HABOUR SECURITY RELAXED
By Catherine Cluett
The Moloka'i Dispatch
8 February, 2012
The wharf was relatively empty and quiet at the
Safari Explorer's last port call to Kaunakaki last
Tuesday, with only about a dozen residents holding
protest signs. For that, officials thanked Molokai,
and said it will be the last time a security zone is
enforced for the yatch's dockings through May,
if all goes smoothly.
"We thank the community for showing the correct
amount of balance at the pier (on Jan. 21)," said
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DNLR)
Chairperson William Aila.
At the 36-passenger Safari Explorer's first docking
for nearly two months on Jan. 21, U.S. Coast Guard,
state sheriffs and local law enforcement guarded
a large security zone encompassing the Kaunakaki
Wharf. The zone's purpose was to ensure the
safety of possible protesters in the water and to
alllow the lawful passage of the Safari Explorer
to dock in the harbor, according to officials.
While dozens of residents showed up to legally
protest, no one entered the water to obstruct the
yatch and no arrests were made. Because of this,
officials scaled back their presence at last Tuesday's
docking. Aila confirmed it would be the last security
zone enforcement.
In addition to reduced security forces, officials also
changed the yatch's docking and consequent security
zone enforcement beginning at 9:30 a.m. rather than
6:30 a.m. and enforced the zone for 20 minutes
instead one and a half hours, as on Jan. 21.
Legal Control Of Tourism
At a community meeting held last Monday by state
and Coast Guard officials to explain the reduced
security, several community members asked if
special rules could be created to limit and control
tourism to Moloka'i in the future.
Aila said currently, there are no administrative rules
that allow for the creation of such regulations.
"It's not been done before but we are willing to have
that discussion," Aila said. "The community would
like to have a say in how much tourism there is and
how it comes."
He added that it takes a minimum of one year to
change the Hawai'i Revised Statues, which would
allow for such new rules. "We hear you load and
clear, but that process takes some time," he said.
During an interview with the Dispatch, Aila added
that the community needs to come forward with
"some indication of direction...what it is the
community wants in terms of tourism."
Even though there are no laws requiring it, Deputy
Director of the Department of Transportation Randy
Grune said officials will consult with the Moloka'i
community if another similar visitor industry
expresses interest in making Moloka'i stops.
"We are aware of your concerns so we will come to
the community if someone approaches us wanting
to come," he assured residents.
Environmental Concerns
Other community members raised concerns about
the possible environemntal effects of the yatch's
visit.
Lori Buchanan of the Maui / Moloka'i Invasive Species
Committee said the Safari Explorer is dumping trash
on Moloka'i that it accumulates on Hawai'i Island,
Maui and Lanai. She said she is worried that
un-wanted pests may be entering Moloka'i through
this practice.
"How am I going to respond to invasive species
coming in?" she asked officials. "Moloka'i is the
cleanest island right now," said Chevy Lavasa, a
Department of Agriculture employee on Moloka'i.
"Because there are no EA (environmental
assessment), we didn't know they were dumping
trash.
Aila said because the Safari Explorer's docking is
considered a normal harbor activity and doesn't
require any changes to existing facilities, an EA
for its visiti was not required. He added that
dumping trash on the island is legal, but that if
residents are concerned about the issue, he
could "work with the operator on the trash issue."
"There is nothing against the law right now that
prevents them from dumping trash," he said.
American Safari Cruises officials were not
available on Friday to comment.
Nod to Economics
Despite community concerns about American
Safari Cruises' operations on Moloka'i, a
financial report released by the company last
week points to economic benefits for the island.
The fact sheets states that during its two-day
Moloka'i stop, the vessel generates $14,300
to $18,800 per visit.
Guest educational activities - such as tours of
Halawa Valley, visits to farms like Purdy's
Macadamia Nut Farm and Molok'ai Plumerias,
and pa'ina and cultural evening at the Moloka'i
Museum - account for $9,500 to $11,000 per
visit. Supplies purchased for the yatch totals
$1,500, moorage fees and expenses accounts
for #1,300, and guest and crew spending on
the island ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per
visit, according to the American Safari Cruises
document.
Between October 2011 and May 2012, the
Safari Explorer is scheduled to make 17 visits
to the island.
30 January, 2012
Mitchell Pauole Center
Kaunakaki, Moloka'i
Concerned Citizens Of The Island Of Moloka'i Along
With Members Of The Local Government And State
Government, Along With The Coast Guard Gathered
To Discuss Issues Relating To The Evolving Situation
Involving The Volatile Arrival Of The American Safari
Cruises' Yatch Safari Explorer Into Kaunakaki Harbor
On 21 January, 2012.
Governor Neil Abercrombie Called For A Security Zone
Which Comprised The S.F. Based Maritime Safety And
Security Team, (Anti-Terror Zodiacs) Along With Officials
Patrolling In Jet-Skis And On Land. These Actions Were
Prompted Because Of Protests Which Were Offered
Against The 26 November, 2011 Arrival Of The Same
Vessel. The Actual Size Of The Security Zone Was
925,000 Square Yards, (Reportedly 50 Football Fields),
Thereby Taking Over The Kaunakaki Harbor And
Surrounding Areas, And Depriving The Island's
Residents Of Conducting Business And Enjoying
Their Island And Ocean.
Heated Commentary At The Meeting Last Night
Included Some Very Poignant Issues Offered:
1) Moratorium Needed To Stop Cruise Ships Into
Kaunakaki, Moloka'i
2) Millions Of Dollars To Improve Kaunakaki Pier, Is
Claimed By Local Residents To Be Ploy To Allow
Future Larger Cruise Ships Into Kaunakaki Harbor.
3) Commercial License Needed To Pay For Trash
Dumping, Which Is Claimed To Be Purposely
Being Dumped On Moloka'i Because Other
Islands Prevent That Dumping.
4) Community As A Whole "Says No" To The
Cruise Ships Into Kaunakaki Harbor And
Moloka'i.
5) Evacuation Of Bilge Tanks Is An Issue Yet
To Be Dealt With, With The Reports Of Large
Cruise Ships Dumping Refuse And Effluent
South Of Kailua-Kona, Big Island.
6) Princess Cruises Was Caught Fairly Recently
With Dumping Trash Late At Night Into The
Open Ocean - Therefore The Cruise Operators
Cannot Be Trusted Because Of An Already
Un-Caring Business Practice And Criminal
Dumping Track Record.
7) Improvement To Kaunakaki Harbor Will
Include A Size Re-Adjustment Of The Water
And Sewer Pipeline, From 8" To 26".
Claims That This Is Being Done To Usher In
Future Large Cruise Ships Was Alleged.
8) A Reported 2,000 Lb. Allowance Of Lobster
To Be Fished From The Local Moloka'i Waters
Is Yet Another Inflammatory Issue, Where
Local Citizens Are Frightened That Their Whole
Livelihood And Aqua-Culture Around Moloka'i
Is Being Threatened Immensely.
9) A Ballot Initiative Designated For A Future
Election, Is Yet Another Suitable Alternative
To Literally Stopping The Adventures On The
High Seas By Special Interest Cruise Ships,
Where Once Again, The Community Has
Already Made It's Feelings Known, That
They Are Against Further Predation And
Destruction Of Native Kanaka Maoli Lands
Fisheries, And Environment.
_____________________________________________
Ras Mikaere Enoch Mc Carty
Ambassador | Tainui Kiingitanga | Te Aotearoa
http://www.exorcist.org.nz
http://www.exorcist.org.nz/fallen_angels.wmv
