Last Sunset of 2007

Keeping with tradition I started a few years ago, I once again shot the last sunset of the old year. This series of shots were taken today at Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island. The colorful sunset made an otherwise cloudy and sometimes rainy last day of 2007 worth the time and certainly the beauty.

More shots of the last sunset of 2007 are at my Flickr.com website.



Once again, here's wishing you a Happy New Year.

The Best and Worst of 2007

It seemed like I blinked my eyes and 2007 was upon us and is now all but finished. Where have the last 12 months gone? Through tax increases, the Superferry controversy, UH football, new Apple stuff and a lot more, I managed to somehow survive the year and still find time to write about it every now and then. Hence my last blog entry for 2007...

GOOD STUFF THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR



The Hawaii Superferry arrived in the islands and finally set sail on a close to regular schedule on December 13 after an aborted start in late August. I was so luck y as to be on that “return to commercial service” trip as photographer for HawaiiReporter.com and Small Business Hawaii (SBH). I wrote about the trip here as well as at HawaiiReporter and SBH. The bumpy ride going over to Maui was memorable and the return nearly as smooth as silk.

The voyage was the culmination of my documentation of the Superferry as it plowed through a sea of controversy from the time it was built, arrived in the islands and subjected to court orders and a special legislative session, which in the end, cleared it for service. Today despite bad weather, the Superferry is making regular trips between Honolulu and Maui in what hopefully will be a success story for the new year.

Another highlight of 2007 was the spectacular air shows offered by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Thousands of island residents turned out to watch the government sponsored aviation aerobatics as talented fighter pilots from these elite squadrons entertained the public in their own unique way to get young people interested in a military career. I was lucky enough to snap off several hundred photos at the Thunderbirds show from Magic Island Beach Park in Honolulu.

The University of Hawaii Warrior football team was not covered in this blog, but certainly made big news for islanders as they went through their football season relatively unscathed while compiling an impressive and record setting 12 win 0 loss regular season.... the first for the U.H., and the best and only unbeaten regular college football team in the country. On the first day of 2008, the U.H. Warriors put their unblemished record to the final test as they play for the BCS Sugar Bowl title in New Orleans against Georgia.



The local inter-island airfare war continued throughout 2007. Mesa Airlines’ Go! set the agenda for low inter-island fares that came tumbling down to $1 on one occasion. I was lucky enough to make trips to the Big Island at fare levels of $9 and $19 each way this year. The big 2 airlines, Hawaiian and Aloha hated the fare war enough to take Go to court. Hawaiian won their case and Aloha’s set for trial in April 2008. Feisty little Go! is still around, still selling discount fares for $39. The fare war is good for consumers and the local traveling public.

The design for the Hawaii Quarter was unveiled. In late 2008 the last in the 50 states series will be minted and feature a design of the 8 Hawaiian islands and King Kamehameha on the reverse side. While Hawaii’s quarter was to have been the last in the series, another half dozen or so new designs will also be forthcoming to commemorate the territories and the District of Columbia quite possibly in 2009 and continuing to 2010.

In late August Hawaii sky observers were treated to a clearly seen and highly visible total eclipse of the moon. I was lucky enough to capture a series of photos of this heavenly phenomenon without pesky clouds blocking my view.

Apple introduced the iPhone, iPod Touch and new iMacs. Mac OSX version 5 was also released. Apple stock ended the year at $198 per share as they became the 3rd most popular selling computer maker in America.

Amazon.com joined the digital music fray by offering DRM-free, downloadable tracks to compete with Apple’s iTunes, which this year also offered selected DRM-free tracks from mainly Capitol/EMI. Music downloads without DRM is a good thing. Let’s hope this trend continues into 2008 and beyond.

THE DOWNSIDE OF 2007

For those who are concerned about their pocketbook, 2007 certainly got off to a very bad start. On January 1 the State’s General Excise Tax climbed from 4% to 4.5% , hitting nearly every consumer in the wallet as the cost of final goods and services are rendered. What do the public get out of the .5% (more properly read 12.5%) tax increase?



