A fascinating read that’s hard to set down. Thorough coverage of the issue well-known to people
in Hawaii but with global implications. Excellent coverage of local testimonies not previously
transcribed. Good timeline of events in the book not compiled in any other published source.
Excellent contributed pieces in the book from various experts on related subject matter. All in
all, a very good book, look forward to the second printing.
I’m going to point out some of the great statements made by testifiers and the authors of this
book. I’ll mention these quotes in order, as there are so many good ones.
“The Superferry itself was not the most egregious example of commercial or military excess, but
it came after decades of frustration and humiliation, as the people saw their island steadily
diminish in character and mood.” (p. 45)
“The Superferry fits perfectly into Oahu’s economic paradigm of expanding markets and global
connectivity, at the unfortunate expense of environmental health and indigenous culture. ...
[Oahu has] an economy dependent on growth, versus ... sustainability.” (p. 51)
“Oahuans ... want to have the option of stepping back to simpler days through a handy three
hour boat ride to charming outer islands, which still have the qualities they gave up. ... Karen
Chun has this insightful explanation. ... Oahu’s so changed now, so urban. People there have a
real longing for hanabata days. They view the outer islands as a bit of their lost past.” (pp. 52-53)
“What happens in Hawaii [spiritually] affects the rest of the world. ... ‘If Hawaii stays
oppressed,’ [Liko Martin] points out, ‘that oppression emanates throughout the whole planet. If
Hawaii is free, then aloha spreads out over the Earth. Because [Hawaii’s] the piko.’” [The
navel—the center of the Pacific] (p. 54)
The testimonies from Kauai to the governor on September 20, 2007, were all outstanding, but the
following stood out to me upon reading them. Some of them did not show up in the video
footage that I had seen: Lloyd Imuaikaika Pratt (pp. 65-66), Pua La‘a Norwood (pp. 72-73), and
Raymond Catania (pp. 84-85). Some believe Pua La'a's comments on solar and wind energy
changed policy on Kauai beyond just the Superferry.
The diary entry about the events of August 27, 2007, from Michael Shooltz starting on page 92 is
outstanding, I mean OUTSTANDING. His story about the friendly interaction with the police
officer before the protest started is quite revealing in addition to his experience of actually
peaceful events out on the water.
The Maui testimonies before the PUC on November 17, 2004, are all good, but the one that
really got my attention is the optimistic vision of Iokepa Naeole of the powerhouse Hawaiian
Canoe Club:
“I just want to share with you my plans. I don’t think you’ve taken time to listen to what we have
planned for Kahului Harbor. In 2020, we will have tripled our fleet of canoes between Na Kai
‘Ewalu and Hawaiian Canoe Club. We will have gone from 300 members to 1,000 members in
2020. In 2020, any given day of the week, Monday through Friday, you will see Kahului Harbor
filled with canoes--one-man, two-man, three-man, and six-man--because people decided to go
paddle instead of eat their Happy Meal. In 2020, Kahului Harbor will look like Papeete, full of
healthy people practicing their culture on the ocean and staying healthy. In 2020, the ice problem
will have been eliminated, because all of those kids that we do have now paddling will spread the
word on to their friends so they will all become part of our paddling, surfing, fishing community,
recreational users, cultural users of the harbor, and ice will be a thing of the past. ... And I’m not
talking dakine Feast at Lele, you know, hula show, I’m talking living, breathing culture ... that in
the future it will be something that you will never see anywhere else on the planet. In 2020, the
typical visitor will go home knowing that Hawaii is the number one place to visit not because of
the infrastructure provided for the visitor industry, but because of the people that are here and the
way we feel about how to live on this planet [sustainably]. With aloha.”
On page 123, Judy Caparida asks and states [on Molokai]: “Does it really matter to our life? [The
Superferry] is something that people want to make for us so that we live by the way they want us
to live. We’re so free because we’re contented. We love what we have. We don’t need to have all
the stuff over there. ... What God has given us is free! ... You work. ... For what? Taxes here,
taxes there. ... We don't want the Superferry here, because we don’t need ‘em. ... [To Belt
Collins:] Make sure you guys get down to life—not fantasy, not make-believe. ... [We] want to
live the simple and free Life.”
My overall sense from these testimonies, especially from that of people like Iokepa Naeole, is
that all of Hawaii and specific islands like Kauai and Maui by their centuries of history and
culture have world class potential that is dependent upon the aina and akamai decisions by the
people and that residents and political leaders should not prematurely sell themselves short with
fake, unsustainable decisions and projects. Hawaii has limitless potential in this world and this is
the positive lesson that should be learned from this issue.
See Brad Parsons’ full review, with links, at http://hisuperferry.blogspot.com/2008/12/myreview-
of-book-superferry-chronicles.html. The first paragraph, as presented above, is the
author’s comment posted on amazon.com. Brad Parsons writes the Hawaii Superferry unofficial
blog.
