30 January, 2012
Mitchell Pauole Center
Kaunakakai, 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 Kaunakakai 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 Kaunakakai 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
Kaunakakai, 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 Kaunakakai
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 Kaunakakai 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 Kaunakakai 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.