Funding for a choo-choo train line to be built by the City and County of Honolulu to the tune of at least $6.4 billion dollars. This will be a rail line that will travel from West Oahu’s Kapolei community and finishing off somewhere in Honolulu near or at Ala Moana Shopping Center. The tax train to nowhere will become an even bigger headache in the years to come as more and more of our money are taken away to build a railroad that is supposed to alleviate traffic congestion but really won’t. The government knows that but they keep on moving with this choo-choo train fantasy.

Thanks Governor Linda Lingle for letting the tax increase bill get by without a veto in 2005. Thanks Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who has gone against his mantra of “do we need it” “can we afford it” and “can we maintain it”.... Our “mess-transit” nightmare will continue unless the Mayor and current council members up for reelection in 2008 are tossed out and replaced. It is my hope that groups such as Let Honolulu Vote and HonoluluTraffic.com prevail in the ongoing issue of mass transit, the rail tax and the Mufi train to hell.

Other bad news for 2007:

Hawaii was still rattled by earthquakes long after the big one in 2006 shook us statewide on an early Sunday morning.

Big storms and heavy seas delayed the launch of the Hawaii Superferry. Humans bent on seeing the service not happen made worst storm waves by using the legal system to shut down operations in August before the legislature and governor intervened with a new law to exempt the service while a required Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is done.

Airline prices may climb in 2008 as Mesa Airlines lost its case against Hawaiian Airlines to the tune of $90 million in federal court. Should Mesa’s Go! leave the Hawaii market, island travelers and consumers will be whacked with severely increased costs to travel to another island.

Lastly property taxes continue to rise as we all get assessed for higher values as scores of developers and speculators push the cost of owning a home beyond what our dwellings are actually worth. Go figure.

Let’s hope that 2008 can be a better year where cost can be reigned in and more free market principles take root. Remember it’s an election year and it is another chance for the public to throw out the old cronies of the “tax and spend” generation.

Have a Happy New Year!

Rock n Roll on the Hawaii Superferry

Let me tell you about the Hawaii Superferry.

You know the big blue and white ship that spent most of the last 4 months sitting at Honolulu Harbor's Pier 19 all tied up with nowhere to go.

Just about everyone in Hawaii is familiar with the issues that left the ferry tied up: environmental study requirements and waiver; court orders halting the operation; the special legislative session; the new law that was passed to help the ferry; the fear about hitting whales, invasive species, increased traffic, drug proliferation, transport of i'wi and sacred stones, net fishing, animals, bad weather and more. You'd think after all this the ferry would never run.

But run it did.

Superferry finally made its return to commercial service voyage from Honolulu to Maui and back on December 13. I was lucky enough to join the media contingent from HawaiiReporter.com on the inaugural trip. The following is a review of that Superferry trip.



THE VESSEL

Alakai is the name of the first Superferry vessel. It is a 349 ft. long, 4 story high catamaran cruiser that displaces more than 800 tons and contains 4 decks, 2 of which can hold up to 282 vehicles, a passenger deck that can accommodate up to 866 travelers and a high tech bridge. The passenger deck is finely appointed with large panoramic windows, 3 food and drink stations, many flatscreen TVs, a video game center, children's playroom, aircraft-style seating, comfy sofas, and executive dining tables. Alakai can travel up to 40 mph (35 knots) and has four 10,988 horsepower diesel engines.

THE SERVICE

Employees at Hawaii Superferry seemed genuinely happy to be back on the job servicing paying customers. The ticket agents, security screeners, shuttle bus drivers, and cabin crew were friendly, courteous, helpful and informative throughout the trip. Some of the cabin crew had time to chat on each 3-hour trip segment.


Spectacular island views and choppy waves.

THE RIDE

Starting service near the dead of winter, Superferry encountered first-day sea swells that were large enough to have the weather service issue "small craft warnings". The mighty Superferry ploughed through the choppy seas in a bumpy and rolling fashion. The wind was blowing at about 10 to 20 mph, and waves of about 10 feet high would occasionally send their salt spray mist over the ship, splashing the side windows of the main cabin. The fully enclosed passenger cabin protects passengers and crew from the elements. However, several people did get seasick which is expected on such a bumpy trip. This should be less of a problem on days with good weather and calmer seas.

