Hawaii Superferry
Encyclopedia
The Hawaii Superferry was a Hawaii
-based transportation company that provided passenger and vehicle transportation between Honolulu Harbor
on the island of Oahu
and Kahului Harbor on Maui
. Legal issues over environmental impact statements
and protests from residents of Maui and Kauai temporarily delayed the implementation of service, but service between Oahu and Maui began in December 2007. The company had hoped to return service to Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai
and additionally planned to eventually provide service to Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island
.
Ferry operations were suspended in March, 2009 after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a state law allowing the Superferry to operate without a complete environmental impact statement was unconstitutional. The company has left the possibility of returning to service open if the state does an EIS and approves future voyages. In the meantime, they will be investigating other possible uses for the Alakai
. On July 2, 2009 a Delaware Bankruptcy Court granted the company's motion to abandon both the Alakai and Huakai, ending all possibilities that the company might return to Hawaii; the ships were bought by the US Maritime Administration in 2010, and the US Navy has expressed interest in buying them from MARAD.Both vessels, now in the possession of the U.S. Maritime Administration, are docked in Norfolk, Virginia
and are in transit to Mobile, Alabama
, for "insurance considerations".
The vessel used by Hawaii Superferry was an aluminum-hulled catamaran
with drive-on / drive-off vehicle capability or fast ferry service. It is designed and built in the United States by Austal USA
, a division of Australia-based shipbuilder Austal
. The vessel is powered by MTU Friedrichshafen
engines using waterjet
propulsion
which the company claimed will minimize impact to marine mammals (but opponents disputed this statement). It is capable of transporting up to 866 passengers and 282 subcompact cars.
The first ship, the Alakai
, arrived in Honolulu Harbor on June 30, 2007. The second ship, the Huakai
, was scheduled for completion in 2009, but due to the economic slowdown and state court ruling halting service, the Huakai was put on hold and was later abandoned along with Alakai.
Private steamships and ferries were the sole way of traveling between the islands from the 19th century until the 1950s and returned twice since statehood, once in 1966 between Oahu, Maui and Big Island, and Seaflite which operated hydrofoil
s between the major islands in the mid-1970s.
Currently there is passenger ferry service between Moloka'i and Maui, between Lana'i and Maui. Neither of these takes vehicles.
The concept of the Superferry was founded in 2001 and first announced by founders Timothy Dick, John Garibaldi, and Robert "Terry" White in September 2003 after more than two years of planning. Hawaii Superferry stated its plans to operate a daily service between the newly built interisland ferry terminal at Pier 19 in Honolulu Harbor to Kahului on Maui and Nawiliwili on Kauai, with later expansion of service to Kawaihae near Kona on the Big Island. The company claimed fares for a family trip to be similar to the equivalent airfare, car rental, and parking.
In January 2004, the company formed a partnership with Austal
to build two high-speed catamarans. Construction on the first ship began in June 2004. Meanwhile, the company secured its first investors, including Maui Land & Pineapple Company
and Grove Farm
on Kauai.
and a MARAD loan guarantee of $140 million
• Procedural concerns. The Hawai'i State Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Lingle illegally exempted the Hawaii Superferry from an EIS and later ruled that the special law exempting it was unconstitutional.
• Environmental concerns. These can generally be divided into concerns for marine life (primarily due to the speed of travel, which critics cited as unnecessarily high and dangerous to whales, dolphins, turtles and other animals) and concern for the environmental impacts threatened by the virtually unrestricted interisland transport of vehicles, particularly by O'ahu residents engaged in recreational activities. Interisland introduction of invasive species is a specific concern.
• Depletion of natural resources. This is a related concern particularly felt by Maui and Kaua'i residents who are concerned about people from O'ahu taking large quantities of rocks, 'opihi, and other natural resources for O'ahu use.
• Militarization. It is pointed out that the Superferry's CEO, John F. Lehman, is a former U.S. Navy secretary whose expertise is in the acquisition of private endeavors with military applications, and that the Superferry is designed to be able to transport military equipment and vehicles, including Stryker
combat vehicles.
•Traffic Congestion. Due to the size of the state and lack of roads and other improvements on the outer islands, traffic expanding to these areas is a concern.
had erred in not requiring an environmental impact assessment
for harbor improvements at Kahului Harbor, reversing an earlier ruling in 2005 by Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza. Superferry then announced that it would accelerate its launch to August 26, 2007, two days earlier than its originally scheduled launch date.
