Kauai senator swims upstream against ferry

[Mach5Motorsport]

Poi Dog wrote:

<quoted text>
How ironic that you mention respecting the law and the process. The Hawaii Supreme Court, and not Judge Cardoza, ruled that the harbor improvements needed to go through an Environmental Assessment. The court also ruled that the Lingle administration failed to follow the law and the process when it granted the exemption.

I freely admit that I'm a subjective person when there are issues at hand. Difference is I'm honest about my reasons. SF protestors are hiding behind the coatails of certain judges and eco-groups.

[Poi Dog]

Alakai from Kauai wrote:

How many of the people protesting the SF have ever traveled on an ocean ferry? Try visiting Vancouver, BC, for example -- their extremely well-run fleet of ferries enables you to visit the beautiful surrounding islands, and other mainland areas across waterways that are otherwise inaccessible except by private boats. The ferries offer good coffee, restaurants, wireless Internet, and unsurpassed scenery, all at a relaxed calm pace. With the SF, visitors and residents alike will develop a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty of our state that you simply can't get by flying.

Having done both, I can assure you that riding a boat in the calm waters of Puget Sound does not compare to riding a boat in the rough waters of the channels between the Hawaiian Islands.

[maui gal]

ski wrote:

Senator Hooser has still not explained why he has shifted his view from when he co-sponsered SR 79 in 1998 and had it unanimously approverd by the entire senate in July of 2004? Doesn't unanimously mean everyone agreed to it?

He has explained why he changed his mind about HSF on his blog:

"The situation you are referring to is probably a reference to a 2004 Senate Resolution that supported the Superferry's operations and which was passed unanimously in the Senate. I did sign and vote in support of that Resolution and at the time thought the Hawaii Superferry was a good idea. It is important to note that the Resolution did not request or grant any exemptions to Hawaii's environmental review law.

Myself and all of my colleagues in the Senate initially supported the concept of the Hawaii Superferry (via this Resolution) when it was first presented to us in 2004. However, when we learned in 2005 that they were requesting $40 million in State funded harbor improvements and that they were also requesting an exemption to the law requiring an environmental review- many in the Senate began having serious reservations about the company, the project and the process. The environmental review law is pretty straightforward and it is very common for projects using state land or state resources to have to go through at least a preliminary environmental review (Environmental Assessment or EA). In 2005 I voted in support of a Senate Bill that would have required an Environmental Impact Statement. In 2006 and 2007 I continued working with some of my Senate colleagues in trying to get the company and the DOT to be more accountable and to conduct the environmental review that the Hawaii Supreme Court and the Maui court ultimately said was required by law.

So the short answer is that yes, I did support the Superferry when it was first proposed but I have never supported exempting them from the environmental review process. Since 2004, I have found that many of the things told to me initially by the Hawaii Superferry proponents have turned out not to be true. The more I have learned about this company and the manner in which this entire matter has been handled by the DOT during this past almost 4 years, the more concerned I am about the entire process that preceded the granting of the exemption."

[S Brigade]

Hooser is a stand-up guy. Mahalo for his willingness to remain 'onipa'a and to stand up for the people and all those who know the real reason why the push for the SF is so strong.
Sloan, on the other hand, is one sly buggah.
Watch special session live: www.olelo.org (Channel 53).
I mua!

[Salvador Marti]

What is good for Oahu is not always good for the outer island. We on Kauai, don't want the superferry and all the problems that will come along with it. So what is that the state government, specially (Bush II) Lingo is trying forcing the superferry on Kauai? How much $$$$ is she getting from them? So, if you on Oahu want the superferry, then keep it there and pay for it!!!

[Mach5Motorsport]

Salvador Marti wrote:

We on Kauai, don't want the superferry and all the problems that will come along with it.

Yeah, you speak for all on the island.(We this, we that) LOL

Listen, why don't you hit up the Robinson family and become a private island, ok? You can then lock the harbor gates.

[Poi Dog]

Hollis wrote:

<quoted text>
Another hilarious response from the anti-HSF sheep brigade. Resorting to name-calling and sarcasm once again.

Now get back to your bong hits and video games. The adults around here have more important things to do than argue with half-illiterate children.

So name calling and sarcasm are bad unless you are the source? By the way, either you can read and write and are therefore literate, or you cannot read and write and are therefore illiterate.

[maui gal]

The full Senate passed SB1 SD1 this morning. Here is the speech Sen. Hooser gave prior to the vote. I think the idea of ho'oponopono is a good one. No matter what happens, HSF has to reach out to the communities that are affected and try to heal the divisiveness that has emerged through the past few months.

http://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com/wp-conten...

[Oahu Born]

DeadHorseBeater wrote:

<quoted text>Huh? Huh? Huh? Where did I do that? Oh you must be making stuff up again. FABRCATOR!!!!!!

Sorry. That was my bad. The original post was from Uncle Aina, not you. I retract the statement about you bringing up the subject.

[Oahu Born]

maui gal wrote:

The full Senate passed SB1 SD1 this morning. Here is the speech Sen. Hooser gave prior to the vote. I think the idea of ho'oponopono is a good one. No matter what happens, HSF has to reach out to the communities that are affected and try to heal the divisiveness that has emerged through the past few months.
http://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com/wp-conten...

