Hawaii residents vote overwhelming against keeping the Jones Act, again

by Michael Hansen, Hawaii Shippers Council, October 3, 2017

The Honolulu Star Advertiser, Hawaii’s largest circulation daily newspaper and paper of record, asked their readership, on Monday, October 2, 2017, about their views of the Jones Act, and published the results on October 3rd.

This is a daily online nonscientific poll, which the paper calls the “Big Q,” and the second time they asked their readership about the Jones Act within the last five years.

A total of 1125 online readers responded to the most recent poll question, “What should be done about the maritime shipping law, the Jones Act?” Four options were offered ranging from complete repeal to no change.

Those who wished to see either complete repeal or some modification of the Jones Act numbered 945 or some 84% of those voting. Those who voted to keep the Jones Act as is numbered 133 or some 12%. The balance of 4% were undecided.

Big Q: What should be done about the maritime shipping law, the Jones Act?

C. Ditch; archaic in today's global marketplace (560 Votes)

B. Modify; some provisions outdated (385 Votes)

A. Keep as is; valuable to U.S. interests (133 Votes)

D. Undecided; need more info (47 Votes) This is not a scientific poll — results reflect only the opinions of those voting

The Big Q poll taken on October 2, 2017, is the second online nonscientific poll the Honolulu Star Advertiser has taken regarding its readerships' views on the Jones Act. The previous poll was taken on December 1, 2012, and published the following day.

The results were similar with 82% of respondents voting in favor of either an exemption for Hawaii or an outright repeal.

The 2012 poll results:

What do you think about the Jones Act, the 1920 law designed to protect U.S. domestic shipping interests?

B. Create exemption for Hawaii (45%, 438 Votes)

C. Repeal it (37%, 358 Votes)

A. Keep as is (18%, 168 Votes) Total Voters: 964 Start Date: December 1, 2012 @ 12:00 am

End Date: December 1, 2012 @ 4:00 pm

These results are completely opposite to the position of the dominate political party in the State of Hawaii – i.e., the Hawaii Democratic Party -- and the State’s four member Congressional delegation all of whom are Democrats and strong supporters of the Jones Act.