"To
know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived,
that is to have succeeded."
"A
society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses
to destroy."
“The time is always right to do what
is right.” |
Please tell your legislators--they can stop this by upholding an EIS first on Superferry.
These email addresses reach all of them:
sens@capitol.hawaii.gov , reps@capitol.hawaii.gov , Governor.Lingle@hawaii.gov
An Honest Win-Win Proposal to Save Superferry and Protect the Environment
Superferry says it's business can't survive a lengthy delay in operations, because of the huge federal loan payments due. They want to operate with no added environmental protections deemed important to consider by the Maui court and concurrently the Supreme Court.
Here's a novel idea, taken from my own history with my college loans...
Have Hawaii's congressional delegation propose a federal deferment on the payment of federal loans on Superferry, and the state do the same here while the Superferry sits idle as a lawful EIS is done, minimizing financial duress.
This takes the need for political compromises inherent in the special legislative session off the table, for the benefit of all. It's highly likely that the Hawaii legislature will bargain away some aspect of environmental protection to get Superferry's buy-in. What then gets exposed: whales? mongoose on Kauai? crime factors? traffic?
With the federal deferment, all EIS issues are addressed and the financial worry is neutralized. If the EIS shows other key harms, we'll have them substantiated and addressed. If its so harmful, then the Superferry is done, and if its not, we're safe too, but at least the EIS puts all the cards on the table which is what Superferry has been avoiding all along. Bring the sunshine in.
We can all use some patience and calmness in this, and taking the financial duress off, stops the publicized rush factor.
In Gratitude,
John Tyler Cragg
Kaua'i
Our new Bumper Sticker:
True kuleana was not accepted but ignored, so don’t support the Superferry.
The neighbor islands and endangered sea life thank you.
Brief Background
Click here for a brief background of how and why the political effort ended, and our call to action.
“In our every deliberation we must consider the impact
of our decisions on the next seven generations.”
~ From the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy
To see just what impacts Hawai’i Superferry will likely have, read on, and we urge you, your friends and family to consciously vote with your pocket books—don’t buy the Superferry ride.
IMPACT 1: Major Traffic Congestion
Kapa'a, Kaua'i traffic at 2pm. There are 18 cars pictured in this line covering about 1/4 mile. Imagine a line of 280+ cars from the Superferry which would span 15 times this length and last nearly 2 miles.
Traffic Congestion a problem now? Try adding 280 cars and trucks to the lines in and out of port and up the neighbor island coasts sight-seeing, fishing, etc.
The Superferry has said it has done its own studies including adjusting their arrivals to assist traffic problems. They now tell Kaua’i: “Hawaii Superferry will arrive in Nawiliwili Harbor daily at 5:30 p.m.”
Is 280+ vehicles added to home commuting time their view of doing their own studies? Do they really care about residents? What about their arrival in Kahului Harbor daily at 9:30 a.m?
IMPACT 2: Whales
More specifically the endangered Humpback whales (na kohola):
 |
 |
For a 16 second clip of humpback whale singing, click here.
Dr. Lee Tepley
put together this 10-minute video,
"Will the Hawaii Superferry Kill Humpback Whales?"
 |
 |
| Full
speed off of Japan, a Hawaii Superferry military clone ship. |
Hulls
14 feet deep into the water, like 2 sharp ice skate blades, endangerd
marine life has no chance. |
A Sperm Whale near the Canary Islands, killed by a high-speed superferry.
This is the same type of vessel as the proposed Hawai’i superferry. Sperm whale deaths in the region went from 1 every 2 years before high-speed ferries, to approximately 7 per year after.
During Winter whale migration season, in day and night ferry operations, with no use of radar, traveling at high speed (37 knots—about 43 mph) in open Hawai’i ocean, it’s not a matter of if the Superferry will hit whales and their calves and leave them broken to die, but when and how often. Further, it is reported in other areas of the world where similar fast ferries operate, whales have gone deaf from the voracious water jet noise generated from the ferry engines.
Should the ferry slow down or only operate outside those months? Baby Humpback whales tend to swim above their mothers and just below the surface. This is very common and makes the baby Humpback whales especially vulnerable to being struck by one of the two sharp pontoons of the Superferry which reach down 14 feet below the surface of the water. The same risk applies for dolphins, smaller whale species, and the sea turtle (honu). Boycott Superferry—Don’t take the ride -- and protect our intelligent migrating ohana of the sea.
