The Hawaii State Supreme Court on behalf of three environmental wacko groups may have beached the
Hawaii Superferry operation before it officially launches next Tuesday, August 28.
In a unanimous decision, the 5 Supreme Court Justices handed down a ruling that reversed a Maui Circuit Court decision to require the state to conduct an expensive, time consuming Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This comes days before the Superferry launch and long after Hawaii Superferry stated that all of the environmental issues have been addressed.
The three environmental groups involved with this action are the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow, and the Kahului Harbor Coalition. These wacko groups have certainly placed a huge roadblock in the way of the Hawaii Superferry and are contributing to Hawaii’s continuing reputation as a hostile place to do business.
Hawaii Superferry as well as the State of Hawaii have committed millions of dollars to get this alternative form of inter-island travel going. The majority of Hawaii’s traveling population are highly in favor of seeing the Superferry launch, despite their higher prices over the inter-island airlines.
The wacko groups and many individuals from as far away as Seattle and beyond are probably gloating over this decision on the false pretense of saving whales and turtles, preventing the spread of invasive species, drug trafficking, and congestion. Hawaii Superferry addressed these issues yet these wackos still insisted on having an EIS done.
Now the Supreme Court has ruled in their favor. The Superferry stands to lose millions of dollars with this huge setback. Hawaii travelers and commerce will certainly lose out on using this alternative form of inter-island transport if the operation is halted.
The ruling is certainly not fair since other operators traversing Hawaii’s inter-island waters have never been required to do an EIS. NCL Cruise Lines, Matson Navigation, Young Brothers and others have never been singled out and subjected to the EIS wrath brought forth by the environmental wackos and the competition.
Somewhere in the background, some firms are probably applauding this decision. Established transport companies in Hawaii certainly don’t like added competition and go out of their way to thwart the newcomer.
Just look at Hawaii’s checkered history of inter-island air travel. The two incumbent airlines, Hawaiian and Aloha have bullied just about every competitor out of the market, and are currently using the courts to get the latest interloper, Go! out.
Without alternatives and competition, Hawaii consumers and businesses lose out. With only a few players in the marketplace, transport prices tend to rise due to lack of competition. Without alternatives the cost to transport goods and services may also rise as travelers and commerce are limited to only the current, monopolistic firms now in operation.
The Hawaii State Supreme Court decision is certainly a sad day for Hawaii travelers, commerce and most of the business community. The Hawaii Superferry alternative may die before it's officially launched.
Again Hawaii’s reputation as one of the worst places in the United States to do business is continued by this decision.
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Photo: Hawaii Supeferry may be all tied up at Pier 19.
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