Hawaii Superferry is shutting down, moving their ship Alakai to another market and laying off its work force after the Hawaii State Supreme Court ruling on behalf of the Sierra Club and other environmental opponents, stated that a law passed by the Hawaii State Legislature in late 2007 is unconstitutional. Act 2 allowed Hawaii Superferry to operate in the islands while a required Environmental Impact Statement was assembled.
In a press conference held this morning, Superferry President Tom Fargo announced that the ship was leaving the island market. He stated that Alakai may be leased to a charter operation or to the military. While I thought he was going to announce the complete shutdown of Hawaii Superferry as a firm, he left a glimmer of hope that 1. the firm will remain in place and 2. they may return to the islands at a later date.
More than 200 employees are being laid off tomorrow (March 20) after the Superferry completes its last interisland trip to return vehicles back to their respective ports in Kahului Maui and Honolulu.
It is a sad state affairs for Hawaii's reputation as a place to do business. With the loss of the Superferry, the traveling public as well as many businesses will be losing a valuable and affordble travel and shipping options. Many businesses found that using the Hawaii Superferry was a viable option in which to deliver goods between Maui and Oahu at substantially lower prices and in a more timely fashion.
With the Superferry's departure, these firms will have to resort to more expensive air freight and barge options, the latter being much slower than the high speed ferry. The traveling public has certainly lost the opportunity to go between the islands taking their vehicles and stuffing them with many personal items without incurring the rath of extra baggage fees commonly imposed by the airlines.
I was lucky to take one trip on the ferry in late 2007 to and from Maui. Customer service was good and the crew on-board the ship were friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. The pace was bumpy going through the rough winter waters of December to Maui. The return trip was much more smooth and pleasant. Travel in the spring and summer months was mostly smooth for most passengers.
Superferry offered Hawaii travelers the most affordable option to see the islands from a different perspective... traveling the seas like how it was long ago, but in a faster, safer and modern vessel.
Superferry fares were comparable to the price of most interisland airfares. Superferry fares were often a few dollars less than the cheapest interisland airfare. The cost for taking a typical family car was around $55 to $70 each way, far less than what is charged to ship a car on a slow Young Brothers barge.
The Hawaii Superferry was a model corporate citizen and went beyond the requirements of the law to make sure no invasive species or illegal items were transported between the islands. They used the latest methods to avoid hitting whales or other marine life. Fact is in the 11 months Superferry was in operation, there were no whale strikes made by the ferry as feared by the environmental wackos. During the same period of time, a whale watching tour boat and research vessel did collide with a whale.
Bottom line is that the Supeferry's departure is a sad event for the State of Hawaii.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
- Statement from Superferry President, KGMB TV
- Superferry Supporters Launch Online Petition, KHON TV
- Superferry Seeking New Markets, Honolulu Advertiser, 3-18-09
- Hawaii Superferry Leaving Hawaii, HawaiiReporter.com, 3-18-09
Screen capture of Superferry President Tom Fargo at this morning's press conference. (KITV 4)
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