SUPERFERRY PROTESTS SPARK OUTRAGE, EMPATHY

OAHUANS NOW KNOW THEY AREN'T WELCOME

It's time for the people of Maui and Kaua'i to be honest about their motives for not wanting the Superferry to serve their islands.

It isn't about "environmental concerns," or about traffic. It is about not wanting Honolulu residents to have better access to their islands.

It makes me very sad to know how much we aren't wanted by our neighbors on the Neighbor Islands. I can't think of any other feasible reason for their efforts to block the Superferry from running.

The projected daily load of cars on the ferry is 110 vehicles. When you factor in that a chunk of these 110 cars are replacing potential rental cars and that cars will be leaving by people traveling to O'ahu, the impact comes out to possibly less than 100 additional cars on the road on any given day.

All this fist-shaking over roughly 100 cars! That might add a whole two or three minutes to the average Maui resident's morning commute. Heaven forbid they suffer any inconvenience so that we can enjoy their beautiful islands (and spend our money while there).

OK, we know when we aren't wanted.

KAUA'I FERRY PROTESTS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD

Our protests on Kaua'i are very broadly based. We are sorry that they have been so misunderstood.

We have terrible roads on Kaua'i and very dangerous drivers.

We asked for an environmental impact statement, and we were rebuffed by the governor.

Cruise ships do not bring autos or trucks. They move slower. The passengers drive cars rented from our rental companies and leave after one day and leave a small footprint.

We are very worried about many kinds of invasive species from plants and animals to criminals and more drugs.

Monk seals are an endangered species. Surfing spots are precious to the local surfing community. Maui needs to protect the whales where they breed.

Why did they not consider a schedule of four days per week instead of every day? Why do we get in to O'ahu after dark instead of the daylight hours? That is very inconvenient.

I feel the Superferry management has been patronizing in their attitude, and there is much resentment. There needs to be a consensus of all parties with compromise.

I look forward to traveling on the ferry someday, but these issues need more discussion and resolution.

LET MAUI, KAUA'I VOTE ON THE SUPERFERRY

The differing opinions regarding the Superferry are understandable.

I live on Kaua'i, and don't blame the residents of O'ahu for their acceptance of the ferry. If I lived on O'ahu, it would be wonderful to pack the family into my SUV and head for Kaua'i or Maui.

Unfortunately, the majority on these islands don't want the plant viruses or weed seeds carried in your tire treads, pests, drugs, guns, homeless, or the other hallmarks of beautiful Honolulu/O'ahu. With the exception of the traffic that's already choking Kaua'i and Maui, you have a lot of all those things. And we don't want 'em.

If you still want to come, go through the airlines' very efficient inspection regime, fly over and drive a car that's already contributing to our choked roads.

Just because the majority of the population live on O'ahu and want the ferry, that doesn't make it right for the Neighbor Islands.

Let's settle this once and for all — have the residents of Kaua'i and Maui vote on it.

See you at the airport; and please leave your filthy little mongooses home.

SUPERFERRY PROTESTERS' ACTIONS WERE SHAMEFUL

I am a resident of the Big Island and look forward to the beginning of service by the Superferry.

I am saddened by the reaction of those who live on Maui and Kaua'i who oppose the ferry.

I would think that many would welcome the money of other Hawai'i residents, not behave in such a shameful manner as blocking the safe entrance of so many passengers.

As for the environmental assessment that you are crying out for now, don't expect to travel any time soon or get the basic necessities to live, because everyone should be required to get an assessment, not only the ferry. That includes Matson, Young Brothers, cruise ships, etc.

WHERE WERE ACTIVISTS OVER OTHER CONCERNS?

First of all, I wholeheartedly applaud the activism exhibited on Kaua'i toward Superferry.

I wish that many people would have turned up to protest the U.S. invasion and subsequent war in Iraq. But where was everyone three years ago when the state began to plan for the Superferry?

Furthermore, since the reasons cited by the activists are the vessel's fuel inefficiency, danger to marine life, transportation of alien species as well as crowded beaches and traffic, I would like to ask the activists why they have not protested the following projects on the island of Kaua'i that also violate those same concerns: unbridled growth, no apparent infrastructure, little or no utilization of sustainable materials and no solar for all new homes.

