The Hawaii Superferry will be a classy new way to travel inter-island. Residents and business users will be able to travel to another island bringing their own vehicle with them. This new inter-island travel option allows passengers to bring their vehicles with them for a weekend getaway, or for a longer time on another island. The big plus is that passengers will be able to load their vehicles up with all of their personal belongings or goods (in the case of businesses) and take them along for the trip.
Hawaii Superferry starts passenger service sometime after September 5. The vessel called The Alakai will undergo Coast Guard certification over the next few weeks. It is expected to get its okay soon after.
Service will initially be offered between Honolulu, Lihue Kauai and Kahului Maui. Service to the Big Island of Hawaii will commence sometime in 2009 after another vessel is built.
Needless to say a lot of people are excited about the new travel option the Superferry will offer. Businesses are eager to test out a new way to deliver goods; transfer tools, gear and personnel between islands. Sports teams will probably have an affordable option in which they will be able to move an entire busload of kids and equipment with them and also bring the bus! Families are figuring out how to maximize the capacity of their vehicles when traveling between islands. The possibilities are probably endless and the days of "traveling light" may be over!
Certainly the Superferry will not be perfect. I am sure there will be some growing pains for the firm as they get adjusted to the marketplace. The public may also have to adjust to higher than normal discount air fare prices when using the Superferry. The nagging 30% fuel surcharge will be a concern for more than the seriously budget minded.
However the sailing experience will be new and I am sure many people will give the ferry a try. Plus the fact that people will be able to travel with their vehicle may justify some of the higher cost. We'll see.
Whatever happens, I am sure the travel experience will be interesting, certainly scenic and perhaps less hectic than flying the local airlines.
This weekend Hawaii Superferry offered limited public previews of the vessel. I was lucky enough to get onboard today (July 13). I took a lot of photos all of which can be accessed at this link:
Top Photo: The main deck dining area of the Hawaii Superferry. All photos by Mel.
The forward section of the Alakai will offer panoramic views of the Hawaiian islands.
The Hawaii Superferry docked at its home port at Honolulu Harbor's Pier 19.
The second floor vehicle ramp.
Airline style tourist class seating.
Access to the bridge of the vessel is not allowed due to new security measures set in place by the Federal Government. I assume the bridge looks quite similar to this vessel that sailed into Honolulu in 2004: BRIDGE OF THE SPIRIT OF ONTARIO
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Anyone planning to check out the Superferry today will want to note that going through the vessel will take about an hour, maybe even less if you don't stop and talk to anyone. The only areas open to the public will be the vehicle parking decks and the main passenger cabin. The bridge and the engine room will be off limits. One of the people with Superferry told me that Federal rules prohibit viewing on the bridge due to security reasons. A couple of the areas like the media and game arcade are just empty rooms. The Superferry undergoes Coast Guard certification starting this coming Thursday. The vessel will actually be taken out for the first time since its arrival to HNL earlier this month.
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