The choppy rolling surf was apparent from the Molokai Channel all the way to Maui shortly before reaching the harbor. Through it all, we never saw nor came close to any whale. The trip back to Honolulu yielded a much smoother ride since Superferry was just "going with the flow" in the direction of the same waves that pounded us on the voyage going over.

Popular activities to pass the time during the 3-hour long voyage included eating, drinking, sleeping, watching TV movies and programs, playing video games, doing work or engaging in conversation with other travelers and the crew. For the photo bugs like me, a Superferry trip presents a fantastic opportunity to catch views of the islands and ocean from a different perspective.

THE VIEWS

Needless to say that despite the less than ideal weather, the views of the islands and ocean were spectacular. Leaving and entering port on both islands present shutterbugs with views they normally don't get while flying or being landlocked. Coastal views of Maui and Molokai were breathtaking. Even the protesters and increased security on Maui provided photographers with something to see and shoot.


Protesters try to keep their banner unraveled.

THE PROTESTERS

For the most part, the protesters on Maui were about as loud and boisterous as the ones on Kauai. At least they respected the security zone, thanks to highly visible, beefed up protection from the U.S. Coast Guard, Maui Police Department and the State Dept. of Land & Natural Resources. There were only a few protesters in the water who waved signs that could not be clearly seen from the vessel. Most of the protesters probably made their impact by slowing traffic down on the streets and highway just outside the harbor.

Processing and loading of vehicles and passengers was orderly and efficient. No one blocked the way. Cars, trucks, vans and SUVs went up and down the ferry ramp with no problem. Getting out of the harbor was not much of a problem even though protesters lined the sides of the road and created artificial traffic jams with their own cars.

CONCLUSION

Hawaii Superferry is a great alternative to interisland flying and well worth the time and money, especially if you are a business and need to transport many things with your vehicle. I can see the Hawaii Superferry becoming successful if the business community, nonprofit organizations and casual travelers embrace it as much as they supported for it during the tumultuous days of the recent special legislative session. I can't wait to sail again in the future, especially when Superferry starts going to the Big Island of Hawaii.


Superferry "Alakai" kicks up a colorful sea mist.


SLIDE SHOW



NOTES

* This posting will be be published in the January 2008 edition of Small Business News

LINKS

• Rock n Roll on the Hawaii Superferry - HawaiiReporter edition of this story
• Hawaii Superferry Photos
• Hawaii Superferry December 13, 2007 Trip Photos
• Hawaii Superferry Website
  

Comp USA Closing Soon

The Comp USA chain of stores were sold off to Gordon Brothers Group LLC, a liquidator that specializes in business closures and sales. The entire chain will be closed with some of the stores sold off to other retailers. Speculation is that this Honolulu location will be one of the stores sold instead of totally shutting down.

Nevertheless, there will be "Going Out of Business" sales at all stores, though at my visit yesterday, prices were more or less the same as they always were. I expect deep discounts to start showing up as we get closer to the Christmas holiday and most definitely after that if the stores are still open. The consumer vultures have already started to circle the dying carcass of this once thriving retailer.

I've had mixed experiences with Comp USA. The worst thing that happened to me at this store was back on the last day of the year 2000. I received a $100 gift certificate as a Christmas gift and went to the store to redeem it on the purchase of my first digital camera. I was using the certificate as a discount to the amount that I would pay for the camera in cash. When the certificate was passed thru the check-out, it came up as "invalid". Surely the person who gave it to me did so in good faith. After all he paid for it.

After wrangling with the sales clerk and then finally the store manager or supervisor, I got them to call the person who gave this to me. Luckily the person had saved the receipt and somehow he either faxed it over to Comp USA to prove that the certificate was legit. Apparently the clerk that had checked him out probably forgot to validate the thing after purchase, which left me the hapless recipient, stuck in a bind.

