Aaron at The Kona Blog points to this Star Bulletin article -
Firms want Kauai ferry service
LIHUE » A number of food industry executives, led by Love's Bakery President Mike Walters, are asking the Hawaii Superferry, Gov. Linda Lingle and Kauai politicians to bring the Superferry back to Kauai.
I mentioned yesterday some supportive letters to the editor are appearing. There were a couple more today.
31 comments:
ever heard of a PR campaign?
This isn't news.
I disagree. PR compaign or not, businesses putting pressure on the gov and the company to run the boat to Kauai is news.
HERES SOME MORE NEWS:
Aloha
Please come out and support Niumalu Valley’s “Informative Picket” of NCL Pride of America
Thursday, May 22 from 7 AM to 7 PM, at the Nawiliwili pier 2 gate. The boat is scheduled
to arrive at pier 2 that morning and will be leaving at 12 noon the next day. A
Pre-Picket meeting is schedule for 6 AM (sharp) at Niumalu Beach Park (located behind the
harbor, just past the one-lane bridge).
Please, we need your help (your kokua) to stop the violations of EPA National Air Quality
Standards occurring in Niumalu Valley and Kauai High School due to NCL’s cruise ship
plume (see attached fact sheet).
Show-up when you can, morning or afternoon… We need volunteers for support, signage,
honkers, flyers, drinks and pupu’s…. Volunteers, please send me an email at
don@kauaichocolate.us
The ultimate goal is to pressure NCL to burn cleaner fuel while in Nawiliwili Harbor
which would reduce pollution by 70 percent.
The goal for Thursday is “Bad Public Exposure for NCL”…
1. We will be handing out informative Flyers…
2. We will try and get newspaper and TV coverage…
Ideally, we would like to see “Stop NCL Dirty Boat” on national TV, but we will settle
for The Garden Island, Advertiser and StarBulletin and perhaps a little local TV.
NCL is the only cruise line that does not support burning cleaner fuel to reduce
pollution while in Nawiliwili Harbor….
Remember, be nice to the tourist… We want them on our-side. The flyer will be asking them
to choose another cruise line (Carnival, Princess, Holland, etc) on their next vacation -
to support cleaner air.
Lastly, we will be “honking” the boat. The road is just 20 yards from the NCL boat. So
the concept is to pollute NCL with sound just as NCL pollutes the Niumalu Valley with SO2
and Particulate Matter from their smoke stack. It could get a little noisy, so, we’ll
have an ample supply of ear plugs….
-don
don@kauaichocolate.us
I'm extra curious Don. How do these two thoughts coexist for you?
"Remember, be nice to the tourist… We want them on our-side" "...we will be “honking” the boat...It could get a little noisy, so, we’ll
have an ample supply of ear plugs."
Regards, Pete Antonson
Pete Pete Pete. How naughty of you to point out that it's hard to be nice to tourists while you are making their experience miserable.....
That said, we need a law forcing them to burn MDO while in port. Believe that is required in Long Beach. Too bad our lege wussed out on that.
Looks like Nawiliwili will be the site of more maritime protests. Funny how folks were asking why not protest the cruise ships too when the superfiasco was trying to dock. I guess they got their wish. Good Luck Don.
A informational picket line protest with pictures and articles in the TV news and print media will keep the issue alive for all concerned.
A "honking" is a polarizing event that will hurt the cause as well as those people who have already paid NCL.
A year ago, someone wrote TGI sentiments to the effect "who cares what happens to those rich people in their gated community.
Since then, a dignified opposition has received little local opposition. The problem is Statewide support. A polarizing event will kill those chances.
Maintain your patience and dignity.
Regards, Pete Antonson
polarizing who? folk who want pollution from stacks to creep into the surrounding areas and tourist driven industry supporters who have a stake in maintaining high visitor counts? i stay all confused pete. please explain how honking is driving away support for clean air?
Hey Charlie,
Found this in this morning's e.mail dump. Mahalo for Tom Finnegan's setting up the rebuttal to push the Superfarce upon us again. The Kona Blog is on top of things; thanks for the link. This story just won't go away. Malama pono,.......jimmy t
********************************
Subject: conservative republican against superferry
Headers: Show All Headers
Jimmy,
There is something for everyone to be against with the superferry.
