[ OUR OPINION ]
HAWAII'S budding cruise tourism industry took a dive more than a year ago when the operator of its two home-based cruise ships went bankrupt. Senator Inouye has thrown the industry a life preserver that would bring U.S.-flagged interisland passenger ships back to Hawaii. His proposal merits congressional approval and President Bush's signature. Proposal may be
best way to restore
interisland cruises
THE ISSUE The U.S. Senate has approved a measure to allow a company to sail its foreign-made cruise ships in Hawaiian waters.
American Classic Voyages Co. began sailing interisland with the SS Independence in 1980 and also operated the Constitution until it was taken out of service in 1995. Six years ago, Inouye sponsored legislation, known as "Project America," providing American Classic with a 20-year monopoly on interisland cruises with two more ships that the company would build. In the meantime, American Classic would be allowed to sail the foreign-built Patriot interisland. The company went bankrupt in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America, and the unfinished ships were sold to Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.
An Inouye proposal approved by the Senate last week would allow Norwegian to fly the American flag on the two "Project America" ships in island waters upon completion of their construction in Europe, and add a third foreign-built, U.S.-flagged ship, without having to include Fanning Island, a Republic of Kiribati island 12,000 miles south of Honolulu, in their itineraries. Norwegian already operates two interisland ships -- the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Wind -- which stop at Fanning Island to comply with restrictions on foreign-flagged vessels.
The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 requires that ships carrying passengers between U.S. ports be built, owned and registered in the United States, that they have American crews and adhere to U.S. environmental laws. Inouye's proposal requires that Norwegian's U.S.-flagged ships have American crews and be subject to all U.S. laws.
The first U.S.-flagged Norwegian ship to begin operation here next year is expected to create 700 jobs and bring $85 million a year in wages into the state, according to Inouye. All three ships are expected to produce 3,000 seafaring jobs.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., opposed the original "Project America" legislation as wasteful pork; it ended up costing the government more than $185 million in loan guarantees for the ships' construction, which was supposed to rejuvenate U.S. shipbuilding. McCain opposes the current version because of its guarantee of a monopoly, but the Inouye proposal is the only practical method of restoring interisland cruises.
A competitive market would be preferable. Hawaii's tourism industry would benefit from further exemptions for foreign-built cruise ships that have American crews and comply with U.S. rules. Until antiquated law is changed to befit modern circumstances, the Inouye proposal is an appropriate strategy.
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HAWAII'S Legislature missed an opportunity last year to provide terminally ill patients relief from agony in their final days by obtaining physicians' assistance in ending their lives. The House approved the measure but the Senate defeated it by a single vote. Gov. Ben Cayetano favored physician-assisted suicide and would have signed the bill into law. Governor Lingle opposes it, so an effort to enact such legislation this session probably would be futile and a waste of resources. Patience is a virtue
in passing suicide bill
THE ISSUE A state senator has introduced legislation to authorize physician-assisted suicide.
Last year's bill would have allowed physician-assisted suicide of a mentally alert person diagnosed to die within six months when approved by two physicians, a psychologist and a social worker. The bill had been scaled back from the proposal recommended in 1998 by Cayetano's Blue Ribbon Panel on Living with Dignity. Like Oregon's 1997 Death with Dignity Act -- the only such law in the country -- it required a 15-day waiting period and other safeguards to ensure that patients are mentally competent and have time to reconsider.
Opponents of the legislation contend that no rational person would opt for suicide if afforded proper care and relief from pain. Unfortunately, such care is not always available. Apart from such arguments, opposition is largely based on religious beliefs that do not belong in the legislative arena.
Sen. Colleen Hanabusa has introduced a physician-assisted suicide bill and says she will decide whether to go forward with it after gauging its support in the Legislature. Unless Lingle can be persuaded to allow the bill to become law, proponents may be wise to await a better opportunity in the years ahead.
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