Personally I'm glad the Senate passed the bill, but what I can't stand (and this goes for all bills) is when they vote "with reservations". Why do you vote for something "with reservations"? I like the bill but I don't? Kind of a ass backwards way of doing things.
I understand that elections are next year, but dammit make a decision and stand by it. Don't lean one way and still try to appease everyone.

[maui gal]

Oahu Born wrote:

<quoted text>
Personally I'm glad the Senate passed the bill, but what I can't stand (and this goes for all bills) is when they vote "with reservations". Why do you vote for something "with reservations"? I like the bill but I don't? Kind of a ass backwards way of doing things.
I understand that elections are next year, but dammit make a decision and stand by it. Don't lean one way and still try to appease everyone.

Yeah, what's up with those "WR" votes, anyway? How can they be considered as affirmative? I think they should not be counted either way, you know, to keep things more interesting! LOL

[alarmclock]

Hollis wrote:

<quoted text>
Another hilarious response from the anti-HSF sheep brigade. Resorting to name-calling and sarcasm once again. It's quite pathetic.
But I will agree, the Hawaiian people have definitely WON something here. A viable, alternative transportation means that will help the good people of Hawaii in countless ways.
Now get back to your bong hits and video games. The adults around here have more important things to do than argue with half-illiterate children.

I admit it. I got suckered into this and actually brought down to Hollis' level of name calling by calling him/her a d*ck. He/she is good. I should have known better. My fault. A weak moment. Forgive me. But I'm over it.

I disagree with you. We'll see how viable the ferry is, and how much "countless" good it brings the people. It better start soon, though,'cause so far it hasn't been a whole lot of good at all.

The podium is yours.

[alarmclock]

maui gal wrote:

<quoted text>
Yeah, what's up with those "WR" votes, anyway? How can they be considered as affirmative? I think they should not be counted either way, you know, to keep things more interesting! LOL

"with reservations" to the restaurant next door where they can finally relax with some wine and toast having slid through this mess, for the moment.

[kauaianboy]

this ban is in effect throughout regardless of protest or not. we here on kauai have been having meeting with the coast gaurd and dlnr, closure of the habor is a definate thing while the sf is in port. protesters or not, now i know what you thinking, yea right, but we have been to these meetings. representaion have attorneys on both sides, and this is whats going to happen. if not, your from the west side, imagine if they docked at port allen???

Hanapepe observer wrote:

<quoted text>
The shutting down of Nawiliwili Harbor and Kalapaki Bay is not the Superferry's fault. Remember the couple times the ferry arrived to our island? There were no restrictions of individuals for the area. It was only when the activists tried to block the superferry and people were harrassed that the harbor restriction was instituted.
Perhaps if Mr Hooser was more proactive in educating the protesters about legal protesting, those harbor restrictions would never have happened. Besides, I am sure once the threat to the superferry in port diminishes, the ban will be lifted.

[Tim]

Hollis wrote:

<quoted text>
Another hilarious response from the anti-HSF sheep brigade. Resorting to name-calling and sarcasm once again. It's quite pathetic.
But I will agree, the Hawaiian people have definitely WON something here. A viable, alternative transportation means that will help the good people of Hawaii in countless ways.
Now get back to your bong hits and video games. The adults around here have more important things to do than argue with half-illiterate children.

Jeez, you're just on a roll bashing everyone's post huh? I'm kind of curious why you want the super ferry so much? By the way, Hooser's getting my vote next time he runs. Glad to see someone take a stand.

[Poi Dog]

The new civics class:

You have the executive branch, the legislative branch, judicial branch and corporate branch. If the corporate branch contributes campaign $$$ to the executive branch to take action favorable to the corporate branch and the judicial branch rules that the decision is illegal, the corporate branch then contributes $$$(or gives jobs to the children of) the legislative branch. The legislative branch then changes the law on behalf of the corporate branch. There, check$ and (bank) balance$.

[Scared lil Haole]

Isnt the corporate and the excecutive the same thing??

[Poi Dog]

Scared lil Haole wrote:

Isnt the corporate and the excecutive the same thing??

It is now, but it wasn't when this country was founded.

[Hollis]

Kauai Pride wrote:

<quoted text>
You are like a post android reading every anti-SF comment and making the same comment using a few different words. You don't seem to have any circuits that are equipped to process ambiguous or aesthetic input, consequently any extensive discussion involving personal feelings, intuition, art and metaphorical allusions is wasted on you.

Intuition, art and metaphorical allusions???

Sorry, but the subject matter isn't that cosmic. We're talking about an alternative means of transportation, and the extreme xenophobia that exists on Maui and (especially) Kauai.

For better or for worse, I'll be leaving this thread alone before I get flamed any further. Apparently, some of you have a problem getting called out. And it's further evidenced on this board that everyone already has their mind made up.

P.S. The Senate passed the compromise bill 20-5.

[Scared lil Haole]

Hollis wrote:

<quoted text>
Intuition, art and metaphorical allusions???
Sorry, but the subject matter isn't that cosmic. We're talking about an alternative means of transportation, and the extreme xenophobia that exists on Maui and (especially) Kauai.
For better or for worse, I'll be leaving this thread alone before I get flamed any further. Apparently, some of you have a problem getting called out. And it's further evidenced on this board that everyone already has their mind made up.
P.S. The Senate passed the compromise bill 20-5.

Goodbye