Maui Tomorrow Logo


Hawai'i Superferry -2008 Articles

 

Maui protest sign

Hawaii Inter-Island Large Capacity Ferry Vessel-Oversight Task Force Reports:

State Auditor Releases Final Report      December 2008
Performance Audit on the State Administration’s Actions Exempting Certain Harbor Improvements to Facilitate Large Capacity Ferry Vessels from the Requirements of the Hawai'i Environmental Impact Statements Law: Phase II
Quoting from the Auditor's summary: "We also found that the legislation on behalf of Hawai'i Superferry compromised the State’s environmental laws and set a worrisome precedent for future government accommodation that puts the interests of a single business before the State’s environmental, fiduciary, and public safety responsibilities."

State Supreme Court to hear Superferry law challenge     August 2008
The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal seeking to invalidate a state law that allowed Hawaii Superferry to begin operation last year without an environmental impact statement. The court said it was transferring the case from the lower Intermediate Court of Appeals and would schedule oral arguments because it involves a matter "of imperative or fundamental public importance." A date for arguments was not announced.

The Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow and the Kahului Harbor Coalition requested the transfer as part of their appeal of a Maui Circuit Court ruling in November that upheld the new law known as Act 2. The last time the three groups were allowed to present oral arguments before the Supreme Court, they won an uncommonly swift judgment that brought a halt to Hawaii Superferry service.
See also – High court takes ferry appeal

How much is the Superferry draining from the state’s taxpayer revenues?    September 2008
Gov. Linda Lingle recently issued emergency orders to control and reduce state government expenditures. The state budget director is forecasting a billion-dollar shortfall in revenues through 2011 and we're told the 2009 Legislature will need to make tough decisions.
In this difficult financial climate priorities must be considered and it has become even more critical that Hawaii taxpayers be presented a public report listing the costs which the state has incurred supporting a private, Mainland-owned corporation, Hawaii Superferry.

Maui Tomorrow's testimony to the Hawaii Large Capacity Ferry Vessel Oversight Task Force
September 2008

Tavares faults ferry screening    September 2009
Maui mayor joins call for stricter protection of natural resources
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said yesterday she is "appalled by the reported amount of marine resources that are leaving our island" with Hawaii Superferry passengers or being seized by screeners at Kahului Harbor.
In a written statement to the Hawai'i Inter-Island Large Capacity Ferry Vessel Oversight Task Force, Tavares said vehicle checks at the Maui and Honolulu ferry terminals are inconsistent and can't be counted on to intercept invasive species and natural resource contraband.

Superferry to add night-vision gear    September 2009
Residents cite amounts of fish, opihi being seized
Hawaii Superferry is planning to install a new night vision, infrared-thermal imaging system and provide night-vision goggles to two lookouts to help prevent nighttime collisions this winter with humpback whales. The move by the company is in response to a list of 34 recommendations included in the draft rapid risk assessment report overseen by the state-mandated Temporary Hawaii Inter-island Ferry Oversight Task Force.

Court appeal hangs over Superferry    August 2008
Superferry officials are touting increased ridership, but one year after a state Supreme Court ruling nearly scuttled the interisland service, they face another legal challenge that is threatening to return the ship's fate to the same court.
On Aug. 23, 2007, the court ruled in favor of anti-Superferry environmentalists in a decision that triggered a flurry of activity, including Kauai protesters blocking the 350-foot ferry Alakai from docking at Nawiliwili Harbor and a Maui judge issuing a ban on the ship sailing to Maui's Kahului Harbor.
A state law passed in October allowed the service to resume, but the Sierra Club and two Maui groups are challenging that law as unconstitutional. A court decision isn't expected for weeks.

Superferry lobbies for military upgrade    June 2008
Company spends $210K on lobbyists to obtain funds for vehicle ramp
Hawaii Superferry has spent $210,000 since last summer to lobby for federal money to install features on its second high-speed catamaran to make it more attractive for military use. Lobbyists hired by Superferry approached the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense to help pay for a vehicle ramp and other improvements. The ramp would allow the new catamaran to load and unload vehicles at most large piers instead of relying on shore-based ramps and barges.

