Posted on: Friday, March 18, 2005

EDITORIAL
Inouye, Akaka votes let Hawai'i down

As our letters-to-the-editor mailbag indicates, there's deep disappointment in Hawai'i's two senators for their votes to support drilling in Alaska's wildlife refuge. And rightly so.

Sens. Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka joined Senate Republicans Wednesday in voting to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Sadly, the 51-49 vote, with our senators tipping the balance, not only reinforces a dismal environmental policy, it also pushes our energy policy in the wrong direction by increasing our dependence on oil, when we should be moving toward renewable sources of energy.

In failing to vote to have the provision on Arctic drilling removed from the budget, the issue was denied the proper scrutiny and debate it deserved.

Inouye has said that because Hawai'i is dependent on oil, finding new sources is imperative.

Akaka said his position was based on what he believed the indigenous people most affected want.

Both those positions are wrong-headed and shortsighted.

There are some among the Inupiat who support drilling. But as reporter Dennis Camire noted in yesterday's Advertiser, representatives from the Inupiat, who live in the affected region, and the Gwich'in, who also are concerned about the effects on wildlife, have come to Hawai'i to lobby against the drilling and have developed coalitions with local environmental groups.

More than most, we here in Hawai'i would expect our senators to have a greater appreciation for the environment and the land. Auwe!