hunterbishop.com

Hunter, you are quite right to question the ecomomics of the Superferry, especially for the Big Island. By the time you pay for a couple or three passenger tickets and a vehicle, you could have flown to another island and had a rental car for five to seven days, easily, depending on how big or fancy a car you need. Factor in the time and gas to drive to Kawaihae and the somewhat lengthy voyage to Honolulu, and the whole concept becomes even less attractive. And I may be wrong about this, but it seems like our only option for the forseeable future after the thing starts is Oahu. I have heard that some small businesses will benifit from being able to use small trucks to take their products directly to Honolulu, but that seems unlikely to support the whole thing.

All that doesn't even touch the issues of state subsidies for a private enterprise and possible environmental damage. I smell a boondoggle here, and I am not even considering the Stryker in my view of it. Don't start me on that. LOL

I'm opposed to the HSF on the grounds that

1.HSF will make it easier for invasive species to
go to other islands

2. Kawaihae Harbor is nowhere ready to support HSF.
Especially now with pier 1 out of commission

3.The roadway infrastructure in the area surrounding
Kawaihae is inadequate to support all the additional
vehicles disembarking from HSF.

Thats generally my reasons why I'm opposed to HSF.

I know that I won't be using the super ferry for inter island travel. Its too long a trip and I don't feel comfortable riding in something that huge going that fast in the open ocean. Now if they had used smaller vessels I would consider using them once in a blue moon.

So, among all the scare hypotheses being leveled at the Surperferry, we now have the Stryker brigade. And based on what factual base?

The only thing about the ferry that is out of control is the apparently limitless creativity of its opponents. One woman even said recently that the ferries would bring more homeless people to the neighbor islands. C'mon! Most of the claims of harm I've heard have little or no factual basis.

I have yet to hear any of the proponents of an EIS say that Young Bros. and Matson should be subject to the same scrutiny. Those two companies have just as much potential for hitting whales and transporting negative organisms. Yet nothing untoward has happened in all their years of operation in neighbor island ports. Could that be why no one wants to discuss giving them equal treatment?

There's a lot of fiction passing itself off as fact in the ferry opposition, and the pandering county politicians seem to be more than willing to play up to it. It all makes me very tired.

Hawi Haole, I believe some of the upper management of HSF
were formerly in the US Military. That being said, I find
it quite odd that HSF selects Kawaihae over Hilo when they
service the Big island in 2009. Coincidentally Kawaihae
is used as a staging area for the Army when they train up at Pohakuloa. So I think there is a legitimate US Military HSF connection.

I really believe HSF is being shoved down our throats. The
harbor infrastructure on the neighbor islands is simply
not there (most glaringly at Kahului Harbor). Kawaihae Harbor after the recent earthquake has taken a further step
back infrastructure wise. As pier 1, which HSF was going to use, is going to have be completely rebuilt.

My other concern is the increased chance of invasive species being transported interisland via HSF. The difference between HSF and Matson/YB/Cruise Ships is
the fact BOTH people AND cars will be transported between
the islands. Thus increasing the chances of, for example,
the Coqui frog being spread.

In my view, I would be less opposed to HSF if they moved
their Big Island docking from Kawaihae to Hilo. as far as I understand, Hilo harbor is going to get 45 million in improvements. You don't see any similar amount being invested in Kawaihae. Lastly, I'd hate to see Akoni Pule
Highway/Queen Kaahumanu intersection after a ferry arrives.
The traffic jams up there are already bad.

Aaron, I share you point of view and concerns about the Superferry. I just want to note that I recall reading in the Hilo daily that the reason that Hilo was not chosen as the BI port had to do with sea conditions off the Hamakua and North Kohala coasts, especially in winter. Apparently the rough seas were judged to be too much for the ferry type chosen to handle. Anyway, that was what the reason given by HSF.

Hawi Haole,

Factual bases regarding both Hawaii Superferry (HSF) and Stryker Brigade are very hard to come by as neither is forthcoming with information. For instance, in HSF's filing with the PUC and in Pacific Business News articles, it is discussed how HSF is in talks with the military and/or how the investment by John F. Lehman Co. in HSF most likely will lead to military use of the ferry. (Check out Lehman Company’s portfolio.)

As far as homeless coming to the Big Island ~ don't discount that. At a Kona town meeting in September, one of our Councilpersons commented on the fact that Oahu is cracking down on drug users and that we should be prepared for those folks to make their way over here (with or without HSF) because our wide-open spaces and lack of resources to address the issue will make it easier for them to exist. This can also be said for the homeless. It is not a far-fetched idea.

As far as an EIS: I personally feel that HSF is a different animal than YB, Matson and the cruiselines and, therefore, my concerns about their operation are stronger. Also, I don't believe any of those companies received state or federal funds. (I can go into both of those at a later date.) However, if you want each of the companies mentioned above to prepare an EIS, then I'll agree. BUT, let's not have HSF move forward until they all have completed an EIS ~ there is no sense in compounding our problems. Before adding HSF to the mix, let's get in order what we already have going.

I am relieved that our county politicians don't get tired as quickly as you do with the "fiction passing itself off as fact" and that they are taking the time to separate the fiction from the fact.

I believe the fact that the County Councils on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island have passed resolutions requiring HSF to prepare an EIS should say something about the concerns on the outer islands.

I believe the fact that the Maui County Council has joined the lawsuit of three groups on that island should say something about the concerns of the folks on that island.

I believe the fact that, according to The Maui News on 10/25/06, "Judge Joel August said Tuesday that it appears the state may be planning changes at Kahului Harbor without doing a required environmental review," (and this is a 180 degree switch from his earlier ruling) should say that important questions need to be answered about how the state is operating.

