EDITORIAL
Fanning Island has won cruise hearts

There we were, thinking that the Norwegian Cruise Line would welcome being relieved from provisions of the Passenger Services Act that require its ships to call at distant Fanning Island.

But as it turns out, foreign-flagged Norwegian has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure in Fanning, and it says its passengers love visiting the island.

That means the antiquated Passenger Services Act, which today serves to protect an American cruise industry that no longer exists, is handing business that could and should have taken place in Hawai'i ports over to the Republic of Kiribati. Isn't this reverse protectionism?

The cruise line has employed dozens of Fanning residents and has built a million-dollar visitor center on the island. Some cruise line employees have even built homes on Fanning and have donated thousands of dollars to improve Fanning's only school.

We're not suggesting that, now that it's an established port of call, that Fanning be cut out of the action. That's already water under the bridge.

But that doesn't mean the Passenger Services Act doesn't need revision or elimination. Norwegian, especially when it brings its sister ship here, could still benefit from an exemption from the foreign port call.

For example, the company might want the option to offer long cruises that include Fanning Island, and shorter interisland cruises limited to Hawai'i. Also, if stormy weather threatened to make the voyage to Fanning Island uncomfortable, that leg could be canceled.

For now, though, the Passenger Services Act isn't helping us, it's hurting.