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January 23, 2008
$350,000 tugboat service needed to support Superferry
January 18, 2008
Superferry traffic far below estimates
January 18, 2008
Dock damage ’minor’
January 16, 2008
U.S.S. Superferry? Unwitting Hawaii residents may be getting a military ship in civilian camo
January 14, 2008
Fighting invasive species in Hawaii
January 05, 2008
Superferry announces second trip to Maui
January 1, 2008
What to look for in 2008
Tourism, transportation expected to dominate the coming year
December 30, 2007
Heads Up | Hawaii Superferry Not in My Tropical Backyard
December 24, 2007
Ferry speed called key to collisions with whales
December 19, 2007
High seas keep Hawaii ferry out of action
December 19, 2007
Gov seeks $842M in harbor fixes
Lingle and legislators tout the plan as addressing shipping needs through 2030
December 14, 2007
Hawaii Superferry's arrival stays calm
December 13, 2007
Superferry leaves Maui, bound for Oahu
December 10, 2007
Superferry to make test run to Maui tomorrow
December 4, 2007
Hawaii governor appoints new staff chief
November 25, 2007
Superferry braces for winter's whales, rough seas
November 24, 2007
Waves a challenge from start for ferry
November 24, 2007
Harbor masters Kahului security will not be like Nawiliwili, the Coast Guard says
November 22, 2007
Harbors chief: Superferry can handle surge
March 9, 2004
Whale Foundation protests super ferry
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Archived Articles
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December 4, 2007
Honolulu Advertisor
Hawaii Superferry postpones Thursday relaunch
By Christie Wilson
KAHULUI, Maui — Hawaii Superferry is postponing the relaunch of its Maui-to-Honolulu service until the state can repair pier damage at Kahului Harbor caused by yesterday's high surf.
The company planned to resume service Thursday, and has yet to announce the postponement and a new start date, but Michael Formby of the Department of Transportation said the 350-foot high-speed catamaran would not be able to use the harbor for at least three days.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Dec/04/br/br2458196370.html |
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GOVERNOR LINGLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM KAUA'I RESIDENTS ON RESUMPTION OF HAWAI'I SUPERFERRY
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2007
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle will hold a public meeting with Kaua'i residents on Thursday, Sept. 20 to answer their questions prior to the resumption of Hawai'i Superferry service to Nāwiliwili Harbor as well as discuss a collaborative plan to ensure public safety for passengers, crew, law enforcement, harbor users and protestors. The question-and-answer session will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall.
The Governor and state, federal and county officials will first discuss the steps being taken by law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce a temporary security zone established by the United States Coast Guard to allow the Superferry to safely enter and depart the harbor, while providing a safe place for protestors to demonstrate. They will also outline the state and federal penalties for violating the temporary security zone or obstructing the operations of law enforcement officials. The public will then have the opportunity to ask questions about the security enforcement measures. Also participating in the meeting will be Barry Fukunaga, director, Department of Transportation; Mike Formby, deputy director-harbors, Department of Transportation; Lisa Ginoza, first deputy attorney general; Major General Robert Lee, state adjutant general; Clayton Frank, interim director, Department of Public Safety; Laura H. Thielen, interim director, Department of Land and Natural Resources; Lillian Koller, director, Department of Human Services; Mayor Bryan Baptiste; Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara, United States Coast Guard; and Capt. Vince Atkins, captain of the port; United States Coast Guard. Last week the Governor announced the Superferry would resume service to Līhu'e on Wednesday, Sept. 26 on a temporary daylight schedule.
For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus, Senior Advisor – Communications, Phone: (808) 586-7708 Russell Pang, Chief of Media Relations, Phone: (808) 586-0043 |
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September 4, 2007
The Garden Island News
Ferry security zone to expand
By Nathan Easgle
The U.S. Coast Guard unveiled a proposed plan for an expanded security zone in Nawiliwili Harbor to improve safety for protesters and security for the Hawaii Superferry’s new interisland catamaran, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara said after a private meeting Monday afternoon at the Mo‘ikeha Building in Lihu‘e.
http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2007/09/04/news/news01.txt |
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August 30, 2007
Island Breath
What is coming next from Superferry
by Juan Wilson
The strategy developed spontaneously on Sunday and refined on Monday worked to first delay and then stop the Superferry from landing on Kauai. That strategy had three component:
1) A large diverse supporting crowd of protesters on the Nawiliwili Jetty
2) Hawaiians leading an effort to block and lock the Nawiliwili Pier Gates
3) Surfers, swimmers and paddlers willing to face down the Coast Guard and HSF
All three worked together as a perfect storm to confound the federal, state and county authorities.
The GovLing had to declare Kauai a "unsafe" place to land the Superferry for an indefinite period of time. I don't think that time is so indefinite.
It would seem that the "authorities" have a plan to deny easy access to channel. Remember Kaipu Asing's trip down to the jetty Tuesday at 1:00pm? They plan to close the entire jetty to the public. Today, Thursday, the County is meeting with the Coast Guard to come up with a coordinated plan. The next round between the surfers and the ferry will likely not go our way.