The problem took about a half hour to remedy at which point I was probably stressed out and vowed not to buy anything big from this store ever again.... which I more or less did. No large computer or other electronic component was ever purchased by me at Comp USA since this incident. I limited my Comp USA purchases mainly to blank media (CDs) and other small items.

Will I miss Comp USA? Probably not. I prefer to go to BestBuy these days and being a Macintosh owner and user, I usually end up at the Apple Store or local retailer MacMouse Club which is just up the street from Comp USA.


Photo: Comp USA Honolulu taken on Dec. 10, 2007. More photos at this link.

Sea Launch Leaves Honolulu

Sea Launch, originally uploaded by macprohawaii.

Here's a something you don't see everyday. This vessel is called the "Sea Launch". It is a large rocket launching floating platform. The thing was in Honolulu Harbor yesterday for a refueling stop. It is reportedly headed for a location near the equator. More information on the Sea Launch can be found at this link.

Governor Names New Chief

Governor Names New Chief, originally uploaded by macprohawaii.

Governor Linda Lingle (center) announced yesterday that Tranportation Director Barry Fukunaga (right) will become her new Chief of Staff who replaces Bob Awana who resigned several months ago. Brennon Morioka (left) has been named Acting Transportation Director. Taken yesterday in the Governor's ceremonial office at the Hawaii State Capitol. Canon 300D.

Superferry Service To Resume December 1

Hawaii Superferry will relaunch its commercial service on December 1. It was announced on Friday afternoon by Hawaii Superferry as discount tickets went on sale at their website for $29 per person, each way during a promotional period from Dec. 1 to Dec. 20. After that Superferry will be pricing their fares at $39 each way to March 12. The fare structure only covers passengers but does not include the fuel surcharge which is being waived during the promotional period.

Superferry service will only be available between the islands of Oahu and Maui. Hawaii Superferry is not sailing to Kauai until potential secuirty problems can be worked out with the community there.

I hope it is smooth sailing for Superferry as they resume their interisland service to Maui and Oahu. The fare structure for now is good, right in line with the interisland airlines. I can understand them continuing to charge at least $55 for a standard vehicle since cars, vans and SUVs are fairly large.

A nagging issue regarding vehicle disembarkation from the ship. Apparently a 2-vehicle per minute order is set in place by Maui Circuit Court Judge Joel August. This is not a very practical order from an operations standpoint since it will slow down the turnaround time for the Superferry. I am quite sure this ruling is just another obstacle put in the way by the whackos who are totally against the Superferry.

Graphic: From Hawaii Superferry website.

Superferry Clears Last Legal Hurdle

Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza lifted his injunction against the Hawaii Superferry yesterday, paving the way to allow the ferry operation to resume in a few weeks. This comes after the Hawaii State Legislature passed a bill that allows the Superferry to operate while an environmental assessment is undertaken. Governor Linda Lingle signed the bill (Act 2) into law after the special session of the Legislature was over.

Hawaii Superferry will now be able to re-hire about 250 furloughed workers and get the ship going between the islands once and for all. This is a good thing and a major victory for the people of Hawaii who know the value of transport alternatives.

Needless to say I am happy that this ship will set sail again. We need this interisland transport option, especially in light of the Mesa Air (Go!) vs. Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines legal cases.

Now it is up to the public to determine whether or not the Superferry will ultimately be successful by using the service.

Of course the opposing whackos who are dead set against the Superferry, a few of them from as far away as Seattle Washington and beyond, are relentless to get this service stopped. The Kauai radicals vow to bring their protests back into the water at Nawiliwili Harbor. Let them but also let the state and federal government enforce the law. Arrest all of these whack jobs and have them fined or put away for a long time. The less of them we have around, the better our travels by ferry will be.

Let the Superferry sail again.

Photo: Vehicles at dock during a summer open house for Hawaii Superferry.

