Post by ferryfast admin on Jan 2, 2008 11:32:33 GMT -5
SUPERFERRY 08-23 > Ongoing
Maui News
www.mauinews.com/news/2008/1/1/03sup0101.html
Oahu urbanites won out last year over the resistance of many Maui residents who opposed the controversial Hawaii Superferry service.
Despite setbacks including rough weather that has canceled at least four voyages, the 350-foot Alakai is operating a daily trip from Honolulu to Kahului and back. But the high-speed interisland service was hard fought.
It took years of debate, $340 million in private and public investment, a lengthy evidentiary hearing, two court rulings, and finally intervention by the governor and the state Legislature.
Proponents insisted it was a long-overdue alternative form of interisland travel. People could now travel to Honolulu and back – with their own cars.
But opponents said it would bring more cars to Maui as well as people, invasive species and drugs. And without a proper environmental review, environmentalists said the ferry –with speeds up to 44 mph – could injure or kill endangered humpback whales.
The Alakai carries as many as 834 passengers and 282 compact cars. Hawaii Superferry invested about $300 million to build the craft and have another one in construction in Mobile, Ala., for service to the Big Island.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation spent $40 million in improvements to Kahului Harbor to accommodate the ferry.
It ran for two days in late August. That’s also the month that the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the state erred by waiving a requirement to do an environmental assessment that was triggered by the harbor improvements.
After four weeks of testimony this fall in response to a lawsuit by Maui Tomorrow, the Sierra Club and Kahului Harbor Coalition, 2nd Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and issued a temporary restraining order.
Cardoza insisted that an environmental impact statement was required by Hawaii state law before the Superferry could operate, if at all.
In October, Gov. Linda Lingle responded by calling a special session to override the rulings and allow the Superferry to continue while the environmental review was done.
Nearly all of the votes in favor of the ferry came from Oahu state lawmakers, who have most of the seats in both the Hawaii Senate and House.
In early November, Lingle signed into law the bill that overrode Cardoza as well as the state Supreme Court.
When the Alakai started up again on Dec. 13, it was met with two loud and sometimes rude – but peaceful – demonstrations by hundreds of protesters.
Most recently, Maui Tomorrow leaders have pledged an appeal, and its members are now raising funds to cover the legal costs.
– Staff Writer Chris Hamilton