Government Affairs Update
February 22, 2008
Building One Hawai‘i
By Senator Colleen Hanabusa
The recent Superferry controversy was noteworthy for a number of reasons, but one aspect that has stayed with me is the extent to which there seemed to be a divide between O‘ahu on one side and the Neighbor Islands—particularly Maui and Kaua‘i—on the other. As I traveled with a group of Senators conducting hearings on Maui and Kaua‘i, and followed the story as it developed in the media, I was struck by how the opinions surrounding the ferry’s operations pitted a concern for rural lifestyles against the need for an alternative means of inter-island travel.
I could not help but wonder if this was a sign of something larger: whether there were now two Hawaiis, with two distinct sets of values that will now put different segments of our community forever at odds.
Having grown up in Wai‘anae, and representing O‘ahu’s Leeward Coast, I am familiar with the perception that different communities exemplify different values, and that certain areas are seen as more "suitable" for certain uses. Still, while it is true that each community has its own unique character, everyone in our state, irrespective of where they choose to live, is entitled to live in a place that offers both respect and opportunity.
In my home district, we have found that a variety of economic activities can contribute to the community, without endangering the lifestyle that has been so attractive to those who call the area home. The work of Wai‘anae High School’s Searider Productions has laid the foundation for other opportunities in film and video production, and provided many young people in the area with hope that they will be able to find attractive, exciting jobs in their own community. Disney recently announced its plans to build a themed resort in Ko ‘Olina, which will again offer jobs to those in the community, and hopefully support other economic opportunities.
The vital factor, in my view, is that these activities offer new means to support the community, without extracting an unreasonably high cost in terms of lifestyle, culture, or environment.
Applying this lesson to those in other communities, our goal should be to find approaches that balance the need for change with our desire to preserve. Residents of Kaua‘i and Maui who want to emphasize the need to maintain the character of their islands must also accept their neighbors’ need for transportation alternatives and, in the long run, additional economic opportunities. By the same token, everyone benefits from an acknowledgement of the value of the culture, environment, and lifestyle that makes rural living desirable; some trades are simply too much to ask.
Looking at the Superferry controversy in that light, I believe we in Hawai‘i are approaching a point where we be faced with diverging paths. One path will lead us to two Hawaiis, divided between haves and have nots, desirable and undesirable neighborhoods, and high-quality and high-stress lifestyles.
We cannot forget that it was not too long ago that Hawai‘i was similarly divided. The plantation era saw divisions by class, by race, and by gender. It was the will of the people, and the work of countless visionary and courageous individuals on both sides of that divide, that laid the foundation for the opportunities that so many of us enjoy today.
Our best path will lead us to a single Hawai‘i, supporting possibilities for all who live here, and a range of lifestyles to choose from. As a responsible community, our choice must be for unity.
For the most current and detailed information on bills, go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov for bill status and descriptions.