SUPERFERRY

ELECTED LEADERS SHOULD CHOOSE SIDES WISELY

Now that the politicians are in special session, it is time for the Neighbor Island representatives to choose whose side they are on: Are they with Governor Lingle, the Superferry and big business, or are they with the large, vocal and very organized majority from their home districts who oppose the Superferry operation prior to a full environmental assessment?

I am sure that anyone who sides with the Superferry will face a voter backlash that will remove them from office at the next election.

FEAR OF WHALE STRIKES IS A STRETCH AT BEST

I was fortunate to drive the Boeing Jetfoil as a Seaflite officer from 1976 to 1978. The Seaflite boat had a length of 90 feet and was powered by two gas turbines with connecting waterjets. Cruising speed foilborne was 45 knots, (52 mph) slightly faster than the Superferry.

Seaflite had three boats and traveled to all major Hawaiian islands. Usually each boat made two trips per day and all boats averaged four to five trips per day. Payload was up to 190 passengers.

During whale season we always used 2 to 3 observers including a skipper and first officer for whale spotting. We did see many humpback whales, particularly in the whale sanctuary areas. When we spotted one we would alter course as necessary to avoid a whale or whale groups and give them a safe clearance. I would point out that we were not required to and did not alter our usual island route for whale avoidance. We very seldom reduced our cruising speed of 45 knots while proceeding through whale sanctuaries.

Seaflite had a very favorable acceptance during our initial startup and through its operating period. There was a very minimal, if any, environmental impact statement required and I don't recall any cruising operating conditions set by the state with regard to whale avoidance.

Considering Seaflite's record, it's a real stretch that environmental extremists' main issue with the Superferry seems to be a high risk of a whale strike.

To the best of my knowledge over a period of about four years of operation, Seaflite had no humpback whale strikes and in fact, Seaflite had very few if any close whale encounters.

The Superferry would be a great new option of interisland travel and would benefit many people of our state. It also would serve as an important mode of quick transportation in case of emergencies. It's a tragedy that a small, ill-informed minority is trying to delay or stop the Superferry operation.

Hopefully the state will draft a fair and reasonable bill to support and allow the Superferry to operate during the EIS investigation with a minimum of cruising restrictions.

ADVERTISER HEADLINE MISLEADING AND UNFAIR

Your headline on Oct. 23, "Maui speaks out against ferry" is not accurate.

Maui has a population of about 150,000. The Honolulu Advertiser reports that "with few speakers adhering to a two-minute time limit, only about 100 had been heard."

To write a headline claiming that "Maui" speaks out is not true. One hundred rude people do not speak for 150,000; 149,900 people did not attend the hearing. What about their opinion?

In the future, please do not give your loyal readers misleading headlines. I know you need to sell papers, but please. In this case, The Honolulu Advertiser is part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Do us all a favor and do your civic duty to inform people. How about printing some stories of various ferry systems in Vancouver and all over the world that do not hit whales or cause problems, other than mental problems for those against?

Did you ever hear of a ferry hitting a whale? Whales are wild animals and believe me, when they hear that loud noise, I bet they get far away really fast.

DLNR'S THIELEN DUCKS SUPERFERRY ISSUE

The DLNR is charged with protecting our natural resources, but during this entire Superferry special session they have been missing in action. No testimony at any House or Senate hearing, no statement of reassurance that they will ensure adequate environmental protections, no nothing. The only time this week that Gov. Lingle's DLNR nominee Laura Thielen has made an appearance is to show up at her own confirmation hearing to solicit the Senate's endorsement.

First she ducks their Superferry hearing, now she wants their approval. If this is the kind of leadership that we are going to get from Thielen, then the Senate should reject her outright and ask for someone who is really willing to step up and do the job. The people of Hawai'i deserve better than a person who runs away and hides when the going gets tough.

OUR LAWMAKERS DON'T KNOW HOW EIS WORKS

At the hearings at the state Capitol, someone asked the group of legislators if they could explain the EIS and how it works. Surprisingly, none of them could. They looked at each other with great trepidation and after a few awkward moments of silence, they finally mustered an answer, which was, "We are not here to answer questions."

Now, if they don't know what an EIS is and how it works, how can they vote intelligently on the issue?

