SUPERFERRY

DOT STILL DOESN'T GET IT OVER FERRY ASSESSMENT

The Advertiser reports that Barry Fukunaga, director of the state Department of Transportation, is trying to rush the environmental assessment for Superferry because the "ferry service is highly desired and environmental review is needed to enable its operation."

Even after the Supreme Court has spoken, Mr. Fukunaga still doesn't get it. The EA is not a formality that needs to be completed in the shortest possible time so Superferry can go into operation.

The EA is an opportunity to objectively determine whether there are potentially significant environmental impacts requiring an environmental impact statement or no significant impacts. DOT is the agency that must accept or reject the results of the EA.

While it is understandable that Mr. Fukunaga feels badly that DOT did not require an EA in the first place, Mr. Fukunaga once again has the world upside down. He has accepted a finding of no significant impacts before the EA is even prepared.

Having demonstrated an obvious bias and a predetermined decision, Mr. Fukunaga has disqualified his agency from making that determination.

GIVE ALAKAI A CHANCE TO SEE IF IT'S RIGHT FIT

The Superferry is causing chaos in the aloha state.

Environmentalists and antis have been targeting the Alakai, blaming it for all the problems in our state. One is either pro-ferry or anti-ferry.

When a person is hired for a professional job, there's usually a three-month probationary period to see if they are the right fit for the job.

I would like to urge the people against the Superferry to give the Alakai a three-month trial. I believe you will be surprised at how environmentally friendly it is.

GOVERNOR DIDN'T LISTEN TO PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I

When Gov. Linda Lingle campaigned for office she said she would represent "all of Hawai'i's people."

Yet, almost three years ago the County Council of Kaua'i passed a unanimous resolution requesting an environmental impact statement before the Superferry could proceed, as did the councils of Maui and Hawai'i.

She insists that the people of Hawai'i want the ferry, but she has no way of knowing since a vote was never taken. When representatives of Kaua'i went to her office with a petition from 6,000 of her citizens, she told her secretary not to accept it.

Who does she represent? The ferry owners? Certain people back in Washington? This whole mess should be laid at her office door.

WE ALL MUST RESPECT EACH OTHER'S FEELINGS

Whether the Superferry stays or goes, the rest of us will have to live with each other.

To the protesters on Kaua'i and Maui: If you can articulate your concerns without treating other human beings callously, I think I can get behind your cause. After all, I don't live there and won't suffer the consequences of a diminished quality of life there.

To those on O'ahu who feel insulted by the whole affair: Take a look at what the ferry represents rather than responding from a wounded ego. Remember that you have, in your own back yard, groups that want to "defend O'ahu," "keep the North Shore country," and who block people with psychiatric disabilities from restarting their lives in the community — all because of a feared impact on quality of life.

As for me, I can always keep flying to the Neighbor Islands. It's been nice to have an airline like go! around to moderate the prices.

And, come to think of it, most of us kept on flying even when the prices were higher.

SURELY, PROTESTERS ARE CONSISTENT IN ACTIONS

As a relatively uninterested party (Hilo is the destination farthest away for the Honolulu Superferry and would take too long), I am impressed by the determination of the protesters.

I am sure that they are internally consistent with the rest of their comments and behaviors, and neither shop nor frequent big box stores like Costco, WalMart or Kmart.

I am sure that they only buy produce and meat grown or caught locally.

I am positive that local stores like Foodland and mom-and-pops are where they shop, not Times (now owned by a California group), Safeway, Longs, McDonald's, or Jack in the Box and similar chains.

I am convinced that they don't drive cars and when they travel to Honolulu, that they paddle rather than fly. Because, heaven knows, none of these people would act hypocritically.

LET'S ENJOY BENEFITS THAT PROGRESS BRINGS

In response to those who apparently promote the theory that the Superferry will ruin the ecology of Hawai'i communities, I can only remind them that we are not living in the past with canoes, pigs and horse-drawn carriages.

What happened when the cruise ships of the 1920s arrived; how about when the airplane arrived in the 1930s? Did we survive the changes in our lifestyles from the increased numbers of visitors with their economic assets?