Obviously, this has been a huge embarrassment to the KPD, Coast Guard and the State Police Special Forces that have been unable to control even twelve-year-old boys, and middle-aged women on surfboards. I have fairly good eveidence that after the Monday turn around of the ferry, in the dark of night the Coast Guard offered to escort a group of kids back to the jetty. They brought the kids to the arms of the KPD for arrest.
The idea that the Coast Guard stooped to lying to a group of juveniles who had been in the channel in order to help the KPD arrest them shows how pathetic their efforts have been. Word from at least one source is that the GovLing is next going to use National Guard on Kauai.
Fortunately, the upcoming arrival of PresBush for two stopovers (9/3 and 9/8) on Oahu will come before the September 10th beginning of the Homeland Security one-hundred yard protection zone around the Superferry (with ten year Federal jail sentence for violators).
We need to be thinking fresh thoughts on our next step. Last night I spoke to Maui anti-Superferry activist Dick Mayer and suggested that Maui Tomorrow's lawyer would do well to ask the court to expand the Restraining Order to Nawiliwili Harbor, seeing that the case, although being heard in the Maui Circuit is being directly overseen by the Hawaii Supreme Court, and that what the mistake the Hawaii Department of Transportation made in one harbor applies to all.
Court action and media coverage will do us more good at this point.
I didn't think the GovLing will let the ferry go anywhere until after the 10th when she can guarantee "safety" in the harbor. But I think with the PresBush coming we will have a problem, We must influence the court on September 6th but need to have an answer to what to do if the GovLing makes a move before September 3rd.
If any significant show of force is brought to bear we will have an opportunity to have great documentation on the military linkage to the Superferry and how much force they are willing to use to ensure any EIS that would sink it. |
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August 30, 2007
Sunday evening when Representative Mina Morita saw that brave surfers and swimmers were at risk of being struck by one of the Coast Guard boats after it had become dark, she called Senator Hooser reporting the gravity of the situation shortly before 9pm. Senator Hooser made two calls - one to Superferry Board Chair John Lehman and the other to the head of the Coast Guard urging the Superferry to leave Kauai and go back to Honolulu. Within 15 mnutes of the calls the Superferry turned around and left. Sunday's success was a collaborative effort among everyone who came out that evening and Kauai legislators, Rep Mina Morita and Sen Gary Hooser.
Senator Hooser has secured an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to represent those who were arrested at Nawiliwili Bay during the protests (free of charge). However, those who were arrested must make contact the ACLU directly - ACLU reps aren't permitted to solicit cases. Those seeking ACLU's assistance can contact Senator Hooser.
Below is a letter that Rep Morita sent to the Department of Transportation to halt Superferry service to Kauai followed by her statement that appeared in today's TGI.
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The House of Representatives
Rep. Hermina Morita requests DOT to stop Superferry service to Kauai
"Federal, state and county police or military resources and power should not be used to enforce bad political decisions."
HONOLULU. State representative Hermina Morita (District 14 – Kauai) today sent a letter to Barry Fukunaga, Director of the State Department of Transportation (DOT), to order the Hawaii Superferry to halt service to Kauai pursuant to last week's Supreme Court decision.
"The use of the State's harbor facilities, including Nawiliwili Harbor, is not appropriate at this time," wrote Rep. Morita. "Moreover, until all legal matters are resolved or there is further guidance from the Hawaii Supreme Court, the DOT needs to respect the rule of the law."
Morita is critical of the DOT and claims it disregarded the law when it approved the Superferry's operations without requiring an environmental review. She highlighted the fact that the environmental review was requested by the Hawaii, Maui and Kauai County Councils, and that the department's avoidance of the process "was done for political expediency not respect for the law and brings us to this juncture."
Morita goes on to state that a full environmental review and full disclosure of the Superferry's operations should have been done at the conception of the business. She emphasized that, "Federal, state and county police or military resources and power should not be used to enforce bad political decisions."
Copies of the letter were sent to Governor Linda Lingle, Mayor Bryan Baptiste, the Kauai County Council and the U.S. Coast Guard.
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My position on Superferry
by Rep. Hermina Morita
I have no regrets about the statements I have made publicly in supporting the Kaua‘i community in protesting the arrival of the Hawaii Superferry on Monday at Nawiliwili Harbor. I was not present at the protest on Sunday and I do not condone the actions of a few individuals who directed their frustrations and anger at arriving or departing passengers that evening. One of the reasons I attended the protest on Monday was to observe the crowd and to assist in whatever way I could to ensure that those isolated events on Sunday did not occur again.
It is sad that the actions of these few individuals have become the “face” of the majority of the protesters who were peaceful. And, it is unfortunate that the media chooses to exaggerate the confrontation by the repeated showings of this small part of the total protest instead of focusing on HSF and the State Department of Transportation’s blatant disregard for the law especially in light of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision requiring an environmental review.