Gone to the Birds

Hawaii has gone to the birds. Actually it always has. Since getting a long 70 - 300 mm tele-zoom lens for my Canon, I've been looking for some time and a place to take bird photos. In Honolulu, there are not too many good places to take bird photos beyond the usual pesky pigeons and common doves. Of course anywhere there is grass offers opportunities for bird shots. So yesterday afternoon I roamed the empty Iolani Palace Grounds and State Capitol area in search of birds and other widllife. Lucked out in a fairly short time, and later moved on to Kakaako Waterfront Park.

The top photo was taken at Kakaako Waterfront Park. I waited for about 15 minutes while this elusive little bird hopped around in the thick brush at the top of the park's observation hill. It was a little hard to follow and keep the camera in auto-focus. I shifted down to manual focus. Patience and burst mode paid off when this little guy, a bird called the Japanese White Eye finally surfaced on the top of the tangled bush.


Cattle Egret at Kakaako Waterfront Park.


These birds travel from thousands of miles north of Hawaii to spend the winter months here. This bird is also known as the Golden Plover. Photo taken near the Hawaii State Capitol lawn.


The Mynah Bird, an import from India is common to Hawaii. They can be found just about anywhere. Get a group of these birds together, you will end up with quite a cackle of noisy critters.

More bird shots can be found on my Flickr page as well as this informative page of common Hawaii birds.

Sony Hawaii Showcases Latest Tech

The annual Sony Hawaii Expo was held this week at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom. Highlight of this year's Sony Expo was the desktop Sony OLED flatscreen TV (shown above). The hallmark of this high tech wonder is its small size and crystal clear high definition picture. The screen itself is thinner than a compact disc jewel case.

Another hyped product at the Sony Hawaii Expo is the new Sony Rolly MP3 player. It is a new portable device that is shaped like a little barrel and moves to the beat of the music. The speakers on this device are positioned at both ends and open up with winglike flaps on each end. The device will not be marketed in the U.S. and is aimed only at consumers in Japan. If it were sold in the U.S. the price would be at around $400.

Face recognition “smile” technology for Sony Cybershot cameras were also a new this year. The new Cybershots can sense when a person smiles and fires only at that time. People were happily smiling for the demo at the Sony Cybershot booth. There were many other Cybershot digital still and video cameras that were also on display for consumers to play with.

I was most interested in the small super zoom, SLR-like cameras that I may want to get in an effort to find a capable SLR-like digital camera without all of the weight and bulk.

Last year's hot product, the Sony Playstation 3 was almost like a has-been this year. Yes, there were displays of the venerable Playstation 3 for people to use, but the crowds around those stations were not very big. Sony is still marketing the Playstation 2 which is still the most popular game console of all time, despite Nintendo running away with the market lead on their new generation Wii product.

I am still interested in perhaps getting a Sony PSP, mainly for the fact that it can surf the web with its wireless internet feature. Another wifi device that was touted last year, the Sony Mylo, was nowhere to be seen this year. Sony still sells the device.

HDTV are the big products Sony is pushing this year as the Expo was dominated by flatscreen high definition sets all over the place. Going hand in hand with that were several Sony Blu-Ray HDTV DVD players. the pictures on the sets and from the players are incredibly clear.

Don't know if I am ready to sink money in either of these technologies, especially Blu-Ray since it is locked in a format war with the rival HD-DVD. Beta vs. VHS all over again. I'll wait for the dust to settle on this one.

Overall the Sony Expo was a great little venue to check the latest technology from one of the most popular electronic companies on the face of the earth.


The Sony Rolly MP3 player. Sold only in Japan.


People clamor around the latest Sony digital cameras.


Sony PSP gaming device can also do WiFi web browsing.

Superferry Cleared For Sailing

Governor Linda Lingle signed SB1 SD1 into law as Act 2 this past weekend, overriding previous court orders that will allow the Hawaii Superferry to start service later this month. The Hawaii State Legislature passed the Superferry bill at the close of the special session last week.

The final step in the legal process to get the ferry sailing in again is to have Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza to cancel his court injunction that has prohibited the Superferry to resume service since October 9.

