Posted on: Sunday, September 7, 2003
Cruises' environmental effects still a concern
| • | Cruising into a new era |
| • | Passengers a boom for a variety of businesses |
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
Cruise lines are planning a meeting with Moloka'i residents as early as this month to discuss the possibility of visits by small groups of cruise passengers to the island.
Holland America Line and Princess Cruises decided earlier this year to cancel all scheduled cruise ship visits to Moloka'i in response to environmental concerns outlined in a lawsuit filed by the group Earthjustice last year. The suit sought to halt cruise stops to the island.
The cruise ship issue has divided the small community; some Moloka'i residents oppose port stops because of their environmental and social impacts. Others say the visits would be an opportunity to boost the island's stagnant economy.
A judge did not grant a preliminary injunction to block the visits and allowed Holland America Line and Princess Cruises to drop out as defendants in the suit.
Holland America and Princess said they were canceling the visits pending a meeting with Moloka'i residents, initially planned for this past summer.
Princess spokesman Tom Dow said no date has yet been set, but plans call for representatives from Holland America, Princess and others in the cruise industry to hold a meeting on Moloka'i later this month.
"The main point we want to make is we have no plans to return to Moloka'i with big ships," Dow said.
However, the cruise line will discuss an idea to run small vessels to Moloka'i with cruise passengers from a large ship at Lahaina, an idea floated by some Moloka'i residents, Dow said.
"We're going to see if there really is interest in the community," Dow said.
Meanwhile, state officials are reviewing environmental policies for the cruise lines as the industry grows.
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano signed an agreement with cruise industry officials in October covering the cruise ships' environmental practices. The Department of Health and the North West CruiseShip Association are preparing a one-year review of the document.
The memorandum of understanding drew criticism from some because it is an agreement rather than law.
Legislation for environmental regulations did not make it out of transportation committees last legislative session. Next year, legislators will be looking at laws from other states.
"Many of us don't see support for the cruise industry and environmental regulation as contradictory," said Brian Schatz, chairman of the House economic development committee. "I think that most people in Hawai'i do want this industry to grow but they don't want junk dumped in their waters."
The Sierra Club of Hawai'i is working on a legislative proposal that would mirror laws governing cruise ships that visit Alaska.
"We're ill-equipped for an increase in cruise traffic because we lack the regulations to adequately protect our coastal waters," said Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club of Hawai'i.
Larry Lau, state deputy director for environmental health, who is overseeing discussions with the cruise industry, said the resources for monitoring may become an issue as ship arrivals grow.
Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.
