SUPERFERRY

OTHERS MUST RESPECT KAUAIANS' VOICES

Born and raised on the Windward side of O'ahu, I have had little knowledge of what it's like to live on the Neighbor Islands. But being here on Kaua'i for the past few months as a temporary resident, I have come to see how they feel about "us guys" from across the sea.

First, it seems the Superferry is highly symbolic to Kauaians: a sign of more to come and little space left to put those who come.

Invasive species includes those of us from outside who want to pack up our gear and head to Kaua'i without realizing that there has been much impact within the past few decades to Kaua'i's infrastructure.

Coming from O'ahu, we're used to traffic, pollution and tourists clogging the street, so we think it's OK to impose this on the other islands in the name of progress and convenience.

We from the other islands must respect their voices.

If change is going to happen in this state, it must be with the aloha spirit for all sectors of our community.

What we witnessed in Nawiliwili Harbor is just the tip of the iceberg of the anger Kauaians feel about being left out of the discussion. Listen to the Kauaians; they have something to say to the rest of us.

MOB RULE PREVAILED AT NAWILIWILI HARBOR

We do not always agree with The Advertiser's opinion, but the Aug. 28 editorial on the Hawaii Superferry was right on.

One can only wonder what would cause the Hawai'i Supreme Court to render a decision as it did on Aug. 23.

For many years, we have looked and hoped for alternative means of travel between the islands. The Superferry may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it appears to be a way to bring our islands closer together at an affordable price.

As the editorial correctly states, there was ample time over the past years to challenge the legality of the ferry's operation in court.

Instead, we witnessed mob rule at Nawiliwili, Kaua'i, on two days. It is as if the vessel would transport aliens from a Third World country to invade paradise on Earth. Are we not one state and one country?

PROTESTERS SHOWED NO CLASS AND NO ALOHA

My family and I would like to thank the employees of the Hawaii Superferry on the Kaua'i voyage on Aug. 26. They showed poise in the face of adversity upon our arrival at Nawiliwili Harbor.

While we waited to enter the harbor, my children asked about the protesters. I explained why some people were against the Superferry's arrival. I told them that it was the protesters' right to let their voices be heard and signs be read.

That being said, all of my sympathy and quiet respect for these protesters went out the window after some of the surfers and protesters on the dock started showing us their aloha in the form of one-fingered salutes.

How wonderful of you to greet us with your expletives and name-calling. Your shouts of the f-word and "GO HOME!" were an insult to all of us who were born and raised here.

You made no gains in your effort to get sympathy for your cause. Your blocking of drivers who were trying to peacefully exit the harbor and reunite with loved ones was nothing short of schoolyard bullying.

You should be ashamed. Auwe, indeed!

THEBUS

SERVICE PERSONNEL SHOULD GET FREE RIDES

On Monday, I was riding the No. 42 bus Downtown when a soldier in fatigues got onto the bus.

Lo and behold, he had to pay $2. I was astonished that someone in the military, in uniform, would have to pay.

I really think TheBus should honor our women and men in the service and allow them to ride the bus free.

WASTE

MUCH CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL CAN BE REUSED

Developing and maintaining sustainable practices is especially critical to an island community.

There are many factors to Hawai'i's sustainability, not the least of which is minimizing our solid-waste stream.

Adapting proven strategies of solid-waste management that improve our economy and utilize existing infrastructure will be the first step to confronting one of our largest environmental challenges.

Thirty-five percent of our solid-waste stream is construction and demolition waste. That is due to increase dramatically as a result of both new construction and the development of military housing.

The disposal of this waste is environmentally and economically unsustainable, and unnecessary.

More than 50 percent of construction and demolition waste is reusable. Structural lumber, doors, windows, flooring and fixtures can all be salvaged for reuse.

Salvaging material has many benefits, including lessening our dependence on the landfill and preserving natural resources.

Restructuring demolition practice provides a solution to our solid-waste problem and allows us to improve our economy by generating an affordable, locally produced building material that can be applied to residential or commercial construction, affordable housing organizations and green building projects.

LILI'UOKALANI

QUEEN'S FAVORITE COLOR YELLOW, NOT PURPLE

Zenaida Serrano's outline of the programs in honor of Queen Lili'uokalani is a great outline for those wanting to attend, but the color of the background is historically wrong.

As we near the birthday commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani, we should seriously consider not choosing the color purple or lavender to wear or decorate with. These colors have been thought to be the queen's favorite color, and now that turns out to be a myth.

One of the local newspapers of her time, while covering the queen's funeral, gave great details of the protocol and proceedings, and reported the dominant color was yellow.

The newspaper account reported that yellow was selected for the pall because Queen Lili'uokalani had expressed her preference for yellow.

Several days later it was reported, "The predominating note was yellow, the color of royalty and Queen Lili'uokalani's own choice of shades. The pall was yellow, the capes of the kahili bearers were yellow, the capes of the kahili wavers were yellow, and uncounted hundreds of the flowers were yellow."

Where did the idea of purple and lavender originate? Again the newspaper hinted that "Mrs. J. Alfred Magoon remembered the queen's youthful preference for purple and lavender shades and sent purple and lavender asters ..." Maybe that is how the color yellow can be turned into lavender or purple.

ALABAMA

FINDING ALOHA AT BABE RUTH WORLD SERIES

We were fortunate and blessed to accompany our son's Punahou baseball team, representing Hawai'i and the Pacific Southwest, at the 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Andalusia, Ala., recently.

Although we didn't come back with the World Series championship, we came back with many fond memories and new-found relationships with our host families from Andalusia.

Our boys were very fortunate to have been hosted by the most caring and loving families we could have hoped for.

They took care of them as if they were their own sons, and we all cried when we had to leave. We plan to keep in touch, as family members do.

Our 'ohana in Andalusia will never be forgotten for their hospitality, their kindness and their giving spirit.

Finding aloha in Alabama made our trip special. Mahalo from your 'ohana in Hawai'i.

SPIRIT OF ALOHA

KAU INOA T-SHIRT DIALOGUE CAN STOP HERE

A mahalo nui to Lee Cataluna for her interesting and educated observations in the Aug. 15 column on Kau Inoa T-shirts and her offer to give some of hers to a frequent complainer wanting a T-shirt.

That would be in the true spirit of aloha, or I wish to give you "literally the shirt off my back."

Anyway, the dialogue can stop here, because it has comically become all a discussion over the obligation to a Kau Inoa (Place your name) T-shirt. Wow!