• And the smokestacks? • Common sense rentals • Don’t toss butts • Superferry, done deal? • Libby’s liberator • How about the pound? And the smokestacks? I take exception to Capt. Myrtidis’ comments regarding Norwegian Cruise Lines’ devotion to
• And the smokestacks?
• Common sense rentals
• Don’t toss butts
• Superferry, done deal?
• Libby’s liberator
• How about the pound?
And the smokestacks?
I take exception to Capt. Myrtidis’ comments regarding Norwegian Cruise Lines’ devotion to environmental protection (“Cruise line breaks silence,” Letters, July 3).
While they may not be polluting the ocean (as they claim), they certainly are polluting the air that we breath on Kaua‘i. The cruise line industry (NCL included) burns bunker fuel while in port and the exhaust travels right up into the island’s heart. Bunker fuel contains on average 27,000 parts per million sulfur dioxide (SOX) while current U.S. standards for diesel trucks and other vehicles limits sulfur dioxide to 15 ppm. To add to the misery bunker fuel also releases Nitrogen Oxides (NOX). A recent air quality study conducted near Nawiliwili Harbor in late 2006 and financed by NCL was never released to the public due to “inconclusive evidence.” Apparantly, the study provided the wrong answers that NCL was expecting. The problem is acute, if you don’t believe me just go down to the harbor when the ships are in and watch the smoke from the smokestacks.
Michael Austin
Lihu‘e
Common sense rentals
Rentals have been and are an accepted use in residential zones. A rental is not a theme park or prison or porn shop. I find it to be an unwarranted intrusion into individual rights for government to tell anyone to whom he or she may rent and for what period of time. What I look at is the actual impact of the activity. I find no meaningful difference in impact between renting for six months or one month or one week on noise or traffic levels. In fact, actual impact on neighborhoods may be less with short term rentals.
Socially, there may be an impact and that’s the whole point. We are happy to take these folks money, but apparently don’t want them in our neighborhoods. If you wish to oppose these rentals simply because you think they are illegal, does that mean you never turn left across a double yellow line? Would you have favored restrictions on inter-racial marriage or be opposed to women getting the vote? I think not.
Other business uses are accepted in residential zones, from back yard mechanics to child care centers to many other home based businesses, many of which generate much impact on a neighborhood, so why are we focusing on vacation rentals?
It is time to look at the whole zoning and general plan. I prefer Juan Wilson’s vision for the organization of the island than the structure currently used.
And what is it that says a government should try to solve the most pressing problems first? It is called common sense.
Michael Wells
Kapa‘a
Don’t toss butts
Some things just don’t make sense. Despite recent publicized brush fires in Hanalei, Hanapepe, Lihu‘e, and Wailua (still burning when the following occurred), a driver in a commercial van threw a lit cigarette out of his window onto Kuhio Highway on Sunday afternoon.
If this was you, please stop … and think about the potential impact of your action.
In addition to littering being illegal (as we were hopefully taught when we were children), think about the fire threat: possible damage to property, and even more important, possible loss of life. Someone — most likely a brave member of our fire department — may have to put out a fire that you just started.
Since all things are possible, please don’t be negligent — making you part of the (possible) problem.
Denise Ball
Koloa
Superferry, done deal?
Is it accurate to imply the Hawaii Superferry is a done deal, despite two lawsuits that may delay startup?
A Big Island daily did just that in its July 1 and 2 Superferry stories.
One lawsuit may have Superferry barred from Kahului Harbor until environmental studies are done. Oral arguments before the Hawai‘i Supreme Court begin next month.
The other lawsuit yielded a ruling that the Environmental Assessment for Kahului Harbor was inadequate. A hearing on the remedy is also set for next month.
Why the silence on the lawsuits? Are journalistic standards being watered down to keep advertising money flowing in?
Cory (Martha) Harden
Hilo
Libby’s liberator
Just to be clear about what happened Monday when George W. Bush commuted Scooter Libby’s sentence. He upended a jury verdict.
• A jury unanimously found Libby guilty.
• A Republican judge gave him a sentence within the guidelines range.
• Three more judges affirmed that sentence.
• George W. Bush showed contempt for all of them and for the rule of law.
It’s just that simple.
Gy Hall
Kilauea
How about the pound?
Attn: Kathy and Greg,
My dog is going through the same trauma yet in Australia we do not have operating options yet so you are so lucky that at least you have the facilities to save Sandy.
This may sound unethical, and I am a dog lover myself, however, thousands of animals in the pounds are euthanized every day — are there options to get a kidney from the pound?
Good luck with Sandy, I wish I could live over there and give my girl Toiya the same opportunity but consider this, isn’t it wonderful the technology exists and people out there are trying to find ways to implement it? Let’s hope it finds its way to Australia soon.
Leonore Kenyon
Blaxland, NSW
