Superferry May Sail Again

The Hawaii Superferry may actually sail again. The Hawaii State Senate passed their version of the Superferry bill by a vote of 20 to 5 after a 2 hour long floor session held yesterday. Senator Sam Slom (above) was one of the 20 Senators who voted in favor of SB1 SD1 after delivering a more than 20-minute long floor speech in support of the Superferry. He also displayed a huge pile of printed emails and testimonies (see photo above) that was sent in from more than 4,000 people who support the ferry service. Contrast that with the smaller pile of printed emails and testimonies from the detractors who oppose the Superferry.

The Senators who did not vote to support the Superferry were Maui's Roz Baker, Kalani English, Shannon Tsutsui and Senator Gary Hooser of Kauai, an outspoken Superferry critic. State Senator Russell Kokubun from the Big Island also opposed the bill. The bill moved to the House of Representatives later in the day.

SB1 SD1 was heard in a very lengthy House committee hearing that started at 1:30 pm yesterday and did not wrap up until way after 10:00 pm last night. After much debate, questioning and passionate testimony on both sides of the issue, the combined House committees on Transportation and Finance passed the bill by a margin of 23 to 2 without adding any more amendments to it. The bill goes to a full House vote next and will most likely pass and finish off the special session by tomorrow, October 31.

Governor Linda Lingle is expected to sign the bill shortly after.

The Rail Forum

The Honolulu League of Women Voters held a forum on rail transit this past Saturday, October 27 at the Hawaii State Capitol. The forum panel featured City Councilman Gary Okino, City Transportation Planning Director Toru Hamayasu who both support the $6.4 billion rail project championed by Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi and Dr. Panos Prevedouros, both advocating an alternative to fixed rail. A packed crowd filled the tiny conference room at the capitol with the arguments on both sides of the issue often turning into a sniping session between some of the panelists.

The forum was moderated by JoAnn Maruoka of the League wof Women Voters. That organization opposes the rail project stating that it "will lead our city into a fiscal black hole without improving traffic conditions." The rail proposal fails Mayor Hannemann's campaign test on "do we need it", "can we afford it" and "can we maintain it".

City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi announced yesterday that she favors a busway system over fixed rail.

While I vehemently oppose the rail tax as well as the fixed rail project proposal itself, I could probably support the busway system if it is built only along the rural portions of the transit corridor and does not take away lanes on our roadways for transit use only. The tax is already in place and at this point in time, I don't see that being repealed. So if we have to spend that money, a bus guideway will be a better solution than a "choo-choo train." Hotlanes will be better than a bus guideway because that does what people want the most.... lets commuters stay in their cars, use the roadways but also give them an option for a faster way by offering a toll road or "hotlane".

Photo: (L-R) - JoAnn Maruoka, Panos Prevedouros, Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi

They Voted "No"

Three State Senate Committees passed out an amended version of Senate Bill 1 (SB1 SD1) that is supposed to allow the Hawaii Superferry to resume inter-island service while the State pursues a lenghty Environmental Impact Statement study. The Senate committees on Judiciary, Energy & Environment, and Transportation added several new conditions into the latest draft of SB1. Among those conditions are requirements for Hawaii Superferry to allow an NOAA observer onboard every voyage to help spot whales, posting signage warning customers about prohibited items and inspections of all vehicle interiors, trunk, bed spaces and undercarriages. Vehicles will have to be cleaned before they are cleared for boarding.

The joint committee took the vote yesterday afternoon and in the end, 4 Senators flat out voted "no" on the bill. They included Kauai Senator Gary Hooser and Maui Senator Kalani English (shown above) along with Big Island Senator Russell Kokubun and Shannon Tsutsui, another Senator from Maui. The bill was still passed out of all 3 committees with several other senators voting to support the Superferry "with reservations" but nonetheless in the affirmative.

The Senate Bill goes for third reading vote before the entire Senate next Monday, October 29.