The Governor in her executive order to get the ferry service going again, added 40 more regulations to the Superferry, going beyond what the bill states. Some of the requirments in her executive order include prohibiting the ferry from traveling in known whale breeding areas, reduction of speed within the whale habitat, and prohibition of ferry customers from transporting items such as rocks and gravel, human remains, island crustations, and several types of animals. Regulations will also apply to vehicle cleanliness, inspections, more whale watchers and reporting requirements. The governor's news release as well as the executive order can be found at this link.

The environmentalists are not happy with the order nor are some supporters of the Superferry. The only good thing is that there is not an overall, comprehensive regulation to have the ferry reduce its travel speed, which on the open ocean can be at 38 knots to as high as 42 knots, faster than most sea going vessels in Hawaii.

Ken Schoolland Honored

Professor Ken Schoolland was awarded the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's George Washington award for 2007. Schoolland is a professor at Hawaii Pacific University and is a well known author for his book on free market economics, Jonathan Gullbile, A Free Market Odyssey. The book has become a worldwide success over the years and has been published in more than 40 languages. Offshoots include a web serial, radio show and a movie which is a work in progress.

The fifth annual Grassroot Institute of Hawaii's awards dinner held last night (November 3) also honored "Unsung Heroes" of Hawaii. They included State Rep. Colleen Meyer for her 14 years of championing both conservative economics and social policy, the Pacific Legal Foundation for pursuing a property tax cap and reform on the island of Kauai and former BOE member Paul Vierling who has been a champion for charter schools.

The keynote speaker for the night was Paul Jacob, commentator, columnist, and podcaster for the Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation. He spoke on the virtues of preserving freedom and not letting it get away from us.


L - R: Robert Thomas, Pacific Legal Foundation; State Rep. Colleen Meyer; Ken Schoolland, author of the book Jonathan Gullible, George Washington Award winner; Paul Vierling, former Hawaii BOE member; Paul Jacob, keynote speaker, Sam Adams Alliance and Dick Rowland, President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

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

It’s Time to Save the Hawaii Superferry

There is no such thing as halfway support for the Hawaii Superferry. If you back the Hawaii Superferry you support it all the way. The environmental assessment (EA) needs to be done as required by the Supreme Court ruling. But it as well as the more stringent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) can be done while the Hawaii Superferry is put back into operation. Service must resume in order for Hawaii Superferry to pay its bills and financially survive in the volatile Hawaiian islands.

Mr. John Garibaldi, CEO of Hawaii Superferry recently established a six-week deadline before they will have to pull the plug on the idle ferry and re-locate the business elsewhere. If that ever happens it will be a very sad day for Hawaii consumers.

Hawaii’s business climate has already gotten a black eye from the fanatic environmental zealots and a small group of radical Kauai wackos demanding that the EA be done before the ferry can resume service. They are relying on the court to make a ruling on this. If the court rules in favor of the environmentalists and wackos, we will be saying “sayonara” to the Superferry forever.

With the Superferry tied up at the dock and litigation, the message being sent out to the investment community is “don’t do business in Hawaii. Anything new and innovative you do in Hawaii will be shut down by a small group of wacko environmentalists and NIMBYism.” Hawaii has a long, sad history of private investment being shut out by special interest groups.

If you support Hawaii Superferry, you have to be in favor of allowing Superferry to operate while the EA process is underway. Anything less puts you in the column of the opponents.

Call the Governor and your legislators and urge them to go into emergency special session to draft legislation more favorable for the Hawaii Superferry. Sign the online petition. Call talk radio shows. Blog your opinions and send letters in favor of the Superferry to news publications.

It’s time to save the Hawaii Superferry.

Photo: Hawaii Superferry arrives at its home port in Honolulu after its only revenue generating trip to Maui in August.

Thunderbirds in Hawaii

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds are in Hawaii in observance of the Air Force's 60th anniversary. The Thunderbirds gave Honolulu residents a treat yesterday during two "practice" shows held at 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. off the shores of Waikiki. While all the action was in the Waikiki area, everyone in Honolulu were aware of the Thunderbirds' presence as their F-16s streaked across the Hawaiian skies. It was a great show that attracted thousands of residents and tourists to the beaches and the tops of buildings to get the best view. An even bigger show is scheduled for Saturday, September 15 at 2:30 p.m.