I am an extreme conservative and I don't like superferry but for different reasons perhaps than you.
1. The homeless invasion from Oahu
2. Traffic
3. invasive species
4. Crime
5. I've got mine on Kauai and I want to shut the door behind me
My point is when you flame about Lingle, Bush, the military and depleted uranium you are alienating others who are against superferry but happen to be on the other end of the political spectrum from you.
I happen to love the military and depleted uranium, SUV's, golf, short hair, morals, religeon etc..but I hate superferry, homeless bums, hippies, marijuana, Obama and liberals in general.
Are you trying to stop the superferry or push this country into socialism ?
There are many of us against superferry who you push away when you start ranting about strykerferry.
Regards, TLC
Nice friends you got there Jimmy T.
Does that guy wear a hood to casual events?
Although they are pretty much what we heard expressed at the various public meetings, those are all terrible reasons for banning the ferry, at least from a legal point of view. I don't think any of them, as reasons for disallowing the service, would survive a state constitutional challenge.
much of the opposition to the SF is NIMBY writ large.
I've had friends who foam at the mouth because "people from Oahu will be clogging our surf/camping spots". Other than whale strike risk, the rest is similarly weak crap dredged up to try to wall off Kauai from the Oahu folk. Makes me wish they'd flex their muscle and stop letting tax $ flow our way as a quid pro quo.
That said, I still think the ferry's economics are seriously flaws and it will follow Aloha into Chapter 11 then liquidation. The numbers just don't work.
Pete's Summary:
I agree and disagree with Anon 123. I should explain, and will. Here is the briefest summary of what I was referring to in my TGI letter on Tuesday. I was referring to the "concerns" first articulated by Judy Dalton at the Superferry PUC meeting, and the "after the fact research" that followed over the next two years. I agreed with the word: "concerns;" but, the "concerns" became "reasons" to stop the Superferry. I went over every study and presentation about whales in danger. None were peer reviewed. Some were discussions or reviews, not studys. Most were about different types of whales in different places and conditions. Every single one was sponsered or completed by advocates for whales and 12 mile an hour speed limits on the West and East Coasts and elsewhere.
I looked for substance, facts, or anything solid enough to stop somebody's business in regards to a homeless invasion, harbor traffic, increases in crime. There was anecdotes from other places with different conditions and a lot of concern and speculation. Invasive species is real. It's happening here and now and needs more attention. Stopping one boat does virtually nothing about it though. Ironically, more can probably be done quicker with Superferry. It would then be a model for what's imposed on all the rest.
Again, all this was good reason for concern; but, less than a reason for a crusade, in my opinion.
As far as "We were enforcing the law" rationale. The fact was that until overuled by a higher authority, the Dept. of Transportation's ruling was the law and it was followed not broken. The fact was that the Supreme Court ruling was specific to Maui and their ruling was followed not broken. Charley gives a better legal opinion, and he should, in his post above.
The revelations since August are just reasons to dislike the management, especially if you already do, or call for enforcement of any violations of the law. I doubt if those penalties include terminating services. The military conspiracy is a joke. I've followed up on each and every part of it since Juan revealed breathlessly that SF looked just like the one the Navy leased...duh. It is nothing more than association piled onto association. If it turns out that Austal has an antiunion or rascist streak or, to no one's surprise, their Deep South portion does, I don't see how that has anything with a Superferry they don't own or operate, or the next one once they release it. If you feel morally obligated to boycott; then do so.
There's a ton of quantity here and almost no quality. Enough to be concerned; enough to work cooperatively for remedy, not enough for what has developed.
