For You Super Ferry Supporters....

[Big_Island]

Thanks for the Info BeachBoy!

I just believe its the not fair to make one company jump through a bunch of hoops and not the other Airlines and Shipping Companys.

I have a few more questions, maybe someone can help me understand more clearly...


So Matson/Young Bro's only had to do an EIS for their dock extension/improvement?

So the HSF is only going to be required to do an EIS for only their dock extension?

The coqui frogs got here on a plant,
right? Walmart I heard somewhere..

Its also illegal to ship plants via the US mail, right?

So the Coqui must of come here on Walmart's shipment on the Airlines or Matson/Young Bro's barge's huh?

Do you think we will continue to get invasive species coming here by Airline and Barges?

Do you think any of the Airline/Shipping Company are doing the kind of inspections HSF is going to be doing?



Last I checked Oahu and Maui both had coqui... So again aren't the Airlines and Matson/Young Bro's responsible for this infestation already?

Without the HSF going to Kauai, how long before the Airlines or Matson/Young Bros delivers them a batch of Coqui eggs?

[dlnragent]

Big Island,

I am a State DLNR Enforcement Officer and I may be able to answer some of your questions. As to the origin of the Coqui, my investigations some years ago (pre Walmart) revealed that they were intentionally introduced by a resident of Kona who happens to like the frogs. This was supposedly before there were invasive species regulations in place.

As to Matson, YB, and the cruise ships, it is my understanding that their operations are somehow "Grandfathered" and as such they don't need any EIS to operate. They don't own any of the harbor facilities and would not need an EA/EIS for harbor improvements, since all improvements are contracted by the State DOT Harbors Division. Therefore, any EA/EIS for harbor improvements is the responsibility of the State.

Having previously worked at both State airports and Harbors, I can assure you that there are currently no effective inspections of inter island shipments. We will continue to have invasive species transported whether we like it or not. As it stands there are no restrictions on traveling by private boat or aircraft between islands, and no inspection is done at any small boat harbor or airport. The only inspection anyone has mentioned that I know of is one that is proposed for the ferry. The concern I have is who is going to conduct this inspection and what will be done when invasive species are found? As the law is currently written, the person who "transports" the invasive species (in the case of HSF I think that would be the vehicle owner) is subject to the penalties. Will the "inspectors" have enforcement powers, or is this another added duty that will fall on our department? Personally, I think that this type of inspection, if thorough enough to detect frogs hiding on/in a vehicle during the day when they are quiet (or anything that is intentionally hidden), will take so much time that few would be willing to use the ferry, and if they did, the time would severely cut into the profitability of the operation.

[Tahunatics]

You guys actually know who brought over the coqui and he or she did this intentionally? What has been done to this individual if anything at all? There are only about 60,000 people on this island who would want to sue this retard.

[Bob Orts]

The HSF own staff is responsible for the inspections. They will inspect the interior and exterior of vehicles. They will not permit vehicles which do not pass the inspection to board. The inspection tales place prior to loading. Some additional items are they will not permit vehicles on board that are muddy or have hidden areas from inspection. The issue of time is one they will have to deal with, but they did commit to a vehicle by vehicle inspection and they are standing by their claim that they can and will do it regardless of how long it takes. Note; time was one of the issues the other carriers claimed prevented them from inspecting. Will it be 100%, no way, but it will still be 10,000% better than what is being done by the others.

I believe that the HSF will enable some invasive species to be unintentionally transported between islands. I also believe that the bigger threat is the unregulated carriers. After all, the spread was occurring and still occur before the HSF was even built and while it sits idle in the docks.

Like I said, I'm on the fence, but so far I've not seen any credible or convincing evidence that the HSF posses any measurable threat to the environment. I'm also extremely disappointed and baffled why those opposed to the HSF are not rallying the troops against all the other existing threats to the environment from those already operating. I'm starting to think the anti HSF movement is nothing but pure economic greed and those opposed to it are really shareholders in the other transportation companies. I believe the other companies are afraid that the HSF inspection process, whale avoidance systems, and other environmental mitigation items may prove to be successful and could be required of them.

