Kaua‘i resident Richard Dolbeare said he “weighed the risks” before boarding the Superferry to O‘ahu Sunday, but he certainly didn’t expect to still be stranded in Waikiki. “I realized it was a possibility, because I knew it was before the
Kaua‘i resident Richard Dolbeare said he “weighed the risks” before boarding the Superferry to O‘ahu Sunday, but he certainly didn’t expect to still be stranded in Waikiki.
“I realized it was a possibility, because I knew it was before the courts,” he said. “If I didn’t have my car, I’d be on a flight,” he said.
Kaua‘i trips were suspended indefinitely Tuesday after protests in Nawiliwili Harbor and communications from Coast Guard officials that it could not assure a safe voyage.
Protesters in the water Monday night effectively turned the Alakai away from Nawiliwili Harbor.
Last week, Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled that the state needed to conduct an environmental impact study, which hundreds of protesters said they wanted done before the vessel’s launch.
Dolbeare said that despite the protests on-island, he opted to go anyway.
But what seemed initially like a fairly inexpensive sojourn — Dolbeare said he paid $10 to cover his travel cost and that of his car, taxes and fees included — has since morphed into the stressfully unknown.
“I’ve sent (Superferry customer service) multiple e-mails,” he said. “I’ve called — there’s been no response.”
At press time, the return phone call still hadn’t happened.
Lori Abe, Superferry spokeswoman, said she didn’t know the circumstances surrounding Dolbeare’s situation.
“As far as I know, we’re taking care of everyone,” she said. “Hotels, flights, food.”
Abe added she would need to inquire with Terry O’Halloran before giving a more specific answer, and offered to pass along the query to her supervisor.
Phone calls made by The Garden Island to Superferry Director of Business Development Terry O’Halloran were not returned yesterday.
“I was hoping the Superferry would be a good thing,” Dolbeare said. “I’m very disappointed that now that there’s a problem, they’ve left their customers in the dark.”
Meanwhile, a flurry of fare deals popped up for the land-bound Hawaii Superferry, including rain checks on $5 tickets, refunds and expense reimbursements for stranded passengers.
Superferry officials announced people who bought $5 promotional tickets on canceled interisland voyages may redeem them on another trip for up to a year.
Passengers who were unable to make return trips after the Superferry suspended service were told to book a coach flight home and to submit receipts for reimbursement “for any reasonable expenses,” including a night’s hotel stay and meals up to $25 per day.
The Superferry will provide five passes for future voyages to passengers whose travel was disrupted by the cancellations.
In addition, a partnership with Hawaiian Airlines will give ferry customers discounted $19 airfares on interisland flights through Oct. 31. Aloha Airlines quickly matched the $19 fare Tuesday, and go! airlines has offered ticketed Superferry passengers half-price trips.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.
