The controversy surrounding the Super Ferry is rediculous. The majority of people in Hawaii including those on Maui and Kauai want this service. You might note that the Super Ferry was full leaving Kauai and Maui too. It is always amazing to me that they only voices ever heard in the media are those of special interest groups and local businesses who do not welcome competition because it may affect their casual way of life and they may have to work a little harder. EIS study at Kahului Harbor, give me a break. There was already a Harbor and piers there !! I agree as far as the safety of marine life but I am sure the Super Ferry would install sonar to minimize the risk. They have been nothing but helpful and compliant to our local way of life and have treated the local people with much aloha. They have done everything asked of them and more. There was not an EIS because they were told that it wasn't needed. You can't go back after the fact and say now that you have already started your business and spent hundreds of millions of dollars you can't do business. It seems to me the conflict here should be between the environmentalists and the State of Hawaii, not the Super Ferry. As for the $5 fares what business doesn't run special promotions to get started with a bang. I didn't see any environmentalists protesting or complaining when Go did it. In fact even at $19 and $29 I see FULL planes leaving Maui and Kauai everyday. Kauai people have issues with the additonal people and cars coming in ? I seriously doubt a couple of hundred cars are going to have a major impact on Kauai.People will rent cars anyway if they don't bring their own. The only significant impact on Kauai is for the rental car companies and the airlines. I would be curious to know how much they are involved financially with this protest. The risk of introducing invasive species to Kauai is also rediculous. There is already of multitude of flights, barges and cruise ships coming in daily that include Kauai residents coming in from other islands. I would like to ask the people on Kauai that are protesting why they feel they should be able to visit our islands but we're not welcome on theirs. They do not mind spending the state tax dollars that projects like this generate. Why do you expect to spend tax money generated on other islands if your not contributing to the income ? There also should have been alot more people involvement on the protest in Kauai. They said they did not want to escalate a peaceful demonstration and people right of protest and free speech. It is peaceful and their right to pound on cars, flatten tires and threaten people ? Obviously none of the protesters or police officers and any family or freinds in those cars. I think maybe the people of Oahu should protest at the airport and attack the people coming off flights from Kauai and tell them they are not welcome here. I forget however that it is their right to visit here, we just aren't welcome on Kauai. This issue has made national news and we look ignorant to people across the country. The year is 2007 and you are not going to maintain or return to a past way of life. The world is going to evolve around you just as it has since the beginning of time.

Aloha Nui Loa. . .Was the previous comment by someone who lives on Maui? I seriously doubt it as I know of NO ONE living here that is willing to put up with traffic problems that have been unadressed, the need for complete eradication of possible transport of invasive species (have you ever had to listen to a nightful of coqui frogs chorusing?), a doubling of homeless population and probable increase of whale collisions and deaths? A complete denial by the Governor to enforce what would normally be a routine conducting of an Environmental Impact Statement required by law set this up for failure and many feel she should be held accountable for the loses incurred by the Alikai owners. Unfortunaely the shortsightedness of some simply looking for anothe form of entertainment and travel not necessarily faster or cheaper supports the needs of some, but certainly not the needs of the greater population of Hawaii Nei. please go online and look at results of an actual simulation of vehicle release into Maui streets and ask yourself why a traffic study done using police guidance created a traffic jam that laster for ore than three hours. People not welvme here or on Kauai? You must be joking??? We value the reasons that people come here and have no desire to become an Oahu with increased crime rates and an overabundance of shopping malls. Our beaches are for public enjoyment and are already often maxed out already at peak tourist seasons. We 'live aloha" here and intend to keep doing so. Hopefully the laws that were intended to protect us and the beautiful aina that we are honored enought o live on will do just that. Trying to pull a fast one in not in accordance with pono and I seriously doubt that the ancestors that are still alive in spirit will not do there part in implementing what is best for the people and land, not just those who are looking for more forms of entertainment. These words are sent respectfully and will hopefully share with some that there is another side to this story. 'Nuf sed!' Mahalo pumehana for providing this forum.

i completely agree with "jvivian"! to all you kauaians and mauians protesting against us oahu people from coming over there and overcrowding your aina, taking up all your precious surf spots, and causing all sorts of mayhem with our introduction of crimes and drugs....let me tell you something....you already got your crime and drugs. your island are filled with "chronics", just as bad as we are! you're just trying to use a stupid subject to justify your stupid reasons to keep your islands all to yourself. you talk about living aloha!? most of you bitching and moaning aren't even natives to this island, you dont even know what "aloha" truly means! and as a local born and raised in hawaii many generations over...i say go back to the mainland!! we don't need you raising commotions here!! just because you've lived in OUR islands for the past 5 years and have learned a couple of hawaiian words, DOESN'T make you HAWAIIAN!! so when you feel the need to go school shopping for your childrens clothes or maybe even for your louis and gucci bags or for furniture to fill your $1mil+ luxury homes overlooking golf courses...DONT COME TO OAHU!! stay in your little comfort zone of haoles that think you guys all of a sudden own our islands because you made a ton of money in stocks or some internet deal and can afford to command the prices of our real estate!! but better yet....take your greedy souls BACK to the mainland and live your "aloha" there!!

