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da_joka
Lokahi
361 Posts |
 Posted - 08/28/2007 : 6:44:58 PM
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Oneoddah update ontop da superferry:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Aug/28/br/br9782015436.html
Dis time dey neva even make um to Kaua`i:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Aug/28/br/br1958634207.html
I guess da message of da story is dis - do your homework FIRST, den play. Nex time somebody like try come up wit one plan fo new kine travel between da islands be shua fo do yo homework, and get dat EIS pau BEFO you go an start service. Bumbai, you goin get dis kine pilikia. I dunno how da ferry works in Washington, but I really no tink dat da statewide ferry goin last. Da only ferry I know dass in business is da one in Maui county, between Lana`i, Moloka`i, and Maui.
I really wonda who stay in kahoots wit who in dis big mess. Still get one mo boat dat stay being built ... da total cost $190 million (http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2007/08/26/news/news02.txt)!
Who's paying fo dis? I no really undastand politics, but I agree wit No`eau dat somplace get choke $$$ involved in dis ... I wonda if one mo scandal goin come out pretty soon? Maybe da governor? da mayors? who knows eh? Noeau, any guesses? ;-P
BTW, tanks you guys fo all da good discussion on everyting hea in dis forum ... ukulele, slack key, and da odda stuffs too! Nuff politics fo me ... back to da music :-) |
If can, can. If no can, no can. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2007 : 04:44:14 AM
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Here is some further info re super ferry. National Geographic Channel will feature the super ferry.
This is from AL.com
Hawaii Superferry stars in TV documentary this week
Cable program will document building, sea trials of craft built in Mobile yard
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
By KAIJA WILKINSON
Business Reporter
The Mobile-made Hawaii Superferry will take its turn in the television spotlight this week in a documentary on the National Geographic Channel.
The hourlong program, "Hawaii Super Ferry," is scheduled to premiere in the United States on Thursday, according to the National Geographic Channel. The show debuted in the United Kingdom beginning Aug. 26.
It will be shown worldwide, according to officials with boatbuilder Austal USA.
Film crews from National Geographic visited Austal's Mobile shipyard about five times between October 2006 and April of this year, according to Austal. They also filmed at parent company Austal Ltd.'s shipyard in Australia and at sites in Turkey and the Canary Islands where Austal-built ferries are already in service, the company said.
Bill Pfister, Austal USA's vice president of government programs, said exposure like the Superferry documentary is a great recruiting tool in a tight labor market because such shows appeal to the young men who make up the majority of Austal's work force.
Next, he hopes National Geographic will consider featuring the U.S. Navy ship under construction at Austal USA, adding that he has been told that the Littoral Combat Ship "looks a heck of a lot like the Romulan Bird of Prey" of "Star Trek" fame.
Austal USA now employs more than 1,000 people at its shipyard on the Mobile River, where a second Hawaii Superferry is under construction. That ferry is scheduled for delivery in October 2008. The contract for the two vessels totaled about $190 million.
National Geographic's description of its documentary said the Superferry "must provide a comfortable ride while blazing at speeds of almost 50 mph and cutting through 6-foot-high swells."
It invites viewers to "find out how this super ferry will soon provide fast and affordable ferry service in Hawaii."
After April sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, which became part of the documentary, the 350-foot, four-story catamaran left its dock on the Mobile River in June for the trip to Hawaii.
Outfitted with shops, restaurants and space for 866 passengers and 282 cars, the vessel briefly began transits between Honolulu, Maui and Kauai. But the service was suspended Aug. 28 at the request of Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, who said she worried about public safety after protesters in the water blocked the ferry's access to the port at Kauai.
