The Garden Island - November 18, 2012
People for the Preservation of Kaua‘i, one of the driving forces behind the fight against the Hawai`i Superferry, has reformed with a new mission — to squash Act 55 in court.
On May 20, 2011, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Act 55, creating the Public Land Development Corporation, comprised of five board members, none from Kaua‘i, who have broad powers to allow commercial development on public lands — including 1.8 million acres of ceded lands — while circumventing county zoning laws.
PLDC’s intent is to generate additional revenue for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, a state agency which has in its mission a pledge to protect the state’s limited natural, historic and cultural resources.
PPK Chairman Rich Hoeppner said his group — which is made up of an executive committee, working with two “top-notch” lawyers — is “revived, alive and well,” ready to fight what he describes as a “ridiculous” bill.
“Our goal is to raise funds to get this bill to the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of Act 55,” Hoeppner said Friday. “It is just total insanity what they are proposing … we’re going after this thing.”
Hoeppner, along with other opponents in the community, believes that the bill allows for large corporations to come to Kaua`i and develop public lands with no accountability.
“The only way we are going to beat them is to go to court … just like we did with Superferry....”
“...We’re going to beat it,” he said. “No doubt in my mind....”
