Hawaii's Superferry Docked Indefinitely

Court Halts Service As Protestors Voice Concerns Over Environmental Hazards

(AP)  The company that runs the first passenger-vehicle ferry service between the Hawaiian Islands suspended operations indefinitely Tuesday after two days of emotional protests and legal setbacks.

Hawaii Superferry Inc. halted service after the Coast Guard advised that it could not assure safe passage of the 350-foot ferry in and out of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai, where a flotilla of protesters blocked it from docking late Monday.

A court order sought by environmentalists had already halted service to Maui, with a hearing set for Wednesday.

Gov. Linda Lingle, a longtime ferry supporter, also requested Tuesday that the service be suspended because of public safety concerns.

Opponents say the ferry endangers whales, threatens to spread invasive species and will worsen traffic and pollution. But Superferry officials say the ship's water jet propulsion system means there are no exposed propellers to strike aquatic animals.

John Garibaldi, Superferry's president and chief executive, said operations will not resume until safety is assured. The company, which invested $300 million to launch the service, could lose millions while its vessel is grounded.

"The cost to us really isn't very important," he said. "It's really making sure we can take care of our passengers."

Lingle said she was concerned by protests Monday night on Kauai that led to 11 arrests after about 65 people on surfboards, canoes and kayaks formed a human blockade and forced the $95 million ferry to turn back to Honolulu.

The ferry, named Alakai, was stalled outside Nawiliwili Harbor late Monday for nearly three hours as Coast Guard vessels, including an 85-foot cutter, failed to clear the way for the ship.

The ferry returned to Honolulu about midnight, and some passengers, who had paid a discounted $5 fare for the voyage, were put in hotels and given vouchers for future travel.

The company also paid for flights, hotel rooms and car rentals for passengers who sailed and were stranded on Kauai on Sunday.

For decades, the only way to travel among the islands - where an estimated 1.3 million people live and tens of thousands of tourists arrive each day - was by the local airlines.

Austal USA, which built the ferry in Mobile, Alabama, is building a second, scheduled to serve the Big Island starting in 2009.

[besttyper]

So the protestors demonstrate against a vessel that uses water for propulsion, but does not seem to mind the cruise ships that use islands as a port???

[jt92202]

I for one think this is stupid!!! I am from WA State and we have more Ferry''s then any state in the union, I actually went across Puget Sound just this last weekend on the Puyallup Ferry and I didn''t see any dead sea life floating on the water as we crossed. If there was a problem with the enviorment and Ferry''s we would know about it up here, it would be all over the news here since we are one of the most liberal states in the country and the tree huggers would be out in droves trying to stop them from crossing.

What I think is the problem is the WA State Ferry''s are State run but the Hawawii''s is run by a private company. God forbid any company that makes too much money, they have to be stopped!! But the way it looks they aren''t making any money right now, they are spending it right and left taking care of their passengers that can''t get to where they need to be because these tree huggers think their oppinion is the only oppinion! I would think there was a envior study done (more then likely 10 billion of them)and it was found safe. Tell those Tree Huggers to go buy some Carbon Off Sets to help off set the any problem that will arise from this and go back to their little lives!!!

[my2centss]

How do so many people protest? Doesn''t anybody have a job, or anywhere to be?

[heartlight3]

It was glossed over in the article, but in addition to concerns about injuring sea life, Hawaii has a big problem with invasive species coming in and taking over our small island ecosystem. The Washington State ferry system is not concerned with such things, but it is a big problem here. Many dollars and hours have been spent trying to get rid of plants, insects, animals and microbes that have been brought here accidentally or by people unaware that such things can destroy the ecological balance of an island. These things can come in and proliferate and take over and kill off the native flora and fauna. Before you criticize us, try spending years removing the gorse that has taken over your pasture and is crowding out the grass you need to feed your animals, or try saving forests of native trees that are being killed by the little wasp that came here in someone''s car.
Another major issue is that the State gave tens of millions of our taxpayer dollars to the private ferry company and allowed the ferry to proceed without doing an environmental impact statement on how they intended to mitigate the risks of sea life endangerment, invasive species, traffic problems and allocation of extremely limited harbor space. Lack of an environmental impact statement is against our state law, and we asked for many months for the company to address our concerns and they did not.
So, please, do not be so scornful of our protests without understanding why we are protesting.

[hawaiianwood]

I think there is a terrible misconception that the only people opposed to the Superferry are "tree huggers". This is far from true. On Kauai, there are actually very few people who are supportive of the Superferry. We began circulating a petition against the Superferry over a year ago and have signatures from over 10% of the islands population.

This project was forced upon the neighor islands without concern for the inpact it would have on us. We simply do not have the infrastructure to handle a large influx of vehicles. We worry about the mongoose, frogs, and other foreign species that can affect our delicate ecological balance. There are worrys that more drugs and crime will result from big city criminals that will be tempted to prey on our trusting island residents.

All of these things and more will impact the neignbor islands. We are upset because the leadership on Oahu has not taken these issues into consideration. In fact, they have waived the resonsibility that the Superferry has by law to perform an enviromental impact statement. This was very irresponsible on their part and for that reason I am glad that Judge Cordoza interviened on the communities behalf.


The Superferry may be a good thing Oahu residents but not for Kauai.

[alohakait]

hawaiianwood wrote: "On Kauai, there are actually very few people who are supportive of the Superferry. We began circulating a petition against the Superferry over a year ago and have signatures from over 10% of the islands population"
I''m from Kauai and even I can see how you just contradicted yourself. How do you get from
- "... there are actually very few people who are supportive of the Superferry."
to
- "began... a petition against the Superferry over a year ago and have signatures from over 10% of the islands population" ???

I''ve talked to just about everyone I know and it''s rare that someone opposes the Superferry.

To be fair, I know you have the right to speak your mind, complain and hold up signs... but since when did protesters have the right to beat on a customer''s car (woman in video slamming the passenger side glass and man pounding on the hood of the car), along with more people leaning on the hood? Your beef is with the Superferry and the state, not the customers. Your terrorist tactics just proved that you guys are mentally unstable and made all of us in Kauai look stupid in front of the entire nation. Congrats, hope you feel proud.

I''ve protested before, said my piece, held the signs but I''d never endanger anyone, damage anyone''s property or touch anything that''s not mine.

[bmwducatirid]

It is a shame that well meaning people are so easily swayed. Opposition to the ferry is primarily from the Matson monopoly on interisland freight and the airlines. The ferry is more enviromentally benevolent than these other modes of movement. It will bring new convenience and freedom to all Hawaiians as well as visitors.

This story misses the point that the enviromental study not done was by the state government of Hawaii in relation to port improvements done by the state. After decades of one party rule (interupted only by the current governor) this is already a very corrupt organization. To penalize private business who did every thing required of it is ridiculous.

Judges appointed by past administrations are beholding to the same interests that are blocking progress. The same pattern is seen in the plans for the light rail system in Honolulu. It is not being developed to benefit the population or to ease congestion but to benefit vested interests.

Perhaps those so oppossed to the ferry, should paddle an outrigger cannoe to Honolulu next time they need the services of a big city or have a medical need which cannot be handled on the less populated islands.