The Molokai Times
Monday, April 28, 2008
By Kate Gardiner
Efforts to bring Transit Worker Identification Cards to Molokai may be in vain
A letter dated March 20 from the Transportation Security Administration and addressed to Molokai Sen. J. Kalani English (D-6th District) was noncommittal in its coming to Molokai. Acting assistant administrator for legislative affairs, Claire Heffernan, wrote that the four locations preselected by the TSA balanced program costs and the needs of applicants.
There was no mention of Molokai. If the TWIC program does not come to the island, all those who need TWIC to access the wharf for weekly barge deliveries will have to travel to Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului or Lihue to get the cards, at almost $140 apiece.
Contradicting the TSA Deputy director for the harbors division of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Mike Formby, said March 4, "[TSA] says they're coming to Molokai for three days to take applications, then a day to pick up and distribute the cards."
A flyer from Molokai Chamber of Commerce, states TSA contractor Lockheed Martin, TWIC administrator, will be coming to the island in mid-May.
MCOC representatives say the TWIC card will soon be required for all Young Brothers customers who need access to the Kaunakakai Wharf facility once per week. Business owners are asked to contact the Molokai Chamber of Commerce, 553-4482, for more information.
Sen. English says that he believes that the effort coordinated by the Molokai Chamber of Commerce should be successful in bringing the federal program to the island.
Original article URL: http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/842815569.asp