Vehicle inspections net contraband   June 2008
Hawaii Superferry vehicle screeners continue to intercept 'opihi, lobsters, dead bees, fishing nets and muddy trucks at ports in Honolulu and Maui. State officials say the number of restricted items uncovered by screeners has grown with the increase in passengers aboard the new interisland ferry, which reported record bookings in May.

Lingle keeps lid on Superferry records    June 2008
The Lingle administration, citing attorney-client privilege and executive privilege, has declined a request by The Advertiser to publicly release hundreds of e-mails and other documents related to its decision to exempt the Hawaii Superferry project from environmental review. State lawmakers had asked Lingle administration officials last year to disclose what, if any, legal advice they received before they exempted the project in February 2005. But the administration would not discuss the matter because of attorney-client privilege. Lawmakers wanted the information to determine whether the Lingle administration considered the legal risks before issuing the exemption.

Superferry operated in May at 29% of capacity   June 2008
The Hawaii Superferry's 350-foot Alakai operated at less than a third of its capacity in May, its first full month of operations, members of the Hawaii Inter-Island Ferry Oversight Task Force were told Friday. Terry O'Halloran, Superferry director of business development, said the high-speed ferry hosted 21,882 passengers and 6,003 cars in May. However, that is only 29 percent of the ferry's capacity. Those figures average out to about 250 people and 70 vehicles per voyage, well below the ferry's capacity of 866 people and 282 vehicles per trip.

Audit: Superferry drove state actions  April 2008
Lingle administration criticized for bypassing environmental review
The state may have compromised its environmental policy because of pressure from Hawaii Superferry executives who were worried about financing for the interisland ferry project, the state auditor has concluded. The auditor found that an internal June 2005 deadline imposed by Superferry executives "drove the process" and pushed the state Department of Transportation to bypass an environmental review. The deadline, according to the auditor, was tied to Superferry's agreement with Austal USA to secure financing to pay the Mobile, Ala.-based shipbuilder to construct two high-speed ferries. Maritime Administration officials told the auditor they did not set the June 2005 deadline as a condition of the loan guarantee.

$842 million upgrade to Hawaii harbors approved  April 2008
The state Aloha Tower Development Corp. has been tapped to make $842 million in improvements to Hawai'i's commercial harbors over six years for the Department of Transportation. Lawmakers passed a bill yesterday essentially making the ATDC the development arm of the Transportation Department's Harbors Division. The DOT calls the bill "landmark legislation" that was badly needed because the agency is consumed with managing harbors and lacks resources to upgrade aging and cramped harbor facilities on such a large scale.

 

Hawaii Superferry fare chart



Ride ‘really, really rough’   April 2008
Superferry sails, but voyage not smooth; many suffer sickness
After a two-month layoff for repairs, the Hawaii Superferry returned to Kahului Harbor on Monday with a load of passengers facing no protests except the one in their bellies.
“It was one of the most miserable rides I’ve ever had,” said Kim Lane of Seattle.
She and other family members were part of the first set of passengers disembarking from the 350-foot Alakai after it arrived at Kahului. They said they dealt with high swells and rough seas for most of the three-hour-plus sail between Oahu and Maui. Those conditions caused many passengers to fall ill. Terry O’Halloran, Superferry director of business development, disputed the report of many passengers being severely ill on the voyage, although he admitted the Honolulu-Kahului leg was rough.

Superferry returns to service  April 2008
Hawaii Superferry will return to service Monday, soothing some concerns about interisland travel options in the wake of this week's shutdown of Aloha Airlines passenger flights. However, Superferry president and CEO John Garibaldi yesterday said the sooner-than-expected return of the company's high-speed catamaran Alakai is not related to the Aloha situation. The vessel, capable of carrying 866 people and 282 cars, was in drydock for repairs for six weeks and wasn't expected to resume Honolulu-to-Maui voyages until April 23. It is now back at Pier 19 at Honolulu Harbor and ready to sail, Garibaldi said.

