The Hawaii Superferry is gone because it broke the law. So say those that killed this fledgling island asset. Even though it provided valuable services and employment without any environmental damage, the EIS was not properly done. The law must be obeyed. Order must be preserved.
What have we learned from this? Certainly, The EIS Law is not clear. If it were clear, the Governor could not have persuaded the Superferry investors to commit their ship to Hawaii without first completing an EIS. We have learned that the Democrat legislature was not willing to extend the EIS deadline.
This allowed the Courts to rule the EIS exemption law an unconstitutional special exception. We have learned that the environmental groups will enforce the letter of the EIS law to the detriment of life in Hawaii even though the spirit of the law (no environmental damage) was satisfied.
When a business of demonstrated value is driven from the state solely by a legal technicality pushed upon us by environmental and anti-development groups, it is time to clarify, modify, or repeal the EIS law itself.
How can we prevent this scenario from happening again? Demand that the law be changed.
Those of you who lost your jobs and who need the Superferry, call your representatives. Complain to them. Don’t blame the Courts. This was a political act by politicians with anti-business and anti-development agendas. This will happen again unless we demand changes. Vote!
Richard Pohle Ph.D. is a resident of Kula, Maui
