Letter to the Editor re: Superferry (Unabridged)

I am writing in response to Jay Fidell’s column on the state Supreme Court’s decision barring the Superferry in Hawaii (Sun., Apr. 5). While I understand that many in Hawaii are unhappy with the decision, I am concerned with some of the oversimplifications made in this column.

He writes that the Superferry was killed by a “handful of activists whose motivations were not necessarily environmental”. Those opposed to the Superferry were concerned not only with invasive species and whales but also with plain old traffic. I recall individuals being concerned with retaining the culture of their particular island—in other words, they didn’t want the neighbor islands to become an extension of trafficky, over-developed Honolulu. While this might not be explicitly “environmental”, the grievance is still valid and if those opposed can find that the Superferry was not in compliance with existing laws, then they deserved their day in court. There seemed to be many different groups, some concerned with the environment, some not explicitly, so to say that it was only opposed by a “handful of activists” is a misrepresentation.

He quotes Jeff Mikulina of the Sierra Club as saying, “We stop things.” Well, I wasn’t privy to the interview but it seems clear that Fidell is grossly simplifying what Mikulina might have been trying to say. The quote is taken completely out of context.

Yes, it is difficult to do business in Hawaii. It is an awfully expensive state and in some cases businesses even need to jump through hurdles such as the EIS. But Hawaii needs to be careful to balance welcoming businesses to our islands and preserving the natural environment which of course is our greatest asset.

I agree that the Environmental Impact Statement is arcane and laborious. Perhaps the EIS process might be revamped to be quicker , less-expensive and more meaningful to the average citizen. However, the fact that the state required an EIS is a good thing in that it protects against over-development and in the long run is the best interest of our state.

Here's a copy of Jay Fidell's full column: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009904050338