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This Weeks Letters
AGAIN WITH THE SUPEFERRY
June 14, 2007
This letter turned out to be longer than I had intended. Originally, it was about the Superferry generated traffic and how we are completely missing the boat, so to speak, on some other major offenders.
With all the fuss about the Superferry lately, I wonder how it has missed the public's attention the regular barges offloading cars into our harbor every day. Young Brothers even has a specialty barge just for vehicles. I wonder how many cars can fit on that thing? I'll bet they don't even have a plan to ship a car back for every one that comes here. I think it's time we look at some of the long-established companies here that have been doing some of the worst offenses for a long time rather than lambasting a new company trying to provide a long-needed service to the islands.
Worse Offenders:
• Poison/fertilizer Spraying: I've seen helicopters spraying this nasty stuff right next to the highway at Rush Hour
• Rental Cars: Do they have to return their cars to the mainland after they're done with them? Or do they just get to inject them into our used car market?
• Car Dealerships: Their whole business is getting more cars on the island. Where's the fuss about that?
• Hotels: Where are the funds for the Lahaina Bypass they were supposed to provide in turn for building their buildings?
• Cane Burning: Why? It's cheap. No matter if it pollutes our air every day and rains ash upon the entire island. What about the traffic hazard from smoke?
My whole take on the islands is you can't stop development or progress. What we can do, is try to accept that development, but sway it so it can weigh out its harms with its benefits. We also have to hold corporations to their promises, and as technology changes, ratchet up standards. I can't tell you how disappointed I am that Maui still allows cane burning on its fields when there are other, albeit more expensive, technological alternatives.
This should be an especially sore spot for an economy so based in tourism to see its air visibly fouled on an almost daily basis for the production of sugar. Sugar, by which, will increase in price over the coming years as we start to use more ethanol-based fuels. Corn will rise in price, following that corn syrup, then the industry shift to sugar for nutrition, and its prices rise because of demand. The sugar company will make its money in the end and possibly revive its slowly dwindling company.
Thanks for your time. I hope you found this an insightful read. I feel these issues are overlooked for more hot-button ones.
-Light Dave Maleski, via email
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