09-22-2007, 05:43 AM
Prospects for "the boat" do not look good at present. The question is whether they will be able to operate while the Environmental Impact Report is done, and the EIR (it may be called an EIS in HI) is going to be negative.
As for the original question, Superferry good or bad, I've thought about it and one way to look at it is from the perspective of your island, which is how Kauai and Maui are looking at it.
They obviously view it as bad (Oahu and Big Island seem to favor it), and from their perspective I would have to agree. Not an expert on this, but from Kauai's viewpoint I would be concerned about invasive species and, to an extent, crime. The superferry WILL transport the frog. There are no two ways about it. At present, Mauai and Kauai have the frog under control.
From a Big Island perspective, we have less to lose and more to gain. We have the invasive species other Islands want to avoid.
I used the Ferry in British Columbia and it was a fantastic experience. It was about a two hour ride from Vancouver to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and it was simply thrilling. Also took it from Victoria to Vancouver. The amenities were top notch, the ride was smooth (it will of course be rougher in Hawaii) and it was a great way to get around. It is possible to live in Victoria, yet work in Vancouver.
The problem --and the blessing-- for Hawaii is that each island has its own delicate eco-system. These ecosystems will be damaged (not that they are "pristine" now) with the advent of the ferry.
Here is what I think they should do: the government needs to be candid about the environmental impacts (once they are fully known) and the Superferry operaters need to be willing to mitigate that impact (wash undercarriage of all cars boarding, etc). Kauai and Mauai deserve to be protected from those impacts so that the environmental disaster that befell Big Island does not occur there as well.
In other words there needs to be some honesty about the actual concerns raised by the Superferry, and these concerns need to be mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
The Governor is in a difficult place at present. The Government authorized the Superferry to proceed without an EIR. The Superferry acted in reliance on that authorization, spending millions. The court has said the EIR is necessary. Two islands are adamantly and vigorously opposed to the Superferry. That is apparent now, if it was not apparent before.
This will be a delicate balancing act.
As for the original question, Superferry good or bad, I've thought about it and one way to look at it is from the perspective of your island, which is how Kauai and Maui are looking at it.
They obviously view it as bad (Oahu and Big Island seem to favor it), and from their perspective I would have to agree. Not an expert on this, but from Kauai's viewpoint I would be concerned about invasive species and, to an extent, crime. The superferry WILL transport the frog. There are no two ways about it. At present, Mauai and Kauai have the frog under control.
From a Big Island perspective, we have less to lose and more to gain. We have the invasive species other Islands want to avoid.
I used the Ferry in British Columbia and it was a fantastic experience. It was about a two hour ride from Vancouver to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and it was simply thrilling. Also took it from Victoria to Vancouver. The amenities were top notch, the ride was smooth (it will of course be rougher in Hawaii) and it was a great way to get around. It is possible to live in Victoria, yet work in Vancouver.
The problem --and the blessing-- for Hawaii is that each island has its own delicate eco-system. These ecosystems will be damaged (not that they are "pristine" now) with the advent of the ferry.
Here is what I think they should do: the government needs to be candid about the environmental impacts (once they are fully known) and the Superferry operaters need to be willing to mitigate that impact (wash undercarriage of all cars boarding, etc). Kauai and Mauai deserve to be protected from those impacts so that the environmental disaster that befell Big Island does not occur there as well.
In other words there needs to be some honesty about the actual concerns raised by the Superferry, and these concerns need to be mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
The Governor is in a difficult place at present. The Government authorized the Superferry to proceed without an EIR. The Superferry acted in reliance on that authorization, spending millions. The court has said the EIR is necessary. Two islands are adamantly and vigorously opposed to the Superferry. That is apparent now, if it was not apparent before.
This will be a delicate balancing act.