Dan Lutkenhouse, director of the Hawai`i Tropical Botanical Garden, portrays himself as a victim of foot-dragging bureaucrats and environmental poseurs. “I have committed seventeen years of my life, and several million dollars, toward acquiring the land, developing a beautiful garden … Continued
The following letter has been sent to Daniel Bent, the U.S. Attorney in Honolulu. Environment Hawai`i was provided a copy by the author. It has been slightly edited for style and length. Recently I learned that the U.S. Fish & … Continued
“Fuel Oil ‘Crisis’ Looming for Isle Energy Producers,” screamed a headline in the Hawai`i Tribune-Herald of March 1, 1992. “A major supplier will end shipments; insurance blamed,” read the sub-head. The Hilo paper was not alone in its hysteria. Across … Continued
Geothermal energy has a lot in common with rail transit. Both are big-ticket items and, if they are built out, they hold the promise of jobs for the state’s most powerful unions and contracts for its most influential engineering and … Continued
“It’s time we give geothermal a chance to succeed.” So spake Big Island Mayor Lorraine Inouye on May 13, addressing a rally in Hilo attended by 5,000 people. Those in attendance were deemed to be supporters of geothermal energy development … Continued
The administration of Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi has been touting the virtues of a rail transit system for O`ahu for some years now. To judge from the recently published Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the rail system, however, the … Continued
The advantages of rail transit over the two alternatives considered (those of doing nothing and the transportation system management option) are barely discernible, much less convincing. Even so, there are some who believe that the city has fudged its figures. … Continued
During legislative hearings on the various measures intended to give relief to oil shippers in Hawai`i, the Sierra Club, Hawai`i Chapter was practically the only environmental group with a lobbyist at the table. The lobbyist — unpaid, we would note … Continued
Changes In Laws For EIS Process, Conservation District In an administration-sponsored bill, the Legislature amended the state law governing the Conservation District (Chapter 183) by (finally) making its terminology reflect that in the state’s land-use law (Chapter 205). Chapter 205, … Continued