Regards, Pete Antonson
My response to a conservative republican ally:
Aloha,
Mahalo for sharing your thoughts about the HSF and for pointing out
why common ground is solid ground. We all have our reasons for
supporting or not supporting the HSF. I am, and many others are, glad
that it has not returned to Kauai. I hope we(you, I and others)can
continue to voice our concerns and show solidarity against the double
hulled demon of destruction disguised as a civilian ferry on a mission
to save the state from airlines and rampant fuel costs. Whether it is
the homeless or DU we (you, i and others) have concerns that were
never properly addressed before operations began. Now there is
pressure to resume services to our beautiful garden island. We'll have
to be akamai about countering that pressure and increasing our own
pressure on the decision makers, potential customers and the
supporters of the HSF. I appreciate your effort to highlight a
potential flaw in my message to the media about why some Kauai folks
will continue to resist the packaging of the HSF as a savior to our
tanking economy. My discussion w/ Tom F at the Star Bulletin was much
longer and had other points. Chiefly my issue w/the HSF has alway been the
falsehood and misinformation (read lies)that HSF has sold to the
state and the subsequent law abusing response by state officials. Corrupt, bankrupt,
ineffective (call it what you want) government let us all down.The 'strykerferry' issue
came into context with Tom because, as
many folks have shared w/me, DU has some significant issues to resolve
before declaring it safe for the public to have its cargo shipped side
by side w/potential hazardous materials. Yes perhaps you like DU or at
the very least can tolerate but I believe most soccer moms would not
want their vans full of kids going to Mililani to play in a tourney
would want a chance exposure to DU while transporting the kids to
their games. Of course Tom's boss only saw fit to print the
inflammatory quote taken out of context. I wish he would have included
my comments about Aloha Air lines servicing our community for a couple
of generations with honesty,integrity and how that is a business many
can support. They did include some of the special session part about
Aloha receiving the same consideration to provide to the state with
goods and services that are necessary for our welfare. Either way if
we work together to keep 'Kauai Superferry Free' for another year they'll fold like
everyone has predicted and we can look at developing a truly sustainable(supportable by
locals, tourist and business) inter-island travel alternative to airline travel.
Peace,.............jimmy t
Aloha Jimmy,
There was no special session for Aloha because the Lege was is session. The Lege took it up; but, the last investor, Ronald Burkle, has lost $100 millon in just two years.
Now you may expect Strykers to have DU. You may expect Strykers to be on the Superferry. This is because you are fully prepared to believe the worst. What hard evidence do you have that it will happen? Start with the fact that the PUC does not allow the situation you describe.
And Puleeeze don't give me Mauibrad's website as an answer.
Rewgards, Pete Antonson
Aloha Pete,
The reference to DU and Stryker Brigade associated cargo comes from the multiple sources available to folks w/internet access and thanks to Joan Conrow's HonoluluWeekly article. Juan Wilson and Dick Mayer have posted excellent articles on Island Breath .org drawing the military connection picture in full focus. From credible source they have gleamed info, quotes and data to inform the public about the concerns and potential hazzards related to DU contaminants and the military's lack of responsibility to properly handle the hazmat byproduct of their training exercises and the HSF willingness to provide services to the military. From early on HSF has promoted their capacity and desire to provide that service. Inspite of PUC requirements, HSF have already strayed from the agreements they signed on to. I'm not sure of the enforcement mechanisms for the PUC but HSF is prepared to pay the fines for their altered service plans.
Lets not forget that the HSF has already hauled military cargo for the HINational Guard for the storm relief promotions this past winter. This in spite of PUC regulations. Some of the HNG vehicles had seen combat duty in Iraq. Potential DU exposure comes in many shapes and forms. Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best maybe conservative thinking but I'll subscribe to it. Better safe than sorry. My conservative republican HSF ally and others may be offended by my point of view but it's the risk I take for sharing my concerns. The quote in Tom F's article was but a short snippet in a long conversation we had regarding the push to have HSF restart and save Kauai from day old bread. Some folks have shared their reasons for jumpstarting ferry services here; I offered a variety of thoughts that countered that sentiments. Star Bulletin editors cherry picked a good one for their article. Some of the comments have been most entertaining. Very few have been informative.
