Superferry announces second trip to Maui

MAUI NEWS
Saturday, January 05, 2008
The Maui News staff

HONOLULU – 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.

The Alakai’s second round trip is scheduled to begin Jan. 16. It will operate Sunday through Friday, leaving Honolulu at 3:15 p.m. and sailing into Kahului at 7 p.m. The ferry would then sail out of Kahului at 8 p.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 11 p.m.

“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.

The Superferry’s first trip of the day remains the same. It would depart Honolulu at 6:30 a.m., arriving in Kahului at 10:15 a.m. Then, it would leave Kahului at 11:15 a.m., pulling into its berth at Honolulu Harbor at 2:15 p.m.

Unless Maui travelers stayed on Oahu only an hour and returned to the Valley Isle, they would need to spend the night and return the next day, Chun pointed out.

“It’s clear the Superferry doesn’t have any passengers, and they’re trying to find their passenger base by changing their times,” she said.

John Garibaldi, president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Superferry, said the additional round trip would be more convenient for travelers.

“A second voyage to Maui will benefit our customers who want the convenience of having an afternoon voyage,” Garibaldi said. “The second voyage will also greatly benefit our commercial customers, giving them more flexibility in reaching their markets. The additional Maui service was originally planned to begin when the second vessel was placed into service in early 2009.”

Ferry officials also announced that promotional $39 one-way passenger fares and $55 one-way passenger vehicle fares have been extended for travel through June 5, provided tickets are purchased by March 31.

In a written statement Friday, Mayor Charmaine Tavares said she was “very disappointed” by the announcement of a second ferry round trip. She said the decision was made “without consulting county officials and members of our community.”

“Since the Superferry’s first arrival less than a month ago, it continues to be a contentious matter for many in our community,” Tavares said. “Just weeks ago, I received a commitment from Mr. Garibaldi that the company would extend its efforts to work with us, however their announcement comes as a surprise.”

Irene Bowie, executive director of Maui Tomorrow, said the addition of a second round trip would effectively double the ferry’s impact on Maui.

“That is a really great concern,” she said. “What happens with the two (whale) spotters on the bow of the boat as far as collisions with humpback whales after dark?”

Maui Tomorrow was one of three groups to successfully challenge the ferry’s lack of environmental review in state courts. Bowie said she’s also concerned that no traffic studies have been done by the Superferry to gauge the impact arrival of passengers and their vehicles from two daily visits by the ferry.

Terry O’Halloran, Hawaii Superferry’s director of business development, maintained there has not been ferry-related Kahului traffic congestion with the ferry’s daily arrival at 10:15 a.m., and he expected that would be the same with the ferry’s second arrival on Maui at 7 p.m.

“There shouldn’t be any problems with traffic,” he said.

Tavares said county officials had no information suggesting that the state Department of Transportation has been in compliance with an order issued two months ago by 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August to complete a study of ferry traffic impacts and how to mitigate them. The mayor said that on Feb. 25 county attorneys will be back in court to review the ferry’s compliance with August’s traffic impact and mitigation order.

“The traffic study was deemed necessary for the one daily trip by the Superferry to Kahului Harbor, and now there are two daily trips – and still no study to comply with Judge August’s ruling,” Tavares said.

When given a chance Friday night to comment on Tavares’ remarks, O’Halloran said: “We’re in compliance with our obligations to the state and to the county. We’re really providing an additional benefit to the residents of Maui with convenient second-day service,” he said.

O’Halloran said the second voyage is a “good opportunity for Maui residents.”

“It’s a great weekend schedule,” he said, adding the Valley Isle residents could leave on Friday and return Sunday evening.

On the question of night voyages for the Superferry and the higher risk of collisions with whales, O’Halloran said the ferry officials will abide by the state law and governor’s executive order allowing the vessel to operate and travel in areas not generally frequented by whales.

“We go on the north shore of Molokai where whale densities are less,” he said. “We will follow whale-avoidance policy.” Also, he said, “we do have night-vision scopes and night-vision equipment for whale lookouts,” O’Halloran said. “I think they will be effective.”

Bowie maintained that night-vision goggles don’t work effectively at speeds greater than 15 knots.

Hawaii Superferry has yet to restore its service to Kauai, where protesters blocked the ferry’s entrance to Nawiliwili Harbor when service began in late August.

“Providing service to Kauai is very important to us. We recognize and appreciate the strong support from many in the community,” Garibaldi said. “We’ve decided, however, to initiate a second voyage to Maui sooner in order to allow more time in which to work with the community on Kauai to ensure a safe and successful resumption of service.”

He said the Superferry’s business model is dependent on running two trips per day.