The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration team of the U.S. Air Force. They travel throughout the United States and are a valuable recruitment tool for the service. For more than 20 years, the Thunderbirds have been flying General Dynamics F-16C Flying Falcon jets that are capable of flying at speeds of up to 1,500 mph (Mach 2). For demonstration purposes the Thunderbirds usually fly at speeds of up to 500 mph. The F-16 is one of the most recognized fighter planes in the Air Force's fleet.

• More Photos at my Flickr website
  

Photos by Melvin Ah Ching

As Featured on KGMB TV

Taken this afternoon from the 10th floor observation deck at Aloha Tower. This is the kind of perfect sunny day coveted by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. Featured today on KGMB TV News "Storm Patrol". Taken at 1:36 pm with my Canon 300D camera, 18 - 55mm wide angle kit lens.

Hawaii Reporter Streams Video

The folks at HawaiiReporter.com are getting into videos. This is their first posted to YouTube.com. The videos are embedded back to the main HawaiiReporter.com website. Hopefully this is the first of many to come. Hawaii Reporter has been an alternate to mainstream media publications, broadcasts and websites for the past 5 years. Recently their main website underwent a major design change that brings it forward as a serious news and opinion site that has attracted thousands if not millions of viewers throughout the world. Video commentary and reporting is just the next step in the site's long history of reporting the "real news."

Hawaii Dala Makes Island Debut

Royal Hawaiian Mint's "Hawaii Dala" was unveiled yesterday at a first day issue press event in the Pagoda Hotel. These private currency issues are like the Liberty Dollar and Berkshares issued on the mainland. Bernard vonNotHaus (left) is the person behind who was inspired to issue this new private currencies and coins. vonNotHaus was a longtime owner of the Royal Hawaiian Mint which has issued many types of commemorative coins over the last 40 years.



"Hawaii Dala" Silver Certificates are redeemable for Hawaii themed silver pieces.



"Hawaii Dala" silver pieces in various denominations.

More information about the Hawaii Dala can be found at hawaiidala.com.

Total Lunar Eclipse

Conditions were nearly perfect last night in Honolulu for viewing and capturing these images of this total lunar eclipse. The rare celestial event was the first total lunar eclipse visible from Hawaii in 4 years. As usual this eclipse was spectacular as they always are. And what made me happy was that I got some decent (though not perfect) photos of the phenomena.

Larger version of this photo.

Hawaii Superferry Sets Sail

Hawaii Superferry set sail today for its first commercial passenger trips to Maui and Kauai. The launch of Superferry service came 2 days earlier than announced after the Hawaii State Department of Transportation (HDOT) cleared them for operation despite a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling which will require that an environmental assessment must be done.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the environmental wacko groups like the Sierra Club who is party to the obstructionist litigation were happy with the ruling on Thursday. By Friday afternoon Hawaii Superferry Inc., countered this with the blessing of HDOT and announced that the first voyage would be today. They coupled this announcement with a surprising $5 promotional ticket sale for voyages now to September 5.

Needless to say nearly all of the voyages for the promotional period are sold out. The response Hawaii Superferry has been getting from the community has been good so far. Only a tiny minority of people wacked on getting the Superferry stopped have continued to use the legal system to put the kibosh on this inter-island travel alternative.

The enviro wacks hope to convince a judge tomorrow to stop Hawaii Superferry operations. If they do, several thousand paying customers will be hugely inconvenienced by these environmental extremists. The fallout from such a ruling will be huge and will further cement Hawaii’s continuing rotten reputation of being one of the worst states to do business in the U.S.

Photos: Hawaii Superferry Alaka'i leaves Honolulu Harbor this morning on her first commercial passenger trip and passes by incoming cruise liner NCL Pride of Aloha. More photos at this link.

Superferry May Be Beached

The Hawaii State Supreme Court on behalf of three environmental wacko groups may have beached the Hawaii Superferry operation before it officially launches next Tuesday, August 28.

