Moloka'i boat visits revived
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
Cruise line officials are planning to meet with residents of Moloka'i later this month to discuss the possibility of ferrying visitors on smaller boats from Maui instead of bringing them on large cruise ships.
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line representatives plan the public discussion at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Kulana 'Oiwi in Kalama'ula.
The two cruise lines were sued by an environmental group last year and faced fervent opposition from some Moloka'i residents who were opposed to the port calls. The opponents cited environmental concerns and disruption to the small community of 7,300 residents.
Others on the island and in the tourism industry saw cruise visits as an economic opportunity with the influx of thousands of visitors.
After failed attempts to stop at the island, the cruise lines decided earlier this year to cancel their plans for cruise visits.
If the community supports the idea of boats carrying cruise passengers from Lahaina to Moloka'i, it could be a compromise that brings additional small doses of tourism to Moloka'i.
"That was one of the alternatives that the community presented from the beginning," said Isaac Moriwake, an attorney with environmental law firm Earthjustice.
"They would prefer something more along the lines of what they could handle as an island community, smaller groups of people rather than just like a mass unloading."
Walter Ritte Jr., a member of Hui Ho'opakela 'Aina, the organization that with Earthjustice filed the lawsuit against the cruise lines last year, has been one of the most vocal opponents to cruise stops at Moloka'i. He said he supports the idea of the smaller boat visits.
"What we wanted from day one was to have this thing under some sort of control," Ritte said.
The purpose of the meeting will be to hear what the community wants in developing tourism on Moloka'i, and to discuss the idea of bringing smaller boats to the island, said Princess Cruises spokesman Tom Dow. If there is interest, the cruise line will work on plans for the visits, which would likely happen next year or later, he said.
That approach is getting a better reception among some Moloka'i residents.
"They said they're willing to say they made a mistake in how they approached the community," Ritte said. "The Hui is kind of excited about this because it sends a message that if you're going to do economic development on Moloka'i you should talk to the community first."
Meanwhile, the suit asking for an environmental review before the cruise lines stop at Moloka'i is still pending. A judge dismissed the cruise lines from the case, and Earthjustice appealed the dismissal. The state remains a defendant in the case.
Earthjustice and the Hui also filed a complaint against Maui County to require the cruise lines to obtain permits for any land tours.
Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.