Kaua‘i group appeals Superferry rulings  April 2008
Claiming that Hawaii Superferry profits do not trump federally mandated environmental requirements, attorneys filed an opening brief in the Intermediate Court of Appeals this week. Dan Hempey and Greg Meyers, attorneys for 1,000 Friends of Kaua‘i, filed the appeal of two September 2007 rulings greenlighting the Hawaii Superferry despite its lacking an Environmental Assessment. Hawaii Superferry had claimed it would face financial strain if forced to stop operations while completing the EA.

Lessons of history lost on Superferry   March 2008
In just a matter of months, the Hawaii Superferry has gone from heavy hype and polished promises to weather-beaten underdog status. The Alakai is sitting in drydock undergoing repairs like a formerly promising race horse back at the farm healing shin splints. The vessel has been there since the middle of February and is estimated to stay there through most of April. Didn't Superferry officials say they would have to take their business elsewhere if they stayed out of service for very long? Hmmm...

Kaua‘i opposition to ferry still strong  March 2008
About 120 Kaua'i residents met with state Department of Transportation officials yesterday and most opposed the return of the Hawaii Superferry to the Garden Isle. The Superferry began service between O'ahu and Kaua'i in August but was soon turned back by protesters on surfboards and in kayaks who blocked the entrance to Nawiliwili Harbor. More than six months later, opposition remains strong here, at least from those who attended two meetings yesterday at Kaua'i Community College.

Superferry in drydock till April 22  March 2008
Hawaii Superferry is extending its drydock period through April 22 while the company continues repairs to its $85 million catamaran, the Alakai. The 350-foot high-speed vessel has not been operating since Feb. 13, and by the time the interisland ferry returns to service, it will have been out of service for more days than it has been running since its Dec. 13 relaunch.
Hawaii Superferry originally announced it would be in drydock until March 3 to strengthen the metal surrounding the auxiliary rudders after cracks were found. When the aluminum hull sustained damage during the drydocking process, the company delayed the restart of service until March 25.

Ferry opponents appeal Nov. decision, say lawmakers' action was 'special legislation'  March 2008
Hawaii Superferry opponents filed an appeal of a court decision that has allowed the 350-foot ferry to operate while the state prepares an environmental assessment of ferry-related Kahului Harbor improvements. At issue now is whether Act 2 is unconstitutional. During a special session last year, the Legislature passed the act allowing "large-capacity vessels," such as the ferry, to operate an interisland service pending the completion of an environmental review. The Maui Tomorrow Foundation, the Sierra Club and the Kahului Harbor Coalition have successfully argued in court that an environmental assessment is required for the ferry. Now the ferry opponents contend that Act 2 unconstitutionally circumvents Hawaii's environmental law and is aimed at helping a single business.
See also – Foes fight ferry's environmental OK

Rough sailing forces Superferry on early break    February 2008
Hawaii Superferry, plagued by weather and equipment-related shutdowns and low ridership levels, said yesterday it will place its vessel into dry dock for nearly three weeks for maintenance and recertification by the U.S. Coast Guard. 02.09.08

Superferry toughing out winter weather   February 2008
How long can the Hawaii Superferry hang on? That's a question many are asking after eight straight days of canceled voyages due to bad weather, vessel repairs and other setbacks the company has suffered since its Dec. 13 relaunch.
Since then, it has been operating with only a third of its anticipated passenger load, and rough seas and other problems have led it to cancel its daily roundtrip between Honolulu and Maui a total of 14 days. Company filings with the Public Utilities Commission indicated the ferry anticipated being out of service only 10 days a year because of foul weather, maintenance and other issues.
Hawaii Superferry president and CEO John Garibaldi said the ferry is averaging about 150 bookings a trip, while the planned passenger load was 410. The Alakai can carry 866 people and 282 cars. 02.03.08

$350,000 tugboat service needed to support Superferry Janucary 2008
The state Department of Transportation said 10 weeks of daily tugboat service — at a cost of $350,000 — is needed at Kahului Harbor to support Hawaii Superferry operations. The tug service is necessary to keep a state-owned barge snug against the end of Pier 2C during ocean surges and to provide safe loading and unloading of passengers and vehicles, according to a request filed Friday to exempt the contract from state procurement rules. Without the assistance, the state could be liable for damage claims by the Superferry of $18,000 a day if it cannot meet its obligation to provide barges with mooring systems to enable ferry operations, the request said.
01.23.08
Read the ferry traffic report here (PDF file)