Service began with inaugural $5 fares. The inaugural voyages were sold out. The voyage to Maui was smooth and uneventful with a few environmental protesters observing peacefully at Kahului Harbor. However, about a dozen protesters on surfboards blockaded the ferry at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai. The Coast Guard
cleared the ferry's path after 90 minutes. Upon docking, protesters confronted passengers, including Kauai residents, and some vandalized cars. Several protesters were arrested.
The protesters' concerns were that a ferry of this size traveling at speeds of about 40 mi/h could strike and kill whales during its voyages. Other concerns included the potential to import invasive species between islands, and the potential to bring drugs and homeless people to Kauai.
In a meeting with State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa on September 14, 2007, the company stated that it may have to find another home for the ferry in order to pay operating expenses, repay debt, and provide return on the investments made. Describing their meeting, Hanabusa commented that they would have staying power for "a month—outside, a month and a half." Superferry officials, while declining to elaborate, did not dispute this.
On October 9, 2007 Maui Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled the ferry could not resume service while the state conducts an environmental impact assessment. Two days later Superferry CEO John Garibaldi announced that the company would lay off 249 employees. Fifty-nine workers remained on the job to handle administrative and operational duties. The maritime community was disturbed by the loss of jobs for U.S. mariners.
met with the leaders of the Hawaii State Legislature to propose a special legislative session to allow the ferry to operate while the state completed an environmental impact assessment. Senate and House leaders agreed. Governor Lingle called the Legislature into special session on October 24, 2007. In preparation for the session, legislators made trips to Kauai, Maui
, and The Big Island to get reactions. On Kauai, the meeting was calm, but on Maui the meeting was more emotionally charged.
On Monday October 29, 2007 the State Senate approved a bill to allow "large capacity ferry vessels" to operate between ports in the Hawaiian Islands while an environmental statement is prepared.
The House passed the bill on October 31 on a vote of 39-11. Governor Lingle signed the bill into law on November 6, 2007.
and possibly start a state-run ferry service. However the bill was killed two months later. The revival was resurfaced in July 2010 when former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann
introduced a "10-point action plan to boost the state's economy if he is elected governor." Hannemann said that he is in talks with a group of investors who are interested in buying both Alakai and Huakai.
On March 21, 2011, the Hawaii State senate committee approved a planned proposal to establish a state-run ferry authority with the power to borrow money and purchase a high-speed ferry for interisland service. House Bill 1239, introduced by state Rep. Joe Souki of Maui, would set up the Hawaii State Ferry System and a special fund for its operation. However, there were mixed reaction as to how it will be structured and to how it will be run.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
-based transportation company that provided passenger and vehicle transportation between Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...
on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and Kahului Harbor on Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. Legal issues over environmental impact statements
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
and protests from residents of Maui and Kauai temporarily delayed the implementation of service, but service between Oahu and Maui began in December 2007. The company had hoped to return service to Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
and additionally planned to eventually provide service to Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
.
Ferry operations were suspended in March, 2009 after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a state law allowing the Superferry to operate without a complete environmental impact statement was unconstitutional. The company has left the possibility of returning to service open if the state does an EIS and approves future voyages. In the meantime, they will be investigating other possible uses for the Alakai
Alakai
The Alakai is a vessel currently owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration. It was originally the Hawaii Superferry's first high-speed ferry...
. On July 2, 2009 a Delaware Bankruptcy Court granted the company's motion to abandon both the Alakai and Huakai, ending all possibilities that the company might return to Hawaii; the ships were bought by the US Maritime Administration in 2010, and the US Navy has expressed interest in buying them from MARAD.Both vessels, now in the possession of the U.S. Maritime Administration, are docked in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and are in transit to Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, for "insurance considerations".
Vessels
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
with drive-on / drive-off vehicle capability or fast ferry service. It is designed and built in the United States by Austal USA
Austal USA
Austal USA is the American branch of operations for Australia-based shipbuilder Austal. The facility is based in Mobile, Alabama and employs more than 1000 workers with expansions currently underway.-History:...
, a division of Australia-based shipbuilder Austal
Austal
Austal is an Australian company that specializes in the design and construction of aluminium vessels. Its main products include passenger and freight ferries, luxury yachts and military vessels....
. The vessel is powered by MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909...
engines using waterjet
Pump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
propulsion
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
which the company claimed will minimize impact to marine mammals (but opponents disputed this statement). It is capable of transporting up to 866 passengers and 282 subcompact cars.