I appreciate your desire to better understand my point of view. From the feedback of others, I'm not the lone ranger on this topic and my POV is shared by others. The Hawaii
SuperFiasco will be a hot topic for discussion for a while and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter. Malama pono,.....JT
RE: May 22 informational picket @ Nawiliwili main gate. Met with Beth Tokioka and Sue Kanoho yesterday afternoon and was very pleased to see how strongly they support clean air in Niumalu/Nawiliwili. Their primary concern was timing. As we already know the NCL ships are on the way out -I have heard there will be no overnighters soon (this is not a function of our clean air concerns-just simple economics. BUT it may get spun that way by NCL or the uninformed. They shared similar concerns like Pete's that it would polarize the community - particularly the planned noise. I've been working on this issue for the past couple years and my efforts have not yet produced one bit of change regarding cruise ship emissions. Our community has spent their own time and money supporting great Bills sponsered by Sen. Hooser. Rep. Morita and Rep. Tokioka. It has been a classic David Vs. Goliath story. My testimony experience at the final hearing left me a bit dissillusioned with the "process" and I recongnize the need to carry on trying to solve this problem thru appropriate protest. It is simply one more tool to get attention to the problem. Niumalu residents are being exposed to highly toxic pollution at the cost a a couple bucks per passenger ticket for cleaner fuel. Sorry Pete - "ya gotta break some eggs to make an omelet". I hope all Kauai will understand the gravity of our struggle (LUNG CANCER) and support our efforts. Please contact Don - email at
don@kauaichocolate.us
if you would like to help support the Niumalu residents.
Mahalo Charley for providing this forum for discussion. gc
Dear Jimmy,
There is a big difference between suggesting and knowing. There is a big difference between predicting and proving. You've convicted an organization without hard evidence and because it's "better to be safe than sorry." What if the authorities picked you up because they predicted you are going to protest in an illegal manner or because you associate with people who might? Outrageous, right? You've done the same in reverse.
Using your military experience for a related career is most common, not an exception. Guilt by association is permitted on Island Breath; but, not for real. Juan and Joan have compiled a staggering amount of associations. It adds up to quantity without quality. Let's consider Juan's "smoking gun" from his early posts: John Lehman told the Pacific Business News that Superferry would ferry Strykers to the Big Island for training. Much was made of this and much should have been made of it. However, a year later, the statement was officially retracted and replaced with one that said the PUC would not permit it and Superferry had no plans to contract for military training. For the first statement, John Lehman was the "Minister of Truth." For the second statement, John Lehman was an exReagan admin. militaristic scumbag liar. Same guy making both statements. That's called having it both ways and I get two free shots from the foul line (maybe more).
The PUC regs referenced have to do with mixing passengers with hazardous (not just military) cargo. To convict Superferry for the Maui relief effort you need to prove the vehicles were hazardous, not make an associative premise.
Finally, let me point out that 50 pages about military clowns not doing the right thing and one page with loose associations about Superferry and former military personnel do not add up to 51 pages that damn the Superferry. Ten paragraphs about Austal's Southern shipyard management doing bad things plus one sentence about Austal having built Superferry does not add up to 10 paragraphs damning Superferry; and so on and so on. Try to view the mountain of information accumulated with this perspective.
Regards, Pete Antonson
go Pete go.
If the anti-ferry crowd would just stick to their anti-oahu, anti-development issues they'd look petty and lose support.
But if you can dredge up any other half baked connection to evil, just throw at the wall and see if it sticks. It's a cynical approach.
Remember the facts. Kauai is a sensitive ecosystem with no mongoose and no coqui frogs. Oh yeah and Superferry did not do any environmental assessment of the damage 200 cars a day would bring. The people that live here know the traffic sucks already.
This is a total PR campaign my Love's Bakery and Superferry. Nothing more. Everything is fine here on Kauai.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Facts. Wonder if you present any?
200 more cars joining the what 25,000 that are already here???? That will be the end of the world as we know it.
And what if they take 200 away netting zero????
Another silly contention. A popular movie letting out is probably 100 cars. Churches -- 100-200. Lets ban Church to save the environment.
PS -- we have coqui. How many mongoose do you think will be hiding in grandma's car trunk as opposed to random containers on Matson? Yet another fake concern.
It's true there are concerns re invasive species moving about. But just get real about inspections both on the SF and on barged containers/equipment.
culled from the Kona Blog comment section:
***********************************
May 1, 2008 at 11:04 am
When the Superferry can prove that their service is actually going to keep prices down then maybe more people will buy into your theory that the Superferry will solve the cargo dilemma. So far all we have seen from them are “come on” fares that do not reconcile with the real cost of them traveling back and forth to deliver cargo. These “come on” fares are there to establish a need for service. Once that happens they will raise the fares and pass it along to the folks.