In a unanimous decision, the 5 Supreme Court Justices handed down a ruling that reversed a Maui Circuit Court decision to require the state to conduct an expensive, time consuming Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This comes days before the Superferry launch and long after Hawaii Superferry stated that all of the environmental issues have been addressed.

The three environmental groups involved with this action are the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow, and the Kahului Harbor Coalition. These wacko groups have certainly placed a huge roadblock in the way of the Hawaii Superferry and are contributing to Hawaii’s continuing reputation as a hostile place to do business.

Hawaii Superferry as well as the State of Hawaii have committed millions of dollars to get this alternative form of inter-island travel going. The majority of Hawaii’s traveling population are highly in favor of seeing the Superferry launch, despite their higher prices over the inter-island airlines.

The wacko groups and many individuals from as far away as Seattle and beyond are probably gloating over this decision on the false pretense of saving whales and turtles, preventing the spread of invasive species, drug trafficking, and congestion. Hawaii Superferry addressed these issues yet these wackos still insisted on having an EIS done.

Now the Supreme Court has ruled in their favor. The Superferry stands to lose millions of dollars with this huge setback. Hawaii travelers and commerce will certainly lose out on using this alternative form of inter-island transport if the operation is halted.

The ruling is certainly not fair since other operators traversing Hawaii’s inter-island waters have never been required to do an EIS. NCL Cruise Lines, Matson Navigation, Young Brothers and others have never been singled out and subjected to the EIS wrath brought forth by the environmental wackos and the competition.

Somewhere in the background, some firms are probably applauding this decision. Established transport companies in Hawaii certainly don’t like added competition and go out of their way to thwart the newcomer.

Just look at Hawaii’s checkered history of inter-island air travel. The two incumbent airlines, Hawaiian and Aloha have bullied just about every competitor out of the market, and are currently using the courts to get the latest interloper, Go! out.

Without alternatives and competition, Hawaii consumers and businesses lose out. With only a few players in the marketplace, transport prices tend to rise due to lack of competition. Without alternatives the cost to transport goods and services may also rise as travelers and commerce are limited to only the current, monopolistic firms now in operation.

The Hawaii State Supreme Court decision is certainly a sad day for Hawaii travelers, commerce and most of the business community. The Hawaii Superferry alternative may die before it's officially launched.

Again Hawaii’s reputation as one of the worst places in the United States to do business is continued by this decision.

Additional Links

• Setback for Superferry, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
• Impact Study May Delay Superferry, Honolulu Advertiser
• Judge Mulling Impact in Harbor Suit, Maui News
• Hawaii Superferry
• Hawaii State Supreme Court
• Hawaii Superferry Photos by Mel
  

Photo: Hawaii Supeferry may be all tied up at Pier 19.

Hawaii's Cruise Ship Industry Endangered

It was reported today that NCL may end its inter-island cruise ship operations in Hawaii. The cruise ship firm operates three passenger vessels sailing the Hawaii waters. They are the Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and the Pride of Hawaii. NCL has already announced that they plan to take the Pride of Hawaii out of service and re-locate the ship to another market.

The cruise ship news comes on the heals of a report yesterday that indicated Hawaii is the most expensive state in the union to conduct business. Hawaii's high cost of labor, taxes, and utilites are legendary. State and county governments over the years have meddled too much with Hawaii's business climate through higher taxation and more regulation. It is a wonder that businesses can still survive in Hawaii.

Time to cut taxes and regulations.

Photo: NCL cruise ship Pride of Aloha docked at Honolulu Harbor's Pier 2.

Happy Statehood Day

There was a huge celebration at Iolani Palace when Hawaii became the 50th State of the union in August of 1959. Thousands of people turned out for Hawaii's first statehood day celebration. Nearly 50 years later there isn't much celebration except for the closing of most state and county government agencies. Hawaii should celebrate this important holiday like how it was first observed all those years ago.

Additional Link:

• Statehood in Hawaii: Remembering 1959

Photos from the Hawaii State Archives.



There was quite a big "boom" on Hawaii's first Statehood Day.