I for one want to be able to travel between islands in comfort. this Super Ferry will allow those of us with ohana on other islands to visit with out the expense of a plane ticket and a rental car. I am disabled and have to take quite a bit of equipment with me so I do not travel, I am excited about the Ferry because it would allow me to visit family. I feel that Young Brothers and Matson are conspiring with the environmentalist to stop the Ferry. Please stop the propaganda about invasive species, Young brothers sends cars and other crates over daily with no regulations or inspections.

Other places in the world have ferries to transport cars and people across short waterways, so I just don't understand the animosity directed at the Superferry. Outer-islanders who are angry about traffic should understand that the Superferry could actually be good for them too. THEY can bring THEIR cars over to Oahu to visit THEIR ohana. It's not only the other way around. Delightful article. Great pics

The intention of many has not been to stop the project but to proceed once an Environmental Impact Statement as required by law has been completed. The benefits to many can then be appreciated and enjoyed by all. If laws cannot be implemented when needed most of what use are they?

I still do not feel that an EIS was needed or required by law. You are adding ONE ferry where there are already MANY boats,ships and barges sailing into the harbor. You inproved ONE pier where one ALREADY existed. You are NOT going to ADD that much traffic since the people bringing their cars most likely would have RENTED one anyway. You are NOT going to add any invasive species as you already ship cargo into the islands, including cars on Young Brothers.There will be no more risk to marine life than there already is. Do you think a fishing vessel or other boat deadheading it in from a trip sail across the ocean and into the harbors at a slow speed ? As for the traffic and the roads on Maui FIX them,change traffic patterns, traffic lights and get rid of those funky y-intersections you have all over the place.I have also heard,however I can't validate, that the state has offered to add lanes and widen the roads on Kauai.The people and traffic are already there, it needs to be done anyway.Who CARES if the military uses it in the future. Would you rather have an aircraft carrier or a military ship sailing into your island ? If they wanted to bring in strykers to the island the would just FLY them in anyway. It still seems to me the people MOST impacted by the ferry are the airlines,shipping, rental car companies and taxi drivers.I wonder how many people involved in these industries are in your protest group. The ferry is offering no more than conveinient travel to local people, increased competition and something for the special interest groups to spend their time on.Get a life, get off the surfboard and get a job.Maybe you you can get a job on the Super Ferry, according to their employees they are an AWESOME employer.They aren't even bringing in any revenue and they are still employing and PAYING their 300 employees who are our freinds and Ohana.The Super Ferry is willing to complete an EIS that they were told they did NOT have to do.They just want to operate and generate income while they complete it. That sure doesn't sound like a big bad monster to me.I've had freinds that work for locally owned companies and industries that lay people off after a couple weeks of bad business. If the Super Ferry gets shafted,I for one am going to lobby with the groups that will be calling for an EIS from the shipping companies,cruise ships,airlines and fishing vessels. How will the economies on Kauai and Maui be affected then ? I have heard many people say that the big bad mainland company will lose millions of dollars if they are pushed out and that is the issue. The money they will be losing will be YOURS not theirs. The Super Ferry loans were guaranteed with OUR tax dollars. Further more if you wanted to block the Super Ferry you should have made your efforts two years ago not the day they started business. Who is the big bad monster, them or you ?

Aloha. I agree with jvivian, angrylocal, wheelchairuser, and jf01. Why didn't protesters protest the superferry before it went into play? They think that people from outer Islands going take their handicap stalls, prime parking, waves, come on now. Isn't everyone suppose to "have da aloha spirit"? There is no Aloha to me if they complain about stuff like this. Tourist do it everyday and they not local. The tourist support our economy by buying stuff from us as would people from outer islands. They worry about people moving there but HELLO!!! People are moving to their Islands everyday. They not local but protesters are not protesting about that are they? You cannot stop anyone from living on your aina. You get the kala, you can live here. If protesters are so worried about the enviromental assesment and ban the Superferry until the assesment's done, then it should be only fair that you should ban ALL barge shipments AND commercial cruiseliners until such an assesment can be done. These ships to me would probably do more enviromental damage then the Superferry. What about our disabled ohana. You know how much time and money they can save by taking their own vehicle. But think of it this way, the money they save can be turned around to spend more on your aina. More money that goes back into your community. When their finished they can just get back on the boat and go home. People need to stop looking at all the negatives and have a more positive outlook on what the Superferry has to offer to ALL OF OUR AINA.