Reaction to the latest vote was probably mixed with environmentalists and opponents stating that the bill does not go far enough to protect the environment. Jeff Mikulina, President of the Sierra Club in Hawaii stated on one of the local newscasts last night that he still wanted to see speed reductions written into the bill for certain areas through which the Superferry passes.

Superferry officials remain optimistic, though one of them indicated that "the devil is in the details." This is far from a done deal. The process requires legislation to go through several more preliminary votes before a final bill can be agreed on and voted out at the close of the special session.

Additional Links

• OKs for Bill Buoys Ferry
• Hawaii Superferry Compromise Drafted
• Status Sheet of SB1

Save the Superferry

The Hawaii State Legislature met for a 6-day special session that started yesterday. The focus of the special session will be to pass last ditch legislation to override recent court rulings that will allow the Hawaii Superferry to commence interisland ferry service while an Environmental Impact Statement is filed.

I fully support Hawaii Superferry and am among the hundreds of thousands of Hawaii residents on all islands who believe that the Superferry will be a valuable travel alternative that opens new possibilities for Hawaii residents, businesses and visitors.

Before the first Superferry hearing started, many of their employees and supporters gathered outside the State Capitol for a good old fashioned sign waving on Beretania Street. The effort was prompted many motorists to drive by with approving "honks".



Superferry CEO John Garibaldi (above) testified in favor of Senate Bill 1 yesterday and was put on the hot seat when questioned by Senators at the 8-hour long joint committee hearing. Garibaldi indicated that the Friends of the Hawaii Superferrry website had gotten more than 30,000 registered signature in support of the service in the last several months. He held up a very thick binder with the printed digital signatures inside.

During the series of questions, Garibaldi also confirmed that if legislation was not passed or proved to be too restrictive for the Superferry, that the service would leave the Hawaii market. It will be a sad day for business and residents if this should happen.



State Senators Kalani English of Maui and Gary Hooser of Kauai (above) are 2 of Hawaii Superferry's harshest critics at the legislature. Hooser was especially relentless with his questioning of Garibaldi and several state officials throughout the day. During the ferry's initial run to Kauai, Hooser and State Rep. Hermina Morita were in the throngs of Superferry demonstrators urging them to break the law by jumping into the water while Superferry made its attempt to dock at Nawiliwili Harbor in late August.

Even with the legislature meeting for this special session, there is no guarantee that any bill will pass to satsify the requiurments to successfully allow Superferry to resume service nor meet any of the many unreasonable conditions being put forth by the environmental wackos and opponents. Frankly many of the opponents want the Superferry to get out of town completely.

Stay tuned. A House committee hearing is scheduled for today. Senators will have decision making on SB 1 today at 3:00 pm in Room 229 at the State Capitol. Legislators will must come to a sensible consensus and allow Superferry to resume service.

Additional Links:

• Brinkmanship over Hawaii Superferry rules
• Senate Tugs Ferry
• Hawaii Superferry website
• Friends of Hawaii Superferry Petition
• SB1 Status and Text Link
• Mel's Hawaii Superferry Photos
• Hawaii Superferry Supported by Vast Majority of State
  

SBH Share N Tell

SBH Share N Tell 10-18-07, originally uploaded by macprohawaii.

Author Bob Sigall (right) leads the discussion table on "marketing your small business" at Small Business Hawaii's Share N Tell event. The luncheon activity was held at the Waialae Country Club restaurant and featured business experts sharing their tips and thoughts on 6 tables on various topics of interest. About 50 members and their guests showed up for the event which also featured a buffet lunch.

Small Business Hawaii website

Sunset Season in Hawaii

Today's Ala Moana Sunset, originally uploaded by macprohawaii.

Another beautiful Hawaii sunset taken last week at Ala Moana Beach Park. With the advent of the fall season and high clouds rolling in, sunset photographers have been getting some spectacularly wonderful pictures