If everything turns out to be fiction, then all we've lost is some time. But if any of the "fictions" turn out to be fact, then the time spent investigating those concerns and coming up with solutions will most likely save the taxpayers time and money. Remember, $40M of taxpayers' money has been appropriated - not loaned - appropriated to HSF, and something like $137M has been backed by a MARAD loan (a federal guarantee, i.e. a taxpayer guarantee).

Let's hope our "pandering politicians" (as you call them) continue to remain vigilant in their concerns for how our money is spent, how our lives will be affected, and for how our marine mammals will be affected.

Wankine, I read the same reason on HSF website, that due to
the unfavorable conditions between Maui and the Big Island
preclude any HSF service to Hilo.That being said, unfortunately that is the case. As Hilo Harbor already has the infrastructure in place to service HSF

FERRY SHOULD GO ONLY WHERE PEOPLE WANT IT

THE ISSUE: For over a year now people on the neighbor Islands have been complaining about the Hawaii SuperFerry. It will only cause problems for the neighbor islands. Conversely, many Oahu residents are seeking to avoid Honolulu's traffic congestion and are looking forward to riding the fast moving, potentially whale-killing Superferry.

THE SOLUTION: Let's use the Hawaii Superferry to transport people and their cars AROUND the island of Oahu, stopping every 10-15 miles. There will be two Superferries. One could go clockwise and the other counterclockwise, circling Oahu every 2-3 hours. It would provide Oahu residents with relief from Honolulu traffic and give tourists a scenic ride. Best of all, it would eliminate the risk of transporting alien species among the islands, and greatly reduce the risk of hitting whales in the channels between islands.

RESULT: Win - Win. Happiness for Oahu residents AND their neighbors on other islands.
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Please email this to all your Oahu friends and urge them to keep the Hawaii Superferry at home where it will serve them well.

All the comments following mine simply reinforce my point. Most of what is said is conjecture. About the only fact I can agree with is that the state's harbors are not in great shape. I've long believed that when people decide to comment on public issues we should require them to take an oath that they are telling the truth and not making things up. I've seen too much shibai passed off as "facts" in public hearings during my lifetime, and poor legislation enacted as a result. I just don't like the idea of government policy being driven by BS and fear-mongering. We get too much of that out of Washington. We don't need it here in our backyard.

I have had the distinct pleasure of riding a ferry in Australia that is very similar to, and made by the same company as, HSF. That ferry goes between the Australian mainland in the state of South Australia and Kangaroo Island -- right through waters in the Southern Ocean where whales migrate and give birth.
I have not had/taken the time to research that ferry to see if there have been problems such as are implied for the HSF (anyone with the inclination and burning desire to know more should do so).
All of that said, while various problems may exist, one particular problem that I observe is the condition of Kawaihae Harbor -- the size of the harbor, the storm swells, the heavy shipping and recreational traffic, the need for HSF to use a moored barge for ship-to-shore access...(also, note that the Oct 15 earthquake did serious damage there). Based on my experience in Australia, there can be a rush of cars for loading and unloading.
From having the dubious pleasure of going to sea for long periods in the USN, I learned something very valuable: The difference between a sea story and fairy tale is that one starts with, "once upon a time..." and the other starts with, "this ain't no bullsh__ ..." ...which would you believe?
Now, in the case of HSF, the sea stories and the fairy tales coming from all sides are hard to separate. The HSF folks are all about a slick sell-job (fairy tale?) and the opponents are shrill with warnings of impending calamity (sea story?).

Hawi Haole,

You might want to read some studies on whale strikes. I think you will see that the concern for marine mammals is based on the information folks have gotten from these studies which is factual and not conjecture. As for other beliefs, fears, and concerns that have been voiced by many, they might be voiced on conjecture, but with government and big business, oftentimes that’s all we have to go on. However, I know for a fact that much of the conjecture is valid because it’s based on passed experiences and/or much available information. And isn’t it wonderful that there are those who don’t take government and big business at their word but rather take the time, energy and effort to research available information rather than following like lemmings?

It’s interesting that you say, “I’ve seen too much shibai passed off as "facts" in public hearings during my lifetime, and poor legislation enacted as a result.” You accuse people of spreading lies and/or B.S., but I’m more concerned that, according to you, our legislators are enacting legislation on the merits of this shibai. Maybe our focus should be turned to our legislators who, according to you, don’t take the time to check the facts and question things as their constituents do, but would rather take everything at face value.

I invite you to check out Hawaii Superferry’s fares and schedules to see if they are, indeed, affordable and convenient for local families. While you’re doing that, please take the time to read reports on humpback whale strikes. You could check our Laist et al and Jensen and Silber. You might also want to talk to some of our invasive species specialists here on the islands and listen to their concerns regarding the spread of invasive species.

Hawi, I assure you that those of us who have followed Hawaii Superferry for quite some time have solid grounds on which we’ve based our concerns. And Judge August’s concerns about HSF and DOT “segmenting” information in order to bypass an EIS should say something about our concerns being valid.

And as far as the Stryker Brigade, you might take the time to read the November 18, 2004, Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Engage in Operations as a Water Carrier Hearing Statement that was filed by Hawaii Superferry. And you might want to research J.F. Lehman Co. and read the Pacific Business News articles that have been written about Hawaii Superferry.

Also, do you not find it a conflict of interests that two employees of Hawaii Superferry are member of the Sanctuary Advisory Council of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Natural Marine Sanctuary? That's the group that accepted the Whale Avoidance Policy as presented by Hawaii Superferry. If you read the studies referred to above, you will see that this WAP is questionable at best.

I would suggest that in the future, before calling others liars or B.S.ers, you get your facts straight and do at least a little bit of research; thereby being able to speak from at least a modicum of knowledge.

Mahalo