FISHING

FESTIVAL PERPETUATES ISLES' UNIQUE LIFESTYLE

I would like to thank the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group for a Fantastic 2007 Hawai'i Fishing and Seafood Festival.

Twenty thousand people celebrated our cultural and economic ties to our marine resource.

I was very pleased to see all the keiki and the many exhibits and educational activities for them.

As an avid fisherman, I know the importance of passing on the respect and responsibility for our ocean, just as my father taught me.

It is through programs like this that we can protect our unique lifestyle and our ability to use and enjoy our beautiful island waters.

SUPERFERRY

BLAME THE COURTS, TOO, FOR SUPERFERRY MESS

When assigning blame for the Superferry mess, don't forget the state judicial system.

In June 2005, Maui Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled that plaintiffs Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow and the Kahului Harbor Coalition did not have standing to challenge the Superferry's operation, and further that the state had followed proper procedures in granting an exemption to HRS Chapter 343 environmental assessment regulations.

Now in October 2007, Judge Cardoza appears to have reversed himself. Now he rules that the same three plaintiffs do have standing, and that Chapter 243 "clearly requires" an environmental assessment.

So it seems that in Hawai'i you not only can't rely on what a state official tells you, you also can't trust a judge's opinion.

PROTESTERS UNFAIRLY TARGETED SUPERFERRY

It really pains me to see the unfair targeting of the Hawaii Superferry by radical environmentalists.

What happened on Kaua'i especially was not civilized protest.

My wife was on the Superferry that first day and she said there was real fear in the people who had gotten onto the Superferry from Kaua'i. This happened in our beloved state of aloha? This is not right.

The Superferry followed the law. Judge Joseph Cardoza himself, as ironic as it may be, was the judge who gave them clearance. The Superferry did nothing illegal.

Thousands of fishing, sailing, whale-watching and recreational boats freely traverse our waters every year. Airlines, cruise ships and barges carry on business every day of the year and do so with no environmental impact studies on their secondary impacts.

Can you imagine being in a state on the Mainland where you could not drive from one county to another because protesters from one county decided to keep people out? Can you imagine it? Well, it happened in our state.

Radical environmentalists are a form of terror to a civilized society.

WHY MAKE MAJORITY SUFFER FOR MINORITY?

I understand the need for an environmental study, but I feel the minority opinion is getting what they want.

Why not allow the Superferry to run during the study? If found too dangerous, stop the trips. But why make the majority of the population suffer for the desires of the few? Vote on it. Let all of us have a say.

Heck, while we are at it let's stop people from moving to Hawai'i. There has to be a major environmental impact to over-population of Hawai'i. We have limited space and more and more people keep coming. So should we stop everyone from being able to move here until a study is completed. I would like that; let's take it to court!

There is always someone who has to make a fuss. Thanks to the few and poor planning, we will be stuck with a huge bill.

I pray all the protesters actually work and pay state taxes to help the rest of us cover this bill.

FERRY A SCAPEGOAT FOR ISLE OVERDEVELOPMENT

The controversy surrounding the Superferry has stimulated a healthy community discussion. Perhaps it's time to separate the surface issues from the primary question that needs our attention.

That is, finding the right balance between economic stability and sustainability.

Most of the surface issues raise important questions that need to be addressed. Our state government needs to be held accountable for its inconsistency in requiring an environmental impact statement from all businesses and all new developments. Our environmental concerns need to be equally focused on all intra-state commerce and traffic. These are critical issues that deserve a close analysis by our political leadership.

However, if we become distracted by questions of blame, by the inappropriate behavior of a few Kaua'i residents, by the lobbying of business interests, and by the (sometimes) misplaced fear of invasive species, we can easily miss an opportunity to restore/create the proper balance between growth and malama 'aina.

It seems like the Superferry has become the scapegoat for some who believe our islands are being overdeveloped. While I also believe Hawai'i is suffering from uncontrolled growth, I'm not convinced that stopping the Superferry is the answer.

We can enjoy the freedom of travel between the islands if we also accept the moral responsibility of distinguishing between need and desire.

I think there can be economic stability with controlled growth. We can protect our freedoms while enjoying the beauty and culture of this island paradise. We can build sustainable communities where everyone can experience healthfulness, happiness and affordable housing.

GOVERNMENT LEADERS MUST KEEP SUPERFERRY

Gov. Linda Lingle, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, House Speaker Calvin Say, and the entire Legislature, please restore the faith of the majority of the people in Hawai'i in the governmental process and do whatever it takes to prevent the loss of the Superferry from Hawai'i.

It is not difficult. It simply takes some courage and some common sense and cooperation.

Rather than losing something so beneficial to so many people and then once again pointing the finger of blame at each other, act on behalf of the people you represent and get it done.

Help us believe in all of you again.

LINGLE SHOULD UPHOLD LAWS, NOT BREAK THEM

Up until Oct. 9, issues dredged up by the lingering Superferry adventure have been mainly entertaining and educational, but now it has turned ugly. Fanatical supporters of Superferry have phoned death threats to Sierra Club and Maui Tomorrow members. Forget the whales, let's kill some humans.

The state's decision to exempt the ferry from an environmental assessment was questionable and using the Coast Guard to "protect" the 350-foot, 880-ton Superferry from swimmers, surfers and paddlers was disturbing.

Threatening to bring in the Department of Human Services if kids practiced civil disobedience was bizarre.

State officials continue denying any responsibility. Somehow "we the people" are to blame for pointing out their failures. Our governor is supposed to be setting an example by following our laws, not breaking them because of some unexplainable "long-held policy."

Can Jane and Joe Citizen break laws because we don't feel they apply to us and were made for someone else? And call a special session of the Legislature to change the ones we don't like?

Gov. Linda Lingle is acting more like a combative general quashing a rebellion than a diplomatic governor repairing damage. The entire nation is watching. If Lingle even attempts to override the courts and the will of the people it will do her and all Hawai'i irreparable harm.

What's next for Hawai'i, martial law?

DRUG SEARCHES

RULES MUST PROTECT US FROM FALSE ACCUSATIONS

David Shapiro’s support of drug-dog searches in public schools (Volcanic Ash, Oct. 10) is based upon one very important flaw — a belief that only the guilty are accused and prosecuted.

He fails to address what will happen to the student whose locker is found to contain contraband, but had nothing to do with putting it there. As we who attended public schools know, all lockers have vent holes, and we have all had unpleasant things pushed into our lockers by other students.

Mr. Shapiro suffers from the same misconception that many in the public do, that if one is truly innocent then the system will exonerate you.

The protection that our Constitution gives us is not just there to protect criminals from being investigated or prosecuted, but also to protect those who are innocent from being falsely accused.

DRUG TESTING

SAFETY MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRIVACY RIGHTS

I'm having a hard time understanding the arrogance of the teachers of this state. Why would they think they should be exempt from drug testing?

Everyone who works with vulnerable communities should be drug tested, which covers a lot of public workers.

I'm employed in the private sector and work for an employer that serves the developmentally challenged community. We have mandatory random drug testing, and I have no problem with that.

It says that my employers care enough about the consumers they serve to make sure their environment is safe and that they employ individuals who don't put them in harm's way.

Wake up, teachers! If you want to work with a vulnerable community, namely our children, invest your time in giving the kids of this state the education they deserve and stop worrying about your right to privacy.

Drug testing should be a permanent part of your employment. If it catches one offender, it's worth the cost and invasion of your privacy.

Your privacy shouldn't take precedence over the safety of the kids. If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.