The first ship, the Alakai
Alakai
The Alakai is a vessel currently owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration. It was originally the Hawaii Superferry's first high-speed ferry...
, arrived in Honolulu Harbor on June 30, 2007. The second ship, the Huakai
Huakai
Huakai was Hawaii Superferry's second vessel. The ship was completed in September 2008 and was intended to start service in May 2009, but the ship never entered service in Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, huakai means "journey".-Vessel:...
, was scheduled for completion in 2009, but due to the economic slowdown and state court ruling halting service, the Huakai was put on hold and was later abandoned along with Alakai.
History
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
s between the major islands in the mid-1970s.
Currently there is passenger ferry service between Moloka'i and Maui, between Lana'i and Maui. Neither of these takes vehicles.
The concept of the Superferry was founded in 2001 and first announced by founders Timothy Dick, John Garibaldi, and Robert "Terry" White in September 2003 after more than two years of planning. Hawaii Superferry stated its plans to operate a daily service between the newly built interisland ferry terminal at Pier 19 in Honolulu Harbor to Kahului on Maui and Nawiliwili on Kauai, with later expansion of service to Kawaihae near Kona on the Big Island. The company claimed fares for a family trip to be similar to the equivalent airfare, car rental, and parking.
In January 2004, the company formed a partnership with Austal
Austal
Austal is an Australian company that specializes in the design and construction of aluminium vessels. Its main products include passenger and freight ferries, luxury yachts and military vessels....
to build two high-speed catamarans. Construction on the first ship began in June 2004. Meanwhile, the company secured its first investors, including Maui Land & Pineapple Company
Maui Land & Pineapple Company
Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. is a land holding and operating company founded in 1909 and based in Maui, Hawaii, United States. It owns approximately on the island of Maui. It develops, sells, and manages residential, resort, commercial and industrial real estate; and operates retail, golf...
and Grove Farm
Grove Farm
Grove Farm is a 36.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset, notified in 1989.This site comprises an extensive area of unimproved mesotrophic grassland, a habitat which is now uncommon in Britain....
on Kauai.
and a MARAD loan guarantee of $140 million
Controversy
Generally, the issues surrounding the Hawaii Superferry can be summarized as follows:• Procedural concerns. The Hawai'i State Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Lingle illegally exempted the Hawaii Superferry from an EIS and later ruled that the special law exempting it was unconstitutional.
• Environmental concerns. These can generally be divided into concerns for marine life (primarily due to the speed of travel, which critics cited as unnecessarily high and dangerous to whales, dolphins, turtles and other animals) and concern for the environmental impacts threatened by the virtually unrestricted interisland transport of vehicles, particularly by O'ahu residents engaged in recreational activities. Interisland introduction of invasive species is a specific concern.
• Depletion of natural resources. This is a related concern particularly felt by Maui and Kaua'i residents who are concerned about people from O'ahu taking large quantities of rocks, 'opihi, and other natural resources for O'ahu use.
• Militarization. It is pointed out that the Superferry's CEO, John F. Lehman, is a former U.S. Navy secretary whose expertise is in the acquisition of private endeavors with military applications, and that the Superferry is designed to be able to transport military equipment and vehicles, including Stryker
Stryker
The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled, 4-wheel-drive , armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army. The vehicle is named for two American servicemen who posthumously received the Medal of Honor:...
combat vehicles.
•Traffic Congestion. Due to the size of the state and lack of roads and other improvements on the outer islands, traffic expanding to these areas is a concern.
Inaugural voyage
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled on August 23, 2007 that the state Department of TransportationHawaii Department of Transportation
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is a state government organization which oversees transportation in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The agency is divided into three divisions dealing with aviation, maritime, and roads.-Airports Division:...
had erred in not requiring an environmental impact assessment
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
for harbor improvements at Kahului Harbor, reversing an earlier ruling in 2005 by Maui Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza. Superferry then announced that it would accelerate its launch to August 26, 2007, two days earlier than its originally scheduled launch date.
Service began with inaugural $5 fares. The inaugural voyages were sold out. The voyage to Maui was smooth and uneventful with a few environmental protesters observing peacefully at Kahului Harbor. However, about a dozen protesters on surfboards blockaded the ferry at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai. The Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
cleared the ferry's path after 90 minutes. Upon docking, protesters confronted passengers, including Kauai residents, and some vandalized cars. Several protesters were arrested.
