here because that’s where their parents are from.
The newcomer has gone out of their way to be here which actually makes one a stronger Hawaiian.
Like a convert to a religion, they are usually the strongest congregants because that religion is their choice, not just a religion they were born into.
Next time someone asks how long have you lived here, ask them if they are here by choice or just because this is where they were born, and out of convenience.
Whether one has lived in Hawai‘i one year or 100 years we are united. This holiday season let’s give mahalos for where we live and practice aloha and love thy neighbor, after all, we are all in this together.
James “Kimo” Rosen
Kapa‘a
Unconstitutional for all?
The teachers union voted for a raise and random drug testing. Now they’re saying “Oh no, we only wanted the raise.”
Give me a break.
These are the people that are with the children, our future, six hours a day.
How many teachers were arrested on drug charges this year alone?
Why is it that the ACLU says it is a violation of the teachers’ constitutional rights?
Why is it not a violation of all employees’ constitutional rights?
Why only public or union employees?
My understanding is that private businesses with more than 50 employees cannot get workman’s comp insurance without drug testing.
Why is it different for the teachers union?
Who do they buy their workman’s comp from?
Come on ACLU, how can it be unconstitutional for only one privileged group?
Why not everybody?
What’s unconstitutional for one should be unconstitutional for all.
Tom Leighton
Kapa‘a