In my role as a state legislator and chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, my position on the HSF has always been consistent with the fact that the law is clear that an environmental review is required. This position is reflected in House Standing Committee Report 266, and House Bill No. 702, House Draft 1, filed on Feb. 6, 2007.
The purpose of an environmental review is the preparation of a disclosure document containing information of the environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts, both positive and negative, of a new business like the Hawaii Superferry which will use both public lands and public funds for its exclusive use. This kind of disclosure document offers a structured review, with strict rules and timetables for both opponents and proponents, which should lead to better decision-making tools to lessen negative impacts. Also, it is very important to note that an environmental review was requested by the Hawai‘i, Maui and Kaua‘i county councils through passage of resolutions in each county. This is the type of scrutiny that the state Department of Transportation and HSF sought to avoid by disregarding the law.
The state Department of Transportation has not articulated a clear and concise reason of why the HSF’s operations should be exempt from the law and this has been confirmed by a Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision. It is unfortunate that the DOT’s avoidance of full disclosure and public scrutiny of the HSF operations pursuant to Chapter 343, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes was done solely for political expediency. And, it is so ironic that county and federal police actions of the Kaua‘i Police Department and U.S. Coast Guard have been directed against its citizenry who have been trying to uphold the law in dealing with this state issue.
The problem of the Hawaii Superferry operations cannot and should not be fixed by politics or money thrown at public relations and $5 promotions. It can only be solved by following the law which requires a full environmental review process and full disclosure of its operations which should have been done at the conception of this business. |
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August 28, 2007
The Honolulu Advertiser
Superferry cancels today's Kauai trip
ANDREW SHIMABUKU
The Hawaii Superferry canceled its planned 3 p.m. trip to Kaua'i
today, saying the U.S. Coast Guard could not guarantee the safe
passage of the boat into Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i.
Yesterday, a flotilla of protesters at the mouth of Nawiliwili Harbor
prevented the Supeferry from making a scheduled stop and it returned to O'ahu.
The Superferry said in a statement today: "At 1 p.m., the U.S. Coast
Guard informed Hawaii Superferry that, contrary to previous
assurances, it can no longer guarantee a safe passage for the Alakai
and its passengers into and out of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i.
Hawaii Superferry will suspend service until the U.S. Coast Guard
notifies management it is safe to use the harbor facilities at Nawiliwili."
Gov. Linda Lingle said today she had asked the Superferry not to
attempt another trip to Kaua'i today.
"I'm concerned about the safety of people," Lingle told reporters
after speaking this afternoon at a tourism conference at the Hawai'i
Convention Center. "We have reason to believe they would be in the
water again trying to stop a huge vessel on a surfboard, and that's a
recipe for a serious problem.
"So we're asking Superferry, don't go in, let's make certain that the
public safety is protected."
Superferry officials have scheduled a news conference at 3 p.m. today
to discuss the situation in Kaua'i. |
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August 20, 2007
Maui News
Superferry must still navigate legal waters
By BRIAN PERRY and CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writers
KAHULUI
Opponents of the Hawaii Superferry haven’t given up trying to sink plans to begin interisland ferry trips without more environmental study. |
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HONOLULU ADVERTISER
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Hawaii Superferry foes eager to go to court
By Christie Wilson mailto:cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com
With harbor improvements for the Hawaii Superferry reported to be on track, the only apparent threat to the start of the interisland ferry service is two pending court cases with hearings set for next month. Both challenges involve questions about the need for adequate environmental impact studies on the publicly funded port projects for the new service, which will transport passengers and vehicles between Honolulu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island.
Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com
Honolulu Advertiser Link |
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Friday, June 01, 2007
MAUI traffic Simulation
Superferry Protest and Traffic Simulation Shows Delays of 1 Hour and 15 Minutes Possible for Cars Unloading from Superferry in Kahului
by Anne Rillero, Communications Director, Pacific Whale Foundation MA'ALAEA (MAUI), HI
Protesters against the Hawaii Superferry conducted a traffic simulation today which showed that Superferry passengers could expect to sit in traffic for an hour or more after driving off the ferry in Kahului. |
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MAUI NEWS
Friday, June 01, 2007
KAHULUI HARBOR court case
State traffic assessment fails a test
By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer
WAILUKU
Circuit Judge Joel August decided Thursday that the state's
finding of no significant impact for the 2025 master plan improvements at
Kahului Harbor was not based on sufficient evidence. |
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Thursday, May 31, 2007
Kahului Harbor - Setback for the DOT
Kahului Harbor
Maui Tomorrow and County of Maui
Move Forward with their Case
Setback for the Hawaii DOT
Thursday morning, May 31, 2007
Judge Joel August ruled that the Hawaii Department of
Transportation's FONSI (Finding of NO significant impact)
for the changes at Kahului Harbor was insufficient. He stated
specifically that the examination of traffic issues was inadequate. |
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