Whatever the cost is or becomes in the future the citizens of Kauai will surely pay the price plus a small handling fee. But what is the total cost? It is not just covering the operating expenses of a flawed business venture. The cost includes, but is not limited to, defending ourselves from invasive species, added police, more traffic congestion, and maintaining our decaying public facilities. We will all pay these additional costs either in the form of higher taxes, lost productivity (due to traffic), jobs that will be taken from off island contractors, and decreased tourism once our rural charm disappears.
I would rather see Kauai become more independent than dependant. We need to take this opportunity to look at our vulnerabilities and act to reduce them. Looking for the quickest solution may work for the short term but not for the long haul. Being able to purchase fresh bread is not a good reason to bring the Superferry to Kauai.
I purchase Loves products and enjoy them; but if they are pushing to restore service to Kauai so they can maintain their market share then I will stop purchasing their products and I urge all Kauai residents to consider the same.
Scott
Yo Pete,
If I'm the jury, judge and executioner then I find the HawaiiPSuedoFerry guilty as charged. I pronounce them DOA and sentence them life w/o parole.
But contrary to what some Star Bulletin readers believe I'm no proclaimed leader of the Kingdom and have not received $ from YB, Hertz or Blue Moon Bakery. I merely stepped in to play a small role in the organized community effort to stop the HawaiiSnookerFerry. Media folks asked question about the resistance and opposition to the situation and I provided many a quote.
My conviction of the HSF did not occur overnight. I went from:' Hey sounds great; I like go camping on the Big Island' to 'well I guess an EIS would be a good idea'. I signed PPK's petition and followed the Senate and House action to pass and then punt on the EIS bill(SB 276?). I was surprised by Lingle's rebuff of the petition but believed the Lege would address the issues appropriately (how naive is that?). I was angered by Rep Souki's thwarting of the legislative process but that's how it goes. I always thought the PPK lawsuit would be filed and that would settle that.
The creation of HUI R was a last minute coordination of folks already involved in the HSF resistance. An informational community building event was held and plans for a protest and demonstration were planned for the Alakai' Open Houseboat' tour. Similarly, a demonstration and protest for the first arrival was planned at the informational meeting. The rest is history.
With all the information about the efforts to get the HSF sailing ASAP and the rush to bend/break laws, rules, regulations, etc..more folks have questioned the HSF motives, agenda and viability. With these questions more info is available for folks to decide whether they want to support,oppose or resist the garbage being offloaded with MSM message. More info will be available as time passes. Sounds like you want more information (hard evidence?) before you're convinced one way or the other.
People believe what they want to believe. It's hard to convince them otherwise. It's hard for me to believe that the corporate behavior of HSF is something we want more of. I find it easy to believe that if more people checked into the story( read between the lines) they would find much to challenge their point of view. The report by Marion Higa has been telling. The work by Joan, Juan, Brad, Andy has been counter to what the bought and paid for media has offered. Derrick Depledge @ the Advertiser has been following whatever leads thrown his way. Where else can we get good info when business and government folks refuse to be above board and transparent. We can be sure of one thing, if we stop questioning, we're all going to be in trouble. Like Chuck D and Public Enemy once said"Don't Believe the HYPE" Spin it however you like, the HawaiiSewerferry is plagued by a history of questionable decisions,significant public opposition and poor butt welds. It will only be a matter of time to see how history will record it's contribution to Hawaii. Peace and keep posting. malama pono,...jt
Commenters on here arguing for people to come to Hawaii by the hundreds on the barge are ignorant and don't understand the environment.
As far as the cars are concerned, 200 more cars coming and going WILL make a difference in an already jam-packed one lane road in Kapaa.
"Anonymous" arguments that 200 more cars a day would be no big deal are stupid.
More info for Pete and Jimmy to debate. Jury still out?
http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/2008/05/01/read/news/news01.txt
cut and paste from the internet:
Andy Parx said...
Pete if you can’t critically read because your pro-military or pro-Superferry bias is so strong don’t assume others are “jumping to conclusions”. The military, in and of itself is neutral, although the need for a standing army can be debated. But that’s irrelevant.
