Hawai'i Superferry, shown here berthed at Pier 20 in Honolulu Harbor, resumed service to Kahului on Dec. 13. The ship was met by protesters, who faced tight security on the beaches, the pier and in the water. Above, Hawai'i Superferry President and CEO John Garibaldi chats with supporter Patty Hustace in the passenger lounge. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Superferry weathers
stormy waters

The Alakai resumes Maui service despite
protests and rough ocean conditions

By Blaine Fergerstrom / OHA Media Production Specialist

It's the first day of the relaunch of the Superferry to Maui and aboard the Alakai, Patty Hustace, wearing a bright yellow “Support Superferry” T-shirt, stops to chat with president and CEO John Garibaldi near the gift shop. Hustace said she rode the ship to support the Superferry, as she had been “waiting for a long time” for it to sail. She views the Superferry as just another transportation option between the islands and doesn't understand “what all the hubbub is about” with those who oppose the ship.

“I even went down to the Capitol to testify – twice!” said Hustace, who is part-Hawaiian.

Hawai'i Superferry President and CEO John Garibaldi chats with supporter Patty Hustace in the passenger lounge. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

“I took the first voyage on Alakai, to Nāwiliwili Harbor, with my uncle,” she said. “We were able to dock, but we sat there for a long time. They had to send the Coast Guard from Honolulu! Can you believe that? Then my uncle said, 'Why are we leaving?' ” Apparently, she said, “some jerk” had tried to board the vessel and the captain had decided to return to Honolulu.

The Hawai'i Superferry resumed operations Dec. 13 after a protracted court battle, which pitted environmentalists on Maui against the new mode of interisland transportation, and raised question about the state's support of the Superferry through the waiving of environmental requirements. The matter was ultimately settled by a special session of the Hawai'i Legislature and the lifting of the Maui court's injunction. The issue is also dividing Native Hawaiians.

Cars are driven into the hold of the Hawai'i Superferry. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Early on the morning of the relaunch, a tight knot of 12 to 15 protestors stood silently on a traffic island near the Pier 19 Superferry vehicle entrance at Honolulu Harbor. Some held signs, which were nearly indecipherable in the darkness. Approximately 70 cars and small trucks made their way through inspection and up the ramp to the vessel.

An estimated 170 passengers without vehicles bypassed the vehicle entry and made their way to a Pier 20 drop-off area for check-in. Crew members asked passengers if they were carrying any items from a list of contraband. Picture ID was required and checked against the boarding list.

The Coast Guard met and escorted Alakai into Kahului Harbor. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

In order to avoid humpback whale concentrations, the Alakai followed a route north of Moloka'i into a high wind with 6- to 12-foot swells and a small-craft warning in effect. It was rough on the passengers, though the crew seemed largely unaffected. Many passengers availed themselves of the plentiful airsick bags provided throughout the ship.

While the Honolulu departure was remarkably quiet, the opposite was true of the Maui stop.

The ship was met by protesters, who faced tight security on the beaches, the pier and in the water. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Maui was like a zoo, with protesters in the water; protesters on the beach; protesters on the highway fronting the gate to the dock area; and protesters in cars, circulating on the highway in front of the gate, attempting to create the impression of a massive traffic jam.

As the Alakai approached Kahului Harbor, a Coast Guard vessel came alongside and escorted the large catamaran toward the harbor. Nearer the harbor, smaller Coast Guard launches kept tabs on small groups of protesters in the water on surfboards and in kayaks behind a 100-yard cordon set up around the pier where Alakai was to dock. More security was apparent on the pier itself, with armed Coast Guard personnel watching key points in the harbor and on the dock. A helicopter kept watch overhead.

Armed Coast Guardsmen stood watch at the gangway as passengers disembarked at Kahului. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Protesters in the water carried signs reading, “Impeach Lingle,” and “Cuz, No Take Superferry.” On the street, protesters on North Pu'unēnē Avenue waved signs saying, “EIS First,” “A'ole Supaferry Go Home!” and “Malama Hawaii Nei.” Some yelled, “Go home!” at vehicles and pedestrians exiting the area.

One driver stopped his truck in the middle of the intersection, opened his doors and hood and walked around his vehicle in an apparent attempt to block cars exiting from the Superferry lot. The vehicle was pushed out of the intersection by nearby police officers.

Protesters lined the highway with signs outside the Superferry terminal in Kahului. Many protesters in cars drove back and forth on the highway. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

There were also three protesters on board the Superferry who flew to O'ahu from Kaua'i to sail on the Alakai's first day back in service. Hale Mawae wore a kīkepa while Andrea Pualani Brower and Katy Rose wore “EIS First” T-shirts. “We planned this a long ago,” they said. While disembarking, they stopped at the exit stairway and unfurled a banner over the side of the ferry, which was promptly removed. Media converged on the trio, blocking subsequent passengers from passing. When asked by the crew to please clear the area, Mawae recited a pule, then the group quietly exited the ship.

Three protesters from Kaua'i flew to O'ahu to sail on the Alakai. Hale Mawae, right, wore a kīkepa while Andrea Pualani Brower, left, and Katy Rose wore “EIS First” T-shirts. “We planned this a long ago,” they said. The trio unfurled a banner over the side of the ferry, which was quickly removed. Mawae recited a pule, then the group quietly exited the ship. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

By 11:15 a.m., passengers were shuttled to and from the ship on small buses and the Alakai left the harbor smoothly under Coast Guard escort. Once clear of the harbor area, the ship increased speed to 36 knots, and the sail back to Honolulu with the wind and the wave action astern, was smooth and comfortable.

The next day, The Act 2 Temporary Hawaii Interisland Ferry Oversight Task Force, of which OHA Trustee Colette Machado is a member, met in Honolulu. The task force will provide monthly reports to the Legislature and governor.