Hawaii State Senate wants to sink coastal zone protection

Check this out. What the ^%()& are they thinking? Do they have any idea how important it is to protect Hawaii’s coastal zone and the planning program? Beware, Numb nuts at work, and wasting your tax money at the same time.

Please note that the measure passed out of the Senate today, a vote of 19-6, and referred to the House.

Aloha All,

Some of you may not yet know of the existence of this measure, as it seems to have been flying ‘under the radar’ this session, but I would like to draw your attention to it now.

SB1318_SD1 proposes to eliminate the State Office of Planning by repealing HRS 225M and repealing outright HRS 205A, the State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) statutes.

Some of the consequences of the measure are summarized here:

• The elimination of the Office of Planning
• The elimination of the statewide coordination of geographical information systems (GIS)
• The elimination of the governing ‘umbrella’ statutes — all objectives and policies of the CZM program —  for the protection and management all lands in the state and the ocean to the limits of the state’s police powers.  In many cases these statutes are the basis for other state and county agencies’ powers to manage the coastal zone, in terms of:
  • Recreational resources,
  • Historic and cultural resources,
  • Scenic and open space resources,
  • Coastal ecosystems,
  • Economic uses,
  • Coastal hazards,
  • Managing development,
  • Public participation,
  • Beach protection, and
  • Marine resources
  • The elimination of Special Management Area (SMA) permits
  • The elimination of Shoreline Setback Variances
  • The elimination of all Federal Consistency protections (the state’s ability to oversee the federal government’s use of Hawaii’s coastal resources)
  • The elimination of the Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council (MACZAC)

  While the committee reports site this as a “belt-tightening” measure, this will cost the state far more than it will save:  both in terms of the loss of federal funding for coastal programs; and in the long-term through the loss of our state’s most precious land and ocean resources.
  

• These resources form the basis of not only our way of life, but also of Hawaii’s continued economic viability through its ocean-based industries and its ability to continue to attract tourists to pristine and safe island settings.
  This bill passed out of the Senate today (3/10/2009, by a vote of 19-6) to the House.
• Provide testimony if and when the bill is heard by the House (referral is expected to the Water, Lands and Ocean Resources Committee).  Of course, you should directly contact your Legislative representatives to share your thoughts and concerns about just how stupid this proposal is.

  Please also feel free to distribute this to other interested individuals and organizations.

Is Hawaii Superferry on endangered species list?

Wow! A special legislative session to grease the wheels for the Hawaii Superferry to get operating again. EIS or no EIS, is that the question? Or is the Hawaii Superferry on the endangered species list? Will HEI prevail, and keep the status quo? That is, your stuff goes by Young Brothers slow-as-snails barge, and you have to fly. That benefits the airlines and car rental companies, and shipping and freight forwarding companies currently moving your stuff between the islands. Has the Hawaii Superferry kicked in enough political donations to match or exceed those who want the status quo? And I don’t mean the minority enviros on Kauai who no like da Ferry bringing over wily mongoose or those thieving Oahu people with their campers and 4×4’s. Wait, this is beginning to sound like I’m making sausage or is it describing the legislature in action. Gets really blurry.

Hawaii Superferry to become party boat

This just in.

Despite the Judge’s negative ruling on Superferry operations, the Hawaii Superferry on October 27th, will be the stage for the Closing Night Party for the 27th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival. From 9pm to Midnight popular film actors and producers in the pacific, and their fans, will be aboard the Alakai, pier-side at pier 19, to celebrate the film festivals success and experience the luxury of the Alakai.

Maybe they’ll also rig the boat up for charter fishing and become a real party boat! They can take their politician buddies out for some real bottom fishing. Sorry, fishing for whales will not be allowed.

Voo Doo Politics Island Style

On April 24, 2007, the Hawaii State Senate voted against the reappointment of Peter Young as Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The majority democrats had it fixed all along. They danced to the tune of the state government labor unions, especially the HGEA. The grueling hearing process, more like a public execution, was staged from the start. The questions were prepared, the answers rebutted with huff and fluff, and the vote went the way the union wanted. Peter Young, the now popular and former Director of DLNR, was the Voo Doo pin cushion that the democrats used to get at Governor Linda Lingle. I wonder if this sad chain of events will actually backfire on the democrats. Maybe they have created a new candidate for public office in Peter Young. The next election is less than two years away.