If you don’t want to see any connection you’re not going to. The Lehman quote was “retracted” as a PR move. You can’t just “retract” something and make believe it never happened. Was there an explanation for why it was wrong and how they discovered their error? As a matter of fact if you had been following the daily comedy bit that is the HSf you’d have known that at first they denied he ever said it until someone went back and found the PND piece.
If you want to act the fool, be my guest- most people do.
The Times article and Austal itself not just admits but touts the fact that the LCS is based on the HSf design. And the evidence for the “rush job” due to the pressure of the military contract are voluminous and Austal acknowledges it but denies it cause poor craftsmanship (and yet another Austal worker- this time an inspector- verified this again in today’s BI weekly article). Everywhere you go where the information has not been put back through the spin cycle after the facts were reported show the connection.
There are none so blind- you’d make a piss poor cop or investigative reporter Pete- don’t quit your day job.
You can attack my or others’ characterizations- I could care less what- or more accurately whether- you think. But if you can’t put the facts together it’s not because every single one doesn’t fit.
Good inductive reasoning is a skill- perhaps you don’t have it. As I said, any prospective statement is a “theory”- including gravity, the sunrise or evolution. But lack of intellectual certainty can’t get in the way of functional or operational certainty. Though gravity is the least scientifically understood natural phenomenon it seems to exist whether we believe in it or not. Sure we could fall up tomorrow but I wouldn’t rely on that to conduct my affairs and as a matter of fact I’m going to rely on the opposite.
Theories change with facts that don’t fit. What doesn’t fit here? Where even the one fact that indicates there may not be “a connection”.
I refuse to be a frickin’ idiot because some insists on peeing on my foot and telling me it’s raining.
People who employ critical thinking and aren’t mentally hung up on their “beliefs” are the ones who can see the inductions that approach certainty as opposed to those who either force the square facts in a round hole or employ a base of belief and a “you can’t ‘prove’ anything” model of the world.
May 3, 2008 10:37 AM
Dear Andy,
The difference between us is that you are a partisan antiferry advocate. "Partisan" usually refers to fervent, sometimes militant support of a cause, faction, or idea. You are accepting any and all negativity that can possibly be attached to Superferry by any association available. The choir (or nontrolls) you're preaching to laps it all up because they are partisan too.
I am not partisan. I am not writing proferry propaganda. I am applying analysis and evaluation towards the antiferry propaganda produced by antiferry partisans such as yourself. That makes me the critical thinker; not you.
By the way, we've all had to swallow our words from time to time because we're human and do make mistakes. I believe your statement "You can’t just 'retract' something and make believe it never happened" is an unreasonable position. I look forward to reminding you of it in the future.
Regards, Pete Antonson
Dear Jimmy,
Given that your 1st paragraph was "tongue in cheek," I can't really take issue with most of what you say. You have perfectly good reasons to dislike this company in the sense that we consumers often make such choices. I haven't purchased Hormel products for 25 years. Not a huge sacrifice for me. I also wanted to use the service and would unless treated badly or it just didn't fit my needs after all.
Fortunately, I have avoided defending the actions and descisions of this company because they would have embarrassed me on more than one occasion. I do think they have a right to provide this service and those who are willing, have a right to use it; but, it's a little like defending the 1st amendment when the subject is a foul mouthed rapper with a bad history. Nevertheless, I would defend that rapper's rights; but, never ever buy his product. Provided the boat is allowed to sail under it's current legal right, I wouldn't mind if you did all you could to influence people to boycott. Of course, I would continue to apply analysis and evaluation to what you produce and publish my opinion.
Regards, Pete Antonson
But Pete, I think that one of the unanswered questions we have is whether or not the ferry is just a commercial business which will sink or swim depending on consumer choice.
So far, it looks like a commercial failure on a grand scale. The boycott should be working! Yet, it's still chugging along.
I have no idea what the intentions are for this ferry but I worry that we'll be stuck with the bill no matter what. I admit, what I have are suspicions and worries but again that goes to the need for a thorough, independent and binding EIS process BEFORE operation of the ferry. Who can argue with that? I don't get it.
So we got cheated on that - and that's when people started getting angry and really suspicious.
-Katy
Post a Comment