Opponents say the ferry endangers whales, threatens to spread invasive species, will worsen traffic and pollution, and that its operators should be required to study fully the impact of the service on the environment. Superferry officials said they hoped to resume service quickly, and Austal has said it remains confident that controversy over the ferry service will not affect work at the Mobile shipyard.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Larry Goldstein
Lokahi
267 Posts |
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da_joka
Lokahi
361 Posts |
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Ianui
Lokahi
USA
298 Posts |
Posted - 09/06/2007 : 7:37:18 PM
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Local governments waived the need for environmental impact studies years ago as they did not require one for any of the other cargo shipping between islands. The super ferry folks offered to have one but the government said NON REQUIRED.
Millions of dollars were spent to revamp the pier and docking facilities for the Super Ferry by local governments two years before the Super Ferry was scheduled to start.
It not like it wasn't planned for.
22,000 tickets were pre sold prior to ferry operation. Passenger tickes are around $40.00- $50.00 and cars are around $200.00
The Sierra Club took it upon themselves to file a law suite just as the ferry was scheduled to start. Not like they didn't have a number of years to file a protect the whales complaint. OR to file one against all the other cargo shipping companies that have traveled interisland daily for years as the ferry would.
The ferry created over 300 jobs and lord knows the islands need jobs. Employees have been picketing the Hawaiian Supreme Court with signs to save their jobs.
This is the biggest farce of a law suite and IMO its all about paying of the Sierra Club who sees a chance to grab some. Wait and see how fast this gets cleard up when they get paid. They have been taking out page ads in the paper to justify why they filed the suite, but I'm told a lot of folks are getting turned off and their argument is not being accepted in growing numbers. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 12:33:51 AM
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As far as the integrity of Sieerra Club, I shan't comment, however, as to the timing of legal maneuvers, that could vary, legitimately, for many reasons. Many times, a complaint cannot be filed until, legally, the dastardly deed has been done. Or there are issues of standing, i.e., who has legal right to file a complaint and that happens very often when organizations such as Sierra Club or ACLU or some such organization becomes involved, as opposed as an individual tort action.
I'm thinking those old fish starting to smell on both sides...remember the truth probably is somewhere in the middle.
I find it very iinteresting, however, that Senator Inouye has chosen not to comment about the potential of feds paying off loan guarantees (written about in the article that joka posted above). That is really bound to get some action, especially since Feds are coming to the end of the fiscal year and especially as there are great funds expenditures being made to fight a war where the money could be used for other purchases/expenditures. Paying off loans for a 3rd entity is like throwing it out an airplane window. Of course the ones catching the money when it falls, are not youu and me, but the banks/financiers to whom the loans were guaranteed. Seems to me that if one of his constituents asked for an explanation, that he would be morally, if not legally, bound to answer the inquiry. They are accountable to citizens for the expenditure of funds unless it is a black program.
There is much going on about this topic, obviously much more than you and I will ever know.
Bottom liine -- there really does need to be am economical way for inter-island travel that also doesn't screw up the natural environment. Has that been done -- heck if I know, depending on whose side of the story you believe.
Malama `aina. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Popoki
Akahai
USA
88 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 07:03:50 AM
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Here's a good explanation from Jeff Mikulina is director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; Judith Michaels is acting president of Maui Tomorrow; and Jeffrey Parker is director of the Kahului Harbor Coalition.
http://www.maui-tomorrow.org/issues/superferry/07/09_03studyfailure.html
The Sierra club filed their suit years ago and it was the appeal that was finally just heard and ruled on recently.
Aloha, >^..^<
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 07:30:34 AM
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"...a good explanation from Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club..."
Depends on how you define "good". It's full of innuendo and hot air about the "danger" the ferry brings. It's a boat, people. The same as those that crisscross Puget Sound and other large bodies of water around the world.
The argument for an environmental assessment or an environmental impact state is usually NOT an argument for clarifying environmental effects, but rather a threat by environmentalists of millions of dollars and months or years of work needed to compile what is readily available to those with common sense. The EA and EIS process involves counting and assessing every living thing and their interaction in the work corridor from blue whales down to protozoa. The anti's throw out the EA and EIS threat whenever they think it will shut down (by bankrupting) what they don't like.