Suspension of service
On August 27, 2007, Judge Cardoza issued a temporary restraining order barring the Superferry from accessing Kahului Harbor, causing Maui service to be suspended. Meanwhile, the Superferry was forced to turn back from its second trip to Kauai after protestors again blockaded the Nawiliwili Harbor resulting in several more arrests. Superferry passengers were forced to remain onboard for 9 hours, while Kauai residents were denied the ability to board the ferry. The company subsequently suspended services to Kauai.The protesters' concerns were that a ferry of this size traveling at speeds of about 40 mi/h could strike and kill whales during its voyages. Other concerns included the potential to import invasive species between islands, and the potential to bring drugs and homeless people to Kauai.
In a meeting with State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa on September 14, 2007, the company stated that it may have to find another home for the ferry in order to pay operating expenses, repay debt, and provide return on the investments made. Describing their meeting, Hanabusa commented that they would have staying power for "a month—outside, a month and a half." Superferry officials, while declining to elaborate, did not dispute this.
On October 9, 2007 Maui Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled the ferry could not resume service while the state conducts an environmental impact assessment. Two days later Superferry CEO John Garibaldi announced that the company would lay off 249 employees. Fifty-nine workers remained on the job to handle administrative and operational duties. The maritime community was disturbed by the loss of jobs for U.S. mariners.
Special legislative session
In mid October 2007, Governor Linda LingleLinda Lingle
Linda Lingle was the sixth Governor of Hawaii. Lingle holds a number of distinctions: first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F...
met with the leaders of the Hawaii State Legislature to propose a special legislative session to allow the ferry to operate while the state completed an environmental impact assessment. Senate and House leaders agreed. Governor Lingle called the Legislature into special session on October 24, 2007. In preparation for the session, legislators made trips to Kauai, Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, and The Big Island to get reactions. On Kauai, the meeting was calm, but on Maui the meeting was more emotionally charged.
On Monday October 29, 2007 the State Senate approved a bill to allow "large capacity ferry vessels" to operate between ports in the Hawaiian Islands while an environmental statement is prepared.
The House passed the bill on October 31 on a vote of 39-11. Governor Lingle signed the bill into law on November 6, 2007.
Restarting service
On Wednesday November 14, 2007, Maui Court Judge Cardoza lifted the injunction banning the ferry from sailing to Kahului Harbor consistent with the new law. Hawaii Superferry's CEO John Garibaldi released this statement: "On behalf of Hawaii Superferry's family of employees, we are pleased with the judge's decision today. We are grateful for the support shown by the governor, legislature, and residents of Hawaii and look forward to commencing service soon." Superferry restarted service on December 14 beginning daily round trip voyages to Maui.Re-suspension of service
In December 2008, environmental groups and the company returned to court for an appeal of the previous ruling. On March 16, 2009 the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that allowing the Superferry to operate prior to completion of the environmental study was unconstitutional. The company immediately suspended service and laid off its 236 employees.Bankruptcy
On May 30, 2009, two months after suspending service, Hawaii Superferry filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The company would then abandon the vessels ending all possibilities to return service.Revival Attempts
On February 8, 2010 it was announced that state lawmakers have introduced the bill that would buy or lease both the Alakai and Huakaiand possibly start a state-run ferry service. However the bill was killed two months later. The revival was resurfaced in July 2010 when former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann
Mufi Hannemann
Muliufi Francis "Mufi" Hannemann is an American politician. He is the former Mayor of Honolulu. Hannemann has served as a special assistant in Washington, D.C., with the Department of the Interior, where he was selected for a White House fellowship in the Reagan administration under Vice President...
introduced a "10-point action plan to boost the state's economy if he is elected governor." Hannemann said that he is in talks with a group of investors who are interested in buying both Alakai and Huakai.
On March 21, 2011, the Hawaii State senate committee approved a planned proposal to establish a state-run ferry authority with the power to borrow money and purchase a high-speed ferry for interisland service. House Bill 1239, introduced by state Rep. Joe Souki of Maui, would set up the Hawaii State Ferry System and a special fund for its operation. However, there were mixed reaction as to how it will be structured and to how it will be run.
External links
- Hawaii SuperFerry official website
- "Will It Float?" Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine, Vol. 11 No. 4 July 2007
- Hawaii Superferry opposition mounts, USA Today
- Hawaii Superferry Sails into Honolulu, KGMB9 news
- Austal website