Superferry advertising tells the public that whale "encounters" (nice word for mortally wounding) will be lessened because they will change routes during whale season to avoid the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Their routes thus change somewhat for Maui and Big Island, but interestingly not mentioned, will have little effect for whales near O'ahu and Kaua'i.
Furthermore, Superferry states, "The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council accepts our policies and procedures." It would be quite suprising if the council didn't endorse Superferry given that Terry O’Halloran, council chair and whale-vessel interaction working group co-chair, is the director of business development for Superferry. Isn't that the fox guarding the hen house? Even so, O'Halloran adds, "We also realize that the [council's] policy was not able to propose measures for avoiding whales during nighttime operations." The ferry is now proposing to operate at night during two of its inter-island routes.
Here is a link to an informative video, "Will the Hawaii Superferry Kill Humpback Whales?"
Here is a link to Dr. Tepley's full, 27-minute version of the YouTube video seen above. This extended version gives more detail and support of the information presented in the 10-minute YouTube version.
For more info on the specifics of how high speed superferries have impacted whales, see Dr. Lee Tepley’s site.
IMPACT 3: Mongoose
 |
 |
Deadly to endangered ground nesting bird species, the mongoose is not on Kaua’i yet.
The
much-loved Nene, or Hawaiian goose, nearly became extinct due to mongoose
predation. Albatross also ground nest on Kaua’i. Mongooses have
wiped out Newell's shearwaters on Oahu, Moloka’i, Maui and the Big
Island.
Can Kaua’i afford to have the Superferry with less than thorough transport inspections: 30 seconds or less per vehicle to check everything?
Boycott Superferry—Don’t take the ride.
IMPACT 4: Drug Trafficking, Stolen Property and Crime
What about drug trafficking and associated stolen property easily concealed in the cars the superferry will transport? Will this make for more crime victims on the neighbor islands?
Drug traffickers and dealers know certain drugs are not detectible by certain methods [we leave the specifics out here as this website is public]. At one Hawaii state Senate hearing on the EIS for Superferry, testimony was given showing the ease of concealing over $400,000 street value of drug content in a ziplock bag. That would be a needle in a haystack to ever uncover, and dogs can't sniff it out. Some ways can be caught if Superferry took the time, others not. Thirty seconds per vehicle? For the pro, our islands would be given an easy and speedy path for drugs and crime.
Superferry's PR campaign
says they're working with law enforcement, but truly, ask any cop on the
street what exposure we take on.
IMPACT 5: More Invasive Species
 |
 |
Fire
ants, currently on Big Island |
An
arm stung by fire ants |
Coqui Frogs, their eggs easily transported in dirt from car/truck undercarriages
 |
 |
One of the most dangerous threats to Hawaii's ecosystems is the miconia. In Tahiti it is called "the brown tree snake of the plant world" because it can choke out many native plants. Its seeds are easily transported by muddy cars.
How can we protect our island environments from invasive plant species, from muddy/dirty undercarriages of superferry cars? The superferry must have cleansing stations portside, and/or check more than 30 seconds per car inside and out. What happens if the boat is running behind schedule? Would there be a push to bring cars on even faster? We can't accept their risk. Boycott the Superferry.
IMPACT 6: Military Uses
"A
man generally has two reasons for doing a thing: one that sounds good,
and a real one."
~ J.P. Morgan, American Banker/Industrialist
Light Armor Military Transport, Private Contracting for the Defense Industry
Did you know the Superferry is designed to transport Light Armored Vehicles, helicopters, and other military equipment? If the commercial venture of the superferry goes belly up, the superferries, bought with taxpayer financing will likely be sold cheaply to defense industry investors currently on the board and others for private contracting of military payloads. Haven't taxpayers learned from Haliburton's profiteering from the Iraq war? We simply ask, what's really going on here?
This all
leads to an awareness that a Pandora's box is about to be opened that
can't be shut. But if we act together, quickly, we can stop this all from
happening the way it's going down.
Visit Juan Wilson’s website www.islandbreath.org
for more information and read the article he wrote in the Garden Island
News in response to the Director of Hawaiian Dept of Transportation.
Click here for a head to head comparison of Superferry claims and our researched facts that point to the truth. Including some eco-friendly myth-busters revealed. Our research will give you the clarity needed to see though the ad campaigns.
OK,
I’m convinced.
I see enough that concerns me…
the Superferry needs true kuleana to operate in Hawai’i.
What can I do given this wide disregard for neighbor island environment, its people and roadways?
Click here.
