WAILUKU >> The Maui County Council is ready to pass a bill banning the public display of captive cetaceans, including dolphins. Maui likely to ban
dolphin facilityThe bill has enough votes to pass, even
though federal law allows such facilities
By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comThe bill was introduced last year to halt the development of a dolphin facility in south Maui.
But the action seems moot for now on the Valley Isle because plans for establishing the dolphin facility have been abandoned by Dolphin Institute officials, said Councilman Riki Hokama.
"My understanding is for whatever reason, they're now looking to stay on Oahu," Hokama said. "Maui is not part of the mix already."
Hokama and at least five other Council members have indicated they support the bill, as it nears first reading Friday. Five votes are required to approve a bill, and the measure has to pass two readings before being sent to the mayor.
County Corporation Counsel James Takayesu has warned that the measure would be unenforceable. He said the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act allows people to have captive dolphins for public display if they have a proper federal permit.
Council member Jo Anne Johnson, the bill's author, said the bill was drafted based on a South Carolina law and that there were 17 other counties in the United States that had similar ordinances.
Johnson said Council Services attorney David Raatz felt the bill was legal and the Council has received petitions with more than 11,500 signatures against holding cetaceans in captivity.
"In my opinion, and at least from what I'm hearing from people, this is something we really do not want in Maui County," Johnson said.
Four members of the Council's Human Services and Economic Development Committee voted to support the bill a little more than week ago and sent the measure to full Council.
Residents have been divided about the proposed dolphin facility.
Some, including Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, have supported the facility at the proposed 29-acre Maui Nui Park in Kihei, with the hope that it would create new jobs and also enhance research activity.
The institute, operating as the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory on Oahu, has helped more than 30 students obtain graduate degrees.
But other residents have opposed allowing the use of captive dolphins and obtained support from animal rights groups and celebrities, including film producers Richard and Lauren Donner, who threatened an entertainment boycott of Maui.
Officials with the institute and landowner Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation were unavailable for comment.
County of Maui