Aloha.I completely agree with jvivian, jf01, wheelchairuser, and ANGRYLOCAL and I am a Haole...It realy pissed me off when I picked up the newspaper and there was a haole lady with a sign that said Stupid Ferry, Stupid people riding it...Now does that sound like aloha to you? It baffles be that these two Islands want to come and visit there friends and relatives and play here but it can't be vise versa and then the argument they put forth is that it is environmental or traffic problems or lack of parking and surf spots, give me a break... Try living on Oahu and you will know what real problems are... Like the many statements before mine, we are not bringing anything to your Islands that is not already being brought there...We here on the Island of Oahu really appreciate your so called Aloha spirit...I think what is being forgotten here is that those people riding the Ferry are the Local people of Oahu and not Tourists, we have friends and families on these two islands and we should feel comfortable riding the Ferry or whatever ways of transportation gets us there without being subjected to insults and attacks against us or our vehicles...Listen, we love your islands just as much as you do and we don't want to see any harm come to ocean life or create any negative environmental impact but don't you think it should be a two way street?

The Ferry will not be providing any services to kauai next year. Let the free market revolve. Does anyone think ferry readership will support future Kauai crossings!? Does anyoen think the ferry cargo transport to Kauai will be economically feasible?? There must be a master plan we dont see as there are so many impediments to the profitability of this ferry venture. Is it just a trail ballon, using the Molakia channel as a proving ground, and Hawaiian Islands as a tax writeoff? Sure would like to see their break-even point (ridership/cargo containers needed) to meet operating costs.

Spanky,Spanky,Spanky, "Do you work for the Airlines or Young Brothers" ? I do agree with you that we should let the free market evolve and the vast majority of the free market wants the Super Ferry service. I do think ridership will support the Ferry. I think it is important for everyone to note that the Ferry was booked solid with Kauai people coming to Oahu too. The perception being projected to the public is no one on Kauai wants the Super Ferry,quite obviously there is a good number of Kauai residents that do.Cargo transport is the most economically feasible aspect of the whole project. Local businesses can load their delivery vans with product,drive off the ferry and deliver to their outer island customers for a "fraction" of the cost to ship via Young Brothers.It eliminates delivery of their product to the port,shipping (which can take a week by the time it is available on the other end)and paying for another trucking company to pick up the product and deliver it to their customer.They also don't need a proving ground. Ferry service is proven to work not just in the United States but throughout other countries around the globe. People have stated that the Ferry in Seattle does not make money and is subsidized by tax dollars which is true. However the Ferry in Seattle is part of public transportation and is not a for profit business. The fares are MUCH lower than the Super Ferry which is a for profit business.The public Bus systems on all of the islands are subsidized by tax dollars too.The major investors in the Super Ferry are Hedge Funds and Investment Banks. They invest to MAKE money not lose money for tax write offs.They save taxes on re-investment of their profits in other ventures much like you would sell your home and then buy another one to avoid the taxes on your capital gains. No company builds a fund to billions of dollars by losing money anywhere. I am sure they analyzed their esimated ridership and costs very well when deriving the fare base for passengers and vehicles. Although there are big expenses involved in the operation of the Ferry it is much cheaper for them to operate than the airlines.They set the fares to cover operating costs and than add surcharges to cover uncontrollable expenses like increases in fuel costs, adding as much as 30% to the base fare. One should also note that the fares aren't cheap. It costs more to take the ferry than it does to fly and rent a car unless you are going to stay somewhere for about a week. Even then it is because you are saving money on the rental car not the fare to get there. You are going to lose your tax dollars when the Ferry leaves the Islands because it is too hard to do business and the government has to cover the $140 million on the loan guarantee when the company defaults on their loan. I have lived my entire life in the islands. I love my home,family and all of the residents of this great state, however once again it looks like ignorance will prevail.

Hawaiians have gone from Iland to Iland for hundreds of years,We should not be stoped because of a handfull who live here for a year or two and think "there" paradise is being ruined and thay have the right to change anything.Go back to the last Paradise you left a mess and stay there!

I support jvivian's comments!! I live on the big island and if the people of Kauai and Maui don't want Super Ferry...come on down further to Hilo! After viewing the "friendly protesters" pounding on passengers cars, dummies on surfboards trying to stop it, RUN"NUM OVER!! I would say 25% of the protesters were present due to "eh, we go follow...going get action!" Hey, we would love to travel to the outer islands take our keiki's to the zoo, waterpark, shopping, restaurants on the ferry! We'd love to take all our ohana to Kauai for our reunion...what's a better way to go by packing up all our ukana, coolers filled with fish and smoke meat and just throw'um in our cars and drive'um on the ferry and when we reach there, drive'um off and go to aunty's house! We would certainly save money via Super Ferry! Comon' people wake up, it's time to move on! No one grumbling about the barges and cruise lines that are spilling fuel, opala in the ocean and who knows what! Mahalo.

I do support most of the comments here but we live on Kauai and we want the Super Ferry too! We welcome the ease of travel, options to take our car etc. We priced the crossing from my wife, myself and our car at about $280 roundtrip. A good price overall but I do not think the criminals and homeless will take take the ferry when they can fly GO! for $39. As for criminals,with homeland security rules, a car full of stereo equipment may catch their attention at the dock or their picture on security cameras. I hope this can be all worked out soon as we want the travel option, the open competition for us on small islands to help from poor service continuing etc. SO, save the whales and the Super Ferry too!