Cruise conundrum Ready or not, on Jan. 22, the 1,266-passenger cruise ship Statendam is coming to Molokai, which has about 7,400 residents.
The industry draws protests
over environmental practices despite
bringing money into the stateBy Tim Ruel
truel@starbulletin.comThe Statendam was supposed to visit the Friendly Isle Dec. 28, but Molokai's maiden cruise visit was scuttled by high wind. Nearly 150 protesters had been waiting, carrying posters that said "Cruise ships pollute" and "No aloha for cruise ships."
Others have been looking forward to the ship's economic benefits. The Molokai Visitors Association estimated that each day visit by the Statendam would generate about $131,000 in business for the island. Molokai's unemployment rate, 7.5 percent as of November, is the highest in the state.
Cruise industry officials bristled yesterday at suggestions that they should hold a hearing before sending ships to Molokai.
"Cruise lines don't do public hearings. Public hearings are done by governments," said John Shively, vice president of government and community affairs of Holland America Line, parent of the Statendam.
Shively and other cruise industry representatives spoke and answered questions yesterday during a legislative briefing at the Capitol.
Activist Walter Ritte Jr., spokesman for the group Hui Hoopakela Aina, said the absence of a public hearing leaves protesting as the only avenue to speak out against cruises.
"So we're stuck to be labeled bad guys again, because now we've got to protest," Ritte said.
Shively said Holland America wants to run a cruise to Molokai first, then gauge the impact on the community and the environment.
Isaac H. Moriwake, an attorney for the Earthjustice environmental group, said Holland America has it backward: The discussions with the community should come first, before the ships arrive. Moriwake is representing Hui Hoopakele Aina in a lawsuit that challenges the state's approval of the cruises. A hearing on a preliminary injunction is scheduled for Jan. 22, a half hour after the Statendam is scheduled to dock at Molokai.
At yesterday's legislative briefing, the cruise industry outlined a voluntary anti-pollution agreement reached with the state in October. The bottom line is that the cruise ships do not discharge polluted water, dish water or shower runoff within at least four nautical miles of Hawaii's coasts, said John Hansen, president of the North West CruiseShip Association.
Environmental groups have dismissed the significance of the "memorandum of understanding" between the state and the cruise industry, because it contains no penalties for violations.
The industry cannot be trusted to police itself in Hawaii, given recent revelations of attempts to hide pollution in other cruise destinations, said Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club in Hawaii. Carnival Corp.. paid an $18 million fine when it pleaded guilty to falsifying records to cover up oil pollution, and Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. paid a $1 million fine for similar behavior. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has paid $27 million in fines for pollution violations.
Also at yesterday's briefing, the industry made an economic case for cruises, saying the total financial benefit to Hawaii was almost $92 million in 2001, including fuel. More than $9 million is spent to market Hawaii for cruises, the cruise ship association said. Ship fees to the state totaled $4.4 million in 2002.
Robert Kritzman, senior vice president and general counsel of Norwegian Cruise Line, said the company thinks there is potential for growth in Hawaii cruises.
From January 2002 through November 2002, 177,040 people cruised the islands, a 43 percent increase from 124,228 people in the previous year.
The Statendam is scheduled to return to Molokai April 15 and Nov. 27. The Amsterdam is scheduled to make a call on April 18.
Yesterday's joint briefing was held by the House committees on economic development, transportation and tourism and culture.
Molokai Visitors Association
Holland America
Earthjustice
Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter