By Trish Moore, Star-Bulletin
Dallas resident Shan Harn was among those getting mixed
greetings, with state Rep. Ezra Kanoho, right,
welcoming him to the Garden Island
United Airlines
flight to Kauai
first since Iniki
Visitors are greeted with leis, music,
By Trish Moore
applause -- and by protesters of
the county's boating policy
Star-BulletinLIHUE -- Visitors on the first United Airlines flight to Kauai since Hurricane Iniki were greeted at Lihue Airport last night with fresh flower leis, music, welcoming applause -- as well as by a storm of boos and shouts from protesters telling them to go home.
An elaborate reception celebrating the return of United Airlines' direct flight from the mainland was marred by protesters angry about the county's handling of the commercial boating industry on Kauai's north shore.
About 150 people, along with Hawaiian entertainers and hula dancers, turned out to greet and drape leis on visitors at the gate.
They competed with protesters carrying picket signs and booing and shouting outside the baggage claim area, telling the tourists not to spend their money on Kauai and to go back home.
Lani Papke, one of the organizers of a new group called Committee Against the Californication of Kauai, a more vocal splinter faction of the Limu Coalition, said the county's turning over tour boat regulation to the state will eventually destroy Hanalei for tourism.
"United Airlines and 15 tour boats in Hanalei are not going to fix the economy unless the mayor listens to the community," she said.
By Trish Moore, Star-Bulletin
Kauai residents staged a protest at Lihue Airport yesterday
as passengers disembarked from United Airlines' first direct mainland
flight to the island since Hurricane Iniki. The residents are upset about
the county's handling of the commercial boating industry.
The county Planning Commission Tuesday voted to repeal county rules regulating commercial tour boats and let the state issue permits to individual operators.Dallas residents Shan and Savitha Harn, first-time visitors to Kauai, were confused by the controversy.
"We had excellent treatment on the plane, and it's very disconcerting to see this. It makes us feel unwelcome and that maybe what they portrayed in there is not the real thing," said Shan Harn.
"We've been coming here for 14 years, and it's really sad to see people yelling at the airport," said San Diego resident David Friedman.
Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said the return of United Airlines marks a turning point in Kauai's economic recovery.
She was baffled at the protesters' actions, saying they've already shut down nonpermitted boat operators.
Most commercial boaters without county permits shut down operations in January after pressure from the coalition -- a group of environmental and native Hawaiian advocates -- prompted Kusaka to enforce county limits on boaters.
"They accomplished what they set out to do, and it's a shame they've set out to ruin our economy," Kusaka said.