Also, I can't understand why no one is upset about Matson, Young Brothers and Norwegian Cruise Lines transporting alien species and endangering our marine life. For that matter, what about the fuel inefficiency and environmental impacts of the airline industry?

And by the way, didn't Kaua'i Ethanol LLC propose to import Australian coal to convert molasses to ethanol, using more than four pounds of coal for every gallon of ethanol, putting Hawai'i on the forefront of going backward?

And last but not least, I barely heard a peep about the Department of Land and Natural Resources' plan to put the cabins at Koke'e State Park on the chopping block. Where are our activists when we need them?

WHERE WAS SECURITY AT NAWILIWILI HARBOR?

One of Homeland Security's major concerns is the security of our harbors.

Here in Hawai'i, marine surveyors, cargo inspectors and delivery people all have to go through a guard gate. They must show proper identification and have their vehicles inspected. Some are even turned back for lack of it.

However, on the island of Kaua'i, people were allowed to jump in the water, swim out to the Superferry, splash water at the Coast Guard and attempt to damage cars as they reached the docks.

I would hate to think what would happen if someone wanted to damage to a cruise ship or a cargo ship. Where was security when they knew there were going to be problems?

FRIENDS FOR YOUTH

PROGRAM LETS DROPOUTS LEARN HOW TO SUCCEED

On Aug. 16, I saw what was possible to accomplish with youth who had given up on themselves, and who had been given up on by just about everyone else.

Twenty-one students graduated from the Adult Friends for Youth Clinical/Competency-Based (C-Base) Alternative Education Program. All were high school dropouts, yet they flourished in the program. The graduation rate was 91 percent.

More than 400 people crowded into McCoy Pavilion to honor them. Few eyes were dry.

Two students paid tribute to the help they received from teachers Deborah Spencer-Chun and Udella Myers. They spoke of coming together from different neighborhoods/gangs, of their problems with drugs, alcohol, and the possibility that they might have wound up in prison or dead without the C-Base class.

Another talented student provided a "chicken-skin moment" when she and her classmates performed the song that she wrote:

You never gave up on us
We used to call you up almost every night
It could be 4 in the morning, maybe 10 at night, but you never mind
You always told us to be confident in all we do
Loving you cleanse our souls

Funded by the McInerny Foundation, Frear Eleemosynary Trust and G.N. Wilcox Trust, Clinical/C-Base has been extraordinarily successful in teaching academics within a mental-health environment.

Success does not come cheap — about $6,000 per student. But that is compared to $35,000 a year to house a prison inmate.

PARENTAL DISCIPLINE

COURT SENDS MESSAGE IT'S OK TO HIT A CHILD

I read with dismay and disappointment the article "Conviction reversed in parental discipline case" (Aug. 19) in which Chief Justice Ronald Moon's majority decision was discussed.

Despite what Justice Moon would like to believe, the court is clearly sending a message that it's OK to hit, punch or beat your child as long as you don't cause too much pain or disfigurement.

How could this decision be interpreted any differently? School teachers, counselors, social workers and other child healthcare providers who are mandated to report abuse have had the rug pulled out from under them.

I suggest that corporal punishment (other than a slap on the bottom to a toddler) rarely achieves the desired goal, but instead teaches that violence is acceptable and erodes the parent/child bond even further.

I would have much preferred that the high court had upheld the decision and gone on to make certain that the parent received court-mandated training in more successful parenting methods.

PROJECTS

STATE SET TRIGGERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Hawai'i's state environmental law (HRS 343) provides environmental review triggers for the use of state land, state money, county land and county money. Act 55 (2004) expands coverage to major projects that are "privately financed ... on private lands." On the final reading of Act 55, no legislator opposed the bill, and the governor signed the bill during session.

Superferry CEO John Garibaldi asserts that using $40 million in state funds does not trigger an environmental impact statement.

The Council on Environmental Quality, which oversees the National Environmental Policy Act, states on its Web site that an EIS "includes all reasonable alternatives, which must be rigorously explored and objectively evaluated," but city officials assert that some options are off the table for the proposed Honolulu transit system.

BlueEarth proposes the largest bio-refinery in the U.S., but asserts it should be exempt from the refinery trigger.