I would suggest that we not only survived, but we in the Islands improved in our lifestyles and community values from the "stinking dollar" that followed.

Let's get over it, and join in the enjoyment of the advancements and benefits that progress brings.

Take advantage of these new opportunities, and don't just sit under the guava tree without envisioning the thought, "Why not the whole guava orchard?"

CANADIANS DEVELOPING WHALE-DETECTING GLIDER

The Canadian Navy and its contractor, Webb Research Corp., have been developing a class of whale-detecting underwater gliders. Once detected, the intent is to then avoid collision with the whales.

Underwater gliders are small, fast, cheap and autonomous. I believe they cost around $50,000 each so a fleet of 20 might cost around $1 million, which sounds like a pittance compared to the $40 million spent to improve state harbors for the Superferry.

I wonder if these could be used to provide a whale-free path through Hawai'i waters for the Hawaii Superferry and other fast-moving ships.

Bonus: They'd probably only be needed for a few hours a day, leaving the rest of their time available for gathering data worthwhile to oceanographers and marine biologists. They probably also could be used to help whale-watching boats avoid collisions.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDERS TIRED OF 'PROGRESS'

Lee Cataluna's got it right — O'ahu's problems have made it almost unliveable ("Hawai'i ferry: Big-city problems," Sept. 11).

I grew up on the Leeward side and now I can't get to a lot of beaches we fished for three generations. The rest have been overrun and destroyed by crowds of people — little fish and no more limu, just a lot of trash.

I see the same thing happening on Maui. I think people on the Neighbor Islands are getting tired of change disguised as "progress."

MAUIAN AGREES TAXES SHOULD STAY ON ISLAND

Neil Williams (Letters, Sept. 7) says O'ahu should keep the taxes they pay on their island because Maui and Kaua'i haven't welcomed passengers on the Superferry.

I heartily agree! If Maui could keep all the taxes collected here, we could finally get our roads fixed and build some sorely needed parks. Please make it happen, Mr. Williams.

FERRY ISSUE JUST DOESN'T RISE TO FAMOUS PROTESTS

Now I've heard everything. To compare the "civil disobedience" witnessed on the Neighbor Islands to the struggle for independence and racial equality i.e., the Boston Tea Party and Rosa Parks (Letters, Sept. 10) finally takes the cake.

Kauaians and Mauians protesting the Superferry can only wish to stand for such a noble cause.

H-1 FREEWAY

DRIVER REPORTED GRATE PROBLEM DAY BEFORE

On the morning of Sept. 11 my wife noted an out-of-place drainage grate in the far right lane of the H-1 Freeway eastbound between exits 10 and 13.

Shortly after 8 a.m., she called 911, was transfered to another office and reported the safety concern. Some 20 hours later, a number of vehicles appear to have been damaged by this or a similar situation and thousands of hours were lost by commuters.

If officials failed to respond to the notification and any such negligence caused the damage and delay, they should be held accountable.

If the grate was repositioned and then that or another grate came loose, there is an engineering flaw that requires remedy. I sincerely hope the latter to be the case. The alternative is that nobody responded to the report on Sept. 11 and lives were endangered.

MAGIC ISLAND TREES

BRENNAN'S LETTER WAS OFFENSIVE TO PUBLIC

Bill Brennan's letter (Sept.12) was offensive to both the public and to The Outdoor Circle. As far as I know, both entities have the right to express opinions concerning public matters.

And why is the mayor's office worried about "services and advice" from The Outdoor Circle, which has been instrumental in protecting our environment for years from those who regard it as fair game for a big fat profit?

Please, people of Hawai'i, don't let your guard down. Pay attention and be vigilant — only we can save what is ours.

ARROGRANT ATTITUDE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR OFFICIALS

I am not a member of The Outdoor Circle nor a follower of their cause.

Nonetheless, I was deeply offended by the Sept. 11 letter by Mayor Hannemann's press secretary, Bill Brennan.

In particular, the final sentence, "We'll let The Outdoor Circle know if and when their services or advice might be needed," demonstrated a lack of understanding of how our democratic government works.

I can only assume Mayor Hannemann reviewed the letter before it was submitted. That type of arrogant attitude is not acceptable by our elected officials.