U.S.S. Superferry?    January 2008
01.20.08
Hawaii Superferry — now running (weather permitting) between Oahu and Maui, thanks to a gubernatorial and legislative override of a State Supreme Court ruling — has been officially touted as a way to bring ohana together and provide a transportation alternative. However, in light of the U. S. Navy’s current push to quickly expand its fleet with a new type of fast and versatile vessel, Hawaii Superferry (HSF) — chaired by former Navy Secretary and 9/11 Commission member John F. Lehman —may also be using Hawaiian waters to demonstrate the performance of its Austal USA catamaran, the Alakai, and prove its efficacy for military purposes.
At stake are U.S. defense contracts potentially worth billions, and possible sales to foreign navies, according to a defense industry consultant in San Diego who asked not to be named. The Superferry is being tested in Hawaii to qualify the design for military contracts and also for sale to the navies of India and Indonesia, the consultant said.

Superferry traffic far below estimates   January 2008
'Emergency situation' cited by company in letter to state agency
01.18.08
The Hawaii Superferry is in an "emergency situation" with so few passengers that its ability to continue running between Oahu and Maui is imperiled, according to a letter written last month by attorneys for the Superferry.
The Superferry vessel Alakai, which can seat 866 passengers, is averaging only 150 passengers per day, far below its planned ridership of 410, according to the Dec. 21 letter from Superferry attorneys Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel. The letter was sent to the state Public Utilities Commission requesting an extension of the Superferry's $39 one-way promotional fares through June 5.
Attorney Audrey Ng wrote that Hawaii Superferry "must increase its business immediately" to address weak bookings, interisland airline competition and continuing litigation and protests; to pay for fixed expenses as well as to compensate for repeated delays; and to start a second Maui trip.

Hawaii Superferry Postpones Second Voyage Between Maui and Oahu
01.14.08
In consideration of Mayor Tavares' concerns, Hawaii Superferry today announced it is postponing its second voyage between Maui and O‘ahu. The company anticipates starting the second voyage later this spring.

Fighting invasive species in Hawai‘i
01.14.08
Invasive species have been a problem in Hawai'i since the first Polynesians set foot on these Islands, bringing rats and pigs that centuries later continue to threaten fragile and unique ecosystems. The onslaught of imported pests has only multiplied as subsequent arrivals introduced new plants, animals and bugs to Hawai'i - sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose.
The recent controversy over the Hawaii Superferry, the state's newest mode of interisland travel, spotlighted the invasive-species issue and exposed weaknesses in prevention and control programs that are likely to be discussed during the upcoming 24th Legislature, according to state Rep. Clifton Tsuji, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
"Hawai'i is a welcome wagon for invasive species, and we have an obligation to preserve the ecology that has evolved over the centuries," said Tsuji, D-3rd (South Hilo, Puna, Kea'au). "We have to really meet these invasive species head-on, out front, and not become reactionary."

Hawai‘i, ferry at odds in ’04 over environment
01.06.08
Staff at the state Department of Transportation told Hawaii Superferry in October 2004 that a statewide environmental assessment would be required for the new interisland ferry service. But Superferry executives resisted and, within two days, scaled back the project in a calculated attempt to get an exemption from the state's environmental review law, state records show.
Some in the department not only thought Superferry should be responsible for doing an environmental assessment — one described it as the "right thing to do" — but also seriously considered doing an environmental review of the state's $40 million in harbor improvements for Superferry.

Superferry announces second trip to Maui
01.05.08
Hawaii Superferry’s announcement Friday of a second round-trip voyage this month between Maui and Oahu riled critics, who questioned the ferry’s traffic impacts and the greater risk of nighttime whale collisions.
“It’s timing is really bad for Maui, proving once again that this is for Oahu people, not Maui people,” said Karen Chun, Web master for Save Kahului Harbor, which organized ferry protests last month.
The second trip between the islands doesn’t help Maui residents because they couldn’t go to Oahu, spend some time there and return the same day, Chun said.

Mayor Tavares addresses Superferry expansion  January 2008

Superferry Oversight Task Force report (PDF file)