Superferry Opponents Boo Hawaii Governor

By JAYMES SONG

LIHUE, Hawaii – Opponents of the first passenger-vehicle ferry between major Hawaiian Islands greeted Gov. Linda Lingle with boos and interruptions as she tried to sell the project to residents of Kauai.

Despite the angry reception Thursday, the Republican governor said the Hawaii Superferry would resume service between Oahu and Kauai next Wednesday under Coast Guard protection.

Residents, many of whom oppose the ferry on environmental grounds, packed the 1,000-seat Kauai War Memorial convention hall. They shouted down Lingle, the state transportation director and a Coast Guard official as they tried to discuss the resumption of the service.

“We are not going to allow this to happen,” ferry opponent Robert Pa said to a chorus of cheers. “The first whale that’s killed, I’m going to drag it to (Kauai Mayor) Bryan Baptiste’s office.”

The officials warned the crowd about state and federal penalties for disrupting the ferry, which offers the only alternative to air travel.

“I do believe it’s a great option and I support it,” said Lingle, who kept her composure despite being called a liar and a lawbreaker.

Among the relatively few supporters at the meeting were about 30 Superferry employees, 10 percent of its island work force.

Ferry service was stopped three weeks ago by waterborne protesters in Kauai’s Nawiliwili Harbor and by a court order on Maui. The ferry is built to carry more than 850 passengers and 250 vehicles daily.

Opponents fear increased traffic problems, disruption of water