CONCERNS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO OTHER CARRIERS

If Sen. Hooser and the others are so concerned about the possible environmental impact of the Superferry, they should also be concerned and petition for an impact study on all carriers between the affected islands, including Matson, Smith Brothers and cruise ships. While these carriers no doubt have been grandfathered, the environmental concerns are professed to be so great that they should also be included in the study and their activities halted in the meantime.

Doing this would show the environmentalists' true stripes.

IRAQ

U.S. CAN'T AFFORD COST OF IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN

I was shocked to read the article in your paper about the Congressional Budget Office's recent 10-year estimate of a $2.4 trillion price tag for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghanis have lost their lives.

We simply can no longer afford these insane and destructive misadventures. The so-called "war against terror" has become the terror itself and will burden people in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the U.S. for decades. This budget report does not include the costs of the dirty little war being waged in the southern Philippines, also part of the "war on terror," and also devastating in its consequences to the people living there. War begets war, destruction leads to more destruction, and the hatred engendered by war promotes revenge and terror.

I am sure some will say that to oppose spending more money for these wars is a betrayal of our troops. Give me a break! Our senators and representatives need to just say no — not another dollar for the war in Iraq. And any money spent should be for bringing the troops home and helping those who have been maimed or psychologically harmed by the war. Supporting our troops now means getting them out of harm's way and ending the destruction being unleashed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress, pressured by the people, must force this war to end by refusing to appropriate any more funds.

We also need to be wary of the Bush administration's ever growing drumbeat for a preemptive attack on Iran. If Cheney, Bush and their cohorts continue to push for yet another ruinous war, the U.S. Congress must be prepared to commence impeachment proceedings against these criminal misleaders.

IRRADIATION

ISLES SHOULD USE NON-RADIOACTIVE SOURCES

After the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, using cobalt 60 or any other radioactive source for a food irradiator is foolish — especially one adjacent to the Honolulu Airport.

A terrorist doesn't need to steal the radioactive material to make a dirty bomb, they only have to blow it up in place to create a disaster. Imagine the irreparable harm to our tourist industry if such an event were to occur.

O'ahu can have an irradiation facility without using a radioactive source. I have operated the Hilo food irradiator since 2000, using electricity to create X-rays.

We treat more than 7 million pounds of fruit and vegetables annually so that Hawai'i farmers can sell their agricultural products to Mainland U.S. markets. My firsthand experience tells me that people are not opposed to X-rays used for insect disinfestation. Every major food safety organization agrees that low dose food irradiation is safe. But consumers are opposed to using unnecessary radioactive materials in their backyard and its potential as a terrorist target.

The perception of exposing the food we eat with radioactive materials is also disconcerting to many. Finally, there is the unresolved problem of disposing of the radioactive waste.

Politicians and citizens of O'ahu should demand Pa'ina use electricity to power their irradiator and not put our island economy and health at risk.

TRANSIT

RESIDENTS CAN'T AFFORD MORE INCREASES IN GET

Toru Hamayasu's commentary (Oct. 26) did not address the most important issue of the rail- transit project. How is this gargantuan project going to be financed, and what would be its impact upon all residents of O'ahu?

Hamayasu's answer to the question "Can we afford it?" is "Yes."

But up to how much GET increase on top of today's GET would be necessary to fund the building of this multi-billion-dollar project? Five percent to make the GET almost 10 percent? We do not know. Hamayasu isn't telling.

Hamayasu's commentary leaves all of us in the dark as to the extent to which the GET will rise.

The GET affects all residents including those who will not use rail such as Windward and North Shore residents, not to mention most car owners.

Those who think that they would pay less than $5 a trip for train and bus need to think again because they all will suffer hidden costs from a stiff rise in the GET.

A stiff rise in the GET will also be an unnecessary burden, most of all, to the elderly retired persons and the poor.

Can we really afford rail transit? I believe the answer is a resounding no.

JET FIGHTERS, WEAPONS SHARE SAME PURPOSE

In response to Mr. Daryl Greaser's letter (Oct. 25) "Wrong Message Sent At Show's Gun Display." Mr Greaser, a self proclaimed strong "military supporter" claims that having children "play" or pose for pictures with military small arms hardware only sends the wrong message to our youth and that these weapons only have one purpose, to kill people.

I might remind Mr. Greaser that the intent of having a military is to kill and the very aircraft that were performing and or on display are also made for killing. It would seem that Mr. Greaser's rationale is a little skewed; it's OK to see jet fighters made to kill, but heaven forbid if your kids look at a machine gun. Next time just enjoy the show and leave the psychology at home.