[dlnragent]

Tahunatics,

As I stated, the information that I got in the investigation that I did was that the frogs were introduced prior to there being regulations to prevent the spread of injurious wildlife. This goes back to the early '80s.

[dlnragent]

Bob,

As I noted in an earlier post, I too remain firmly on the fence with regard to the ferry. I do not think that the environmental impact will be any different than what we already have, and with regards to the inspection, perhaps even a bit better than Matson and YB. I also wonder at the fact that no one has mentioned the other so-called "grandfathered" transportation methods. I did hear from a source whose credibility can not be confirmed that there is a distinct possibility that our traditional carriers have made it "attractive" for those who wish to protest. Again there is no way to confirm what was said, but it does make sense when you think about it.

[Bob Orts]

I don't think YB or Matson are the real culprits. If you sit down with pen to paper, the amount of cargo that will travel by the HSF isn't that much. It will probably be more medium size construction equipment than containers. The cost of transporting a tractor and trailer with a 40' container via the HSF is almost twice as much as transporting that container to Matson, shipping it over, and having it placed on another tractor here.

The airlines are going to loose passengers but at their current capacity load, it's just a flight or two that easily can be compensated by the tactical cut back of a flight and the subsequent savings. So the HSF isn't a threat to Aloha and Hawaiian. The HSF would be a real threat to GO airline which could collapse if the HSF was operational, but not the others.

Even this issue over the whales strikes me as suspicious. Have you read the operational guide? The HSF may never come close to hitting a whale, unlike some of the whale protection groups who have run them over. I’m not sure why this issue is getting so much press coverage over what amounts to the smallest of factual environmental threats.

I wonder if all this is just political posturing. You know the let's use what we can to rally people behind a cause that's really a pre marketing campaigning for a political run. As I mentioned, my brother-in-fights communities, environmentalist, conservationist, and anyone who get's in his way on behalf of developers. He's always given me this one advice "People are generally stupid. Rhetoric will win over intelligence any day. Tell them what they want to hear not what they need to know and they will follow you to the death” Last years Arizona ballot measure is proof that his advice does work.

I don't think we know the full story and may be surprised as to who is backing what and why…..

[HPP Person]

In regards to the superferry debate, here is an article from Herepetological Review that documents the advent of the frogs to Hawai'i:
http://www.hear.org/alienspeciesinhawaii...9v30n1.pdf

Too bad the high school coqui frog eradication program was axed. It would have been interesting to see what ideas the students came up with.

[dlnragent]

Bob,

I agree with most all of what you say. As food for thought, have you also considered how much the car rental companies, and the neighbor isle car dealers stand to lose? As to YB, just look at the number of cars that are driving around with Oahu, Maui, and Kauai license plates.

As to the whales, I really don't think that the HSF threat is very likely. If it were we would have had trouble with either cruise ships or navy vessels by now, as many of these travel at 20 plus knots, with little manuevering capability compared to the HSF and we don't hear of collisions there. Before people yell cover-up, be aware that a whale carcass is a hard thing to hide, sink, or destry as we saw recently off of Hilo and Kona. I think it is that it is the public feeling that almost any measure is reasonable to protect threatened marine life, particularly whales. Therefore, the CAVE establishment quickly jumps on that wagon, and gets the emotions revved way up.

[Beachboy]

marine mammal life is my main concern with regards to HSF. Were you folks residents in the Islands when Hawaii had the interisland Hydrofoil? They claimed since they were a Hydrofoil hurting marine mammals wasn't an issue. Boy were they sure wrong!

Yes, species of ants or frogs will be a real problem. If smugglers can hide things that Customs can't find. How the hell are these inspectors gonna find these little pest? Yeah, in a 'perfect world' all these little pest would be terminated! But we all know we don't live in one of those worlds, don't we?

Handle every situation like a dog,If you can't eat it or hump it,piss on it and walk away...