THE GARDEN ISLAND Young Brothers inter-island barge service will help Hawaii Superferry customers return their vehicles to their home ports, Young Brothers Vice President for Strategic Planning and Government Affairs Roy Catalani said yesterday. Some “Alakai” passengers traveling with their
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Young Brothers inter-island barge service will help Hawaii Superferry customers return their vehicles to their home ports, Young Brothers Vice President for Strategic Planning and Government Affairs Roy Catalani said yesterday.
Some “Alakai” passengers traveling with their cars last week from O‘ahu to Maui and Kaua‘i became stranded after protests and a temporary restraining order forced Superferry officials to indefinitely halt operations.
“The Superferry and Young Brothers share the same concern, in that we don’t want people to have their vehicles stranded on neighbor islands,” Catalani said. “We’ll do what it takes to get those cars back.”
Further details of the arrangement remained unclear at press time, however, the arrangement was spawned after a barrage of people were still desperately trying to ship their automobiles.
“In the maritime industry, you don’t want to hesitate to ask for help and you want to be quick to respond,” Catalani said.
Young Brothers’ Nawiliwili barge makes trips from Honolulu to Kaua‘i on Tuesdays and Fridays. Should there be a higher demand, the company has another barge that can be used to transport vehicles, Catalani said.
In a related effort, Second Circuit Court Judge Joseph Cardoza on Friday amended his decision temporarily blocking Hawaii Superferry from Kahului Harbor.
The amended restraining order allows the Alakai to return to Maui on a single voyage to return customers and vehicles traveling aboard the Superferry Aug. 26 and Aug. 27 to “their home port of origin.”
Cardoza states that the Superferry shall provide 24 hours advance notice of the date and times of arrival and departure from Kahului Harbor.
Although the Alakai made two successful morning runs to Maui, it was delayed and thwarted on afternoon trips to Kaua‘i.
On Aug. 26, several hundred protesters on shore backed a few dozen surfers in the water who prevented the Superferry from docking at Nawiliwili Harbor for almost two hours.
On Aug. 27, more than 60 swimmers, surfers, kayakers and canoe paddlers formed a human blockade that forced the 350-foot catamaran to return to Honolulu without docking.
On Aug. 28, Superferry officials announced that service was indefinitely stopped until public safety authorities can assure safe passage.
Kaua‘i police have arrested at least 14 Kaua‘i adults and juveniles involved in the protests.
Superferry public relations Lori Abe said Friday evening that there were no plans for the vessel to travel to Kaua‘i over the weekend.
Service to Maui has been suspended until at least Thursday.
Both routes started Aug. 26.
