• A no vote moves the ferry forward A no vote moves the ferry forward The Hawaii Superferry is still afloat following a State Senate vote to hold a bill that would have required a lengthy environmental impact statement from
• A no vote moves the ferry forward
A no vote moves the ferry forward
The Hawaii Superferry is still afloat following a State Senate vote to hold a bill that would have required a lengthy environmental impact statement from the company behind the project.
Major shipping companies operating in Hawai‘i gave testimony for the EIS, including Horizon Lines. Horizon initially supported the measure, but now opposes it because the company could also possibly face a similar EIS if the measure was passed.
The Hawaii Superferry group plans to be in business in just under two years and needing to produce a lengthy EIS could have meant a lack of $200 million in funding needed to launch the operation. Still ahead is the construction of ferry facilities at Nawiliwili and other ports in Hawai‘i. Once in full operation, two ferries will go between the main Neighbor Islands and the Port of Honolulu.
Among those siding with the ferry company was the state Department of Transportation. The DOT’s testimony pointed out that requiring such an EIS “establishes a selective precedent that will adversely affect all maritime operators.” Apparently, the subject of a broad EIS for an ocean transport operation is something cruise lines and other newer inter-island maritime operations haven’t faced.
Letters supporting the ferry for Kaua‘i from a wide range of readers have been sent to The Garden Island. Not one letter has opposed the ferry, and the tone of the letters is one of distraught at the thought of losing what many see as a “dream come true.”
While there is a downside to opening up another avenue of transportation between Islands – including the potential for moving invasive species around, as well as possible illicit drug shipping and vehicles from other islands showing up more on other islands – the upside is much bigger. Freedom to move around Hawai‘i for a reasonable cost is a big desire. While we don’t have the freedom to drive between Islands, like Mainland residents do who travel from contiguous state to state, being able to ride aboard a ferry is big step forward for many. Alaskans have their ferry system, and it is very popular. We had something like a ferry system up to World War II when passage aboard inter-island steamers was curtailed due to war restrictions. During the war, Hawai‘i’s people became comfortable with air travel out of necessity. Now it’s time to go back to the future aboard the Hawaii Superferry.
