Sunday, August 24th, marks the one-year anniversary of the Superferry being turned back from Kaua`i. An event entitled, "Jam The Harbor" was scheduled to commemorate the day with a host of activities taking place at Nawiliwili Park. Having heard about the event, the Kaua`i Police and Parks & Recreation Departments moved to proactively impose a set of requirements on the event's coordinator, Rich Hoeppner of People for the Preservation of Kaua`i. Such requirements included adding a number of porta-potties, providing event insurance, developing a parking plan and furnishing a complete map of the park with any tents, stages or temporary structures being mapped out to scale just to name a few.

It was also relayed that the set of requirements were to be met within 24 hours of notification or the event would not be allowed. Such a short turn around time posed an incredible hurdle to holding any "official" event by the group. As a result, PPK is no longer sponsoring the event this weekend. Individuals citizens, however, being void of such restrictions, are getting together to recognize the amazing achievements of the community.

Below is a copy of a press release that was obtained by email, listed here for reference:

--- Begin Email --

ONE YEAR OF NO SUPERFERRY!

Hawaii Superferry to get sister ship

Posted: Aug 17, 2008 09:55 PM

Updated: Aug 18, 2008 10:31 AM.

By Howard Dashefsky

MOBILE, AL (KHNL) - The future of sea travel in Hawaii is being built in Mobile, Alabama, by a company based out of Western Australia.

A global leader in construction both commercial and defense vessels, the company named "Austal" is just months away from delivering Hawaii's second Superferry according to company representative Dietrich Giles.

"Most of the structure is complete at this point and a lot of the interior is coming together, what we call joiner work or walls have gone up and were putting coatings down and floor coatings and things like that", said Giles.

The yet to be named vessel will feature a new color scheme, and more spacious common areas designed to be more user friendly for passengers.

But the heart of the 350 foot vessel remains the same. A power train that generates 44 thousand horsepower, thanks to 4 hard charging German engines. But in today's economy, that power comes at a price according to the Alakai's" Chief Engineer.

"On a good day when we run at medium speed we burn about 550 to 6000 gallons of diesel" said Christian Yuhas.

"And on a heavy day when it's rough we have to go fast we burn more, about 8000".

The new vessel will incorporate all the latest safety equipment and technology now found on the Alakai.

It will also add a foldable ramp to assist in the loading, and off-loading of vehicles.

Here is a recent unpublished letter to the editor by Rich Hoeppner to the Garden Island.

"This is not an E.I.S."

"In response to Mr. Carvalho's letter of 8-11-08, politicians should research what they are writing about before they are published.

Mr. Carvalho, are you aware that the environmental assessment that is being conducted by the State is being done under Governor Lingel's Act II that she pushed through the Legislature?

If you read Act II carefully, you will find that there are "4" parts to the Act. Parts 1, 2, and 4 mostly cover what the "Large Ferry" is free to do in violation of the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act 343. Part 3 covers the environmental assessment, but there is one paragraph that stipulates that this part does not affect anything covered in parts 1, 2, or 4. This makes the environmental assessment conducted under Act II totally irrelevant in it's effect on Kauai.

There are also two Hawaii Supreme Court cases pending, one from Judge Valenciano's Kauai court and one from Judge Cordoza's Maui court. After reading the court briefs on both cases, I am totally convinced that Act II will be found unconstitutional, and the ferry will again be grounded until an independent Environmental Impact Statement is completed, just as Cardoza's Court originally decreed.

Let's all wait and see what our Supreme Court decides."

Richard Hoeppner
Kauai, HI

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/08/15/news/news02.txt

Judge upholds Wainiha construction again

by Blake Jones - The Garden Island

Fifth Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe yesterday affirmed that construction may continue at the Wainiha homesite known to contain at least 30 iwi, or graves, while attorneys for the property owner, state and protesters named in a related lawsuit debate a preliminary injunction.

At the end of the hearing yesterday, which will continue Sept. 3, Watanabe denied a last-minute motion from the protesters’ attorney to temporarily halt building until the next court date.

The judge declined the temporary restraining order request, made by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. on behalf of two of its Kaua‘i clients, because the foundation for the home in question is already completed and no further disruption to the ground is anticipated. She also put an end to a previously agreed-upon break in construction, in place since Tuesday.

Watanabe reminded the court that she denied an earlier TRO request July 28 for the same reason.

About two dozen concrete pilings are in place at Joseph Brescia’s 18,000-square-foot beachfront property, none of which sit on top of the known iwi, according to the state.

“There’s no risk of additional earth movement,” Watanabe said.

Mahalo to everyone that played a part in making the Eco-Roundtable Mayoral and Council Candidates Forum a success. Over 200 people turned out to hear where the candidates stand on important sustainability issues. With all four mayoral candidates, and 19 of 22 council candidates present, it was an opportune time to compare candidate’s political platforms and stances on issues. The standing-room only turnout and excitement in the audience was evidence that the general public is highly interested and engaged in this year’s election.

A questionnaire was given to candidates at the end of the night and post-mailed to candidates that were not present. The questionnaire includes all questions asked at the live forum, as well as several others that could not be incorporated due to time restraints. This will provide an opportunity for candidates to clarify their responses and provide more detail. We have asked for all written responses to be returned by September 1st, and will have them online shortly afterwards at MalamaKauai.Org and EcoRountable.Org. A copy of the questionnaire is available now at either of these sites.

With twenty-two people running for seven county council seats and the position of mayor open, it is critical that the community knows where candidates stand on the important issues that affect all of us: the economy, land use, development, energy, transportation, waste, affordable housing, and the environment.

Hear from mayoral and council candidates on Tuesday, August 5th at the Eco-Roundtable Mayoral and Council Candidates Forum at the Convention Hall in Lihu`e. The public will have a chance to meet-and-greet with candidates from 5:30-6 PM and a facilitated question-answer forum will begin promptly at 6 PM.

All mayoral and a majority of council candidates have confirmed their participation in this event.

The forum is being hosted by the Eco-Roundtable, a network of over 50 sustainability-oriented organizations. Sustainability encompasses economic self-sufficiency and diversification, environmental health, social wellbeing, and perpetuation of culture. Questions have been formulated by representatives from organizations participating in the Eco-Roundtable, as well as by representatives from the agricultural, business, and Native Hawaiian communities.

The candidates’ forum is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary but non-perishable food items for the Kaua`i Food Bank will gratefully be accepted at the door.

The forum will be recorded and re-broadcasted on KKCR and Ho`ike public televisions until the elections. Candidates written responses to questions will be made available following the forum at EcoRoundtable.Org..

Published on Monday, July 28, 2008 by the Victoria Times Colonist (Canada)
A Model for Real Community Energy Self-Sufficiency
by David Chernushenko

The recent G8 Summit achieved one important result. It showed that too many of our leaders still think energy “security” can be achieved by calling for an increase in the rate of oil extraction at the expense of human and ecosystem health.

They are looking for security in the wrong places. For a real lesson in energy security, and a glimpse of the healthy local economy of the future, they could start with a small town in Germany, just one of many in northern Europe that are charting a course toward true energy autonomy, based on renewable sources of energy.

The town of Freiamt generates its entire electricity needs from locally owned renewable sources, and then sells a 30 per cent surplus to generate revenue.

Freiamt is a cluster of villages of 4,300 people in the Black Forest. Its economy is dominated by farming, tourism and small-scale forestry. For the burghers of Freiamt, questions of “the environment” come down to how to ensure that the soil, forests, water, air and natural beauty of the region are preserved and yet still harnessed to maximize economic and social benefit.

To read the full report by the National Resource Defense Council, Click here. If you are interested in volunteering to help collect water samples from surf breaks, contact cbergpixi.com

Kaua‘i beach among most polluted
by Rachel Gehrlein - THE GARDEN ISLAND
http://kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/07/29/news/news01.txt

In a beach water quality report to be released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Hanama‘ulu Beach County Park tied for 10th place with two Mainland beaches in a list of polluted beaches in the nation that exceed national standards.

“Hanama‘ulu Beach exceeded the national standard by 55 percent,” Kaua‘i biologist Dr. Carl Berg said. “It was found polluted 55 percent of the time it was tested in 2007.”
*

In the same report, Hawai‘i was ranked 25th in the nation in samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards in 2007. Kaua‘i had the highest exceedance in 2007 with 21 percent, followed by Honolulu with 10 percent, the Big Island with 9 percent and Maui with 5 percent. Hanama‘ulu Beach and Po‘ipu Beach ranked first and second with 82 percent and 47 percent, respectively, in exceeded state standards.

Samples taken from Hanama‘ulu Beach by state Department of Health officials were tested for enterococcus bacteria. Enterococcus is a bacteria found in the human intestine and a good bacterial indicator for determining human waste in recreational swimming waters.

10 Steps in 10 Years to 100 Percent Renewable Power
Submitted by julian darley
Post Carbon Institue
http://www.postcarbon.org/10-steps-to-renewable-power

On July 17th, 2008, Vice President Al Gore challenged the nation to produce 100% of its electricity from renewable sources within 10 years. Post Carbon Institute has responded to Gore's challenge by putting forward a new plan: '10 Steps in 10 Years for 100 Percent Renewable Power.' The plan shows how we can make Gore's vision a reality, with a keen understanding of the roles that energy depletion, the vulnerabilities of the supply chain, and the limits of technology all play.

Teaser:
10 Steps in 10 Years to 100 Percent Renewable Power
Below is a conceptual plan for achieving the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2018. We will be updating this document with specific recommendations and additional resources in the near future.

1. Reduce 6. Reinvest
2. Share 7. Relocalize
3. Diversify 8. Reengineer
4. Distribute 9. Reskill
5. Store 10. Remobilize

Can U.S. Labor Embrace Local?

Posted on May 7, 2008 http://www.small-mart.org/cupe-pro-local

Will organized labor finally make its peace with local business? Having just addressed the annual convention of the British Columbia-branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – the largest union in the country – I'm pleased to report that the answer is increasingly "yes," if we’re willing to learn from our wise neighbors to the north..

Labor in the United States has long regarded small business with, at best, deep skepticism and, at worse, derision. After all, small businesses constitute the petit bourgeoisie, in Karl Marx's terminology, the class committed to thwarting economic progress of the proletariat.

The deep-seated doubts of labor are not without merit. Historically, U.S. small businesses have paid about a third less, both in salary and benefits, than larger businesses. Small businesses have also been notoriously difficult to organize. Better to have one big, globally owned, export-oriented auto plant where a union stands a shot at representing several thousand workers in one big contract.

And the representatives of small business, whether the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or the National Federation of Independent Businesses, also have been deeply hostile to stronger labor laws, policies, and standards. (Consider that the NFIB was one of the few organizations in Massachusetts to fight Governor Mitt Romney’s milquetoast health-care reform.)

But this analysis is increasingly obsolete, for at least five reasons.