Surfrider Foundation, Kaua’i Chapter, said there were a number of reasons why people opposed the Superferry. They included: • Ship speeds over 15 knots are considered dangerous to whales. The ferry was a huge ship that could reach speeds of
Surfrider Foundation, Kaua’i Chapter, said there were a number of reasons why people opposed the Superferry.
They included:
• Ship speeds over 15 knots are considered dangerous to whales. The ferry was a huge ship that could reach speeds of 45 knots. A ship strike on a 45-ton humpback whale would mean instant death to the endangered species.
• The ferry held hundreds of cars which would dump out vehicles in Lihue in a massive traffic jam. Due to the boom in tourism at the time, traffic was at an all-time high.
• There was no plan to protect the island from hitch-hiking invasive plants and animals.
• There was a fear that people from Oahu would come to fish, gather, surf, etc., without having camping permits or accommodations, perhaps sleeping in their automobiles.
• There was widespread belief that the boom in tourism at the time was no longer healthy for the Kauai economy and that it had reached its limit.
•••
The Garden Island