Jesse Tinsley |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2007 : 9:42:46 PM
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Actually,
I have found that after many, many thousands of dollars were ripped out of my own pockets via a frivolous lawsuit filed against me by a "business entity", that "environmentalists" often are the only ones that make sense. I prevailed! The judge thought I was right!
Just remember that God had Noah save his animals two by two while the evil people perished in the floods. Does anyone doubt that God's creatures are important? Should we think any less of them?
Julie
(Um, I think this hit a sore point with me. By the way, I have a mountain lion living in my neighborhood, and noone wants to report her to Fish and Game, because, actually, she belongs here!) Silly thing... |
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Ginny
Aloha
43 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2007 : 05:58:12 AM
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Well I am riding past the ferry on Oahu everyday, its big and ugly, seems to swallow up the entire harbor. It absolutely will speed up the development of the outer islands which anybody that knows the islands for longer than a decade knows this was inevitable anyway. Not that this is a good thing you just see it. Throw down a road/bridge anywhere more will come. Any city planner in the country would tell you this. People only think of their immediate travel needs though when they see something new like this.
I thought communities were up in arms over this for years. I had heard grumbles about this for at least 2 years on trips over and in local papers online.
Not sure why opponents were not able to more successfully organize against this years ago.
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2007 : 1:26:46 PM
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The big money usually prevails. But both sides have agendas. I am a Sierra Club paying member and the Sierra Club is not a poor mis informed group. But sometimes even they must be held in check. Some development is inevitable. The plan would be to make sure that environmental; concerns are met. Exxon Valdez is not the same as the super ferry so it is a poor example. We are not talking about a drunken Captain moving tons of toxic material. The super ferry may be a good thing. If I was still living on O'ahu I'd love to see half the people move away to the outer islands. The big problem is all the rich developers who have no connection to Hawai'i except for what they can buy and sell before they move on. Just check out other places like Costa Rica for example prices for a nice house over there same as Hawai'i or Seattle. World wide trade dictates that no matter where you go products all cost the same. I bought a zoom lens in Amsterdam for the same price it would cost in any camera shop in the USA.
The ferry is just another symptom of the world wide financial neo colonialism occurring everywhere on this planet. The media is trying to focus our worries on China and its emerging economy. Even if it valid it still serves the purpose of distracting us from our own foibles right here in River City. Blaming the gov't for doing what they do best is futile. We have known since the sixties that you can't depend on the gov't to do right by us when the corporate world has so much power. Where I live some people want to kill coyotes because their cats disappear. No proof that coyotes are responsible it just feels good to kill something. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2007 : 1:35:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by noeau
Where I live some people want to kill coyotes because their cats disappear. No proof that coyotes are responsible it just feels good to kill something.
The coyotes are definitely responsible...they are, in fact, corrupting the cats and convincing them to run off and join them in their gypsy lifestyle. (Cats are rebellious by nature.) |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2007 : 1:57:21 PM
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| In my neighborhood, the coyotes serenade the dogs at night, then the dogs join in. Craig, I'm waiting for the gypsy jazz guitar to join in too! |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2007 : 2:51:34 PM
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| We even have coyotes in Cleveland. I have seen them a couple of times in one of the metro parks near where we live and even had one where our gov't installation is, right on the shore of Lake Erie. Our office is in a secure compound that used to be a nike missile site during the 60's and early 70's. It is all fenced in and is in a Cleveland suburb called Bratenahl, which is about 5 mles east of Cleveland proper. It is almost like a game preserve in there. We have had coyotes, wild turkeys, deer, a huge pack of feral dogs and I have even seen a bald eagle circling out right at the edge of the lake. We had a red fox in our backyard years ago. I find it amazing that the critters are still here. Now if I could put out bird seed without deers coming to the feeder..... |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2007 : 2:59:13 PM
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| Oh man we got an aerie and a momma and a poppa and a keiki, Racoons in the trees and otters by the dozen and blue herons and geese and ducks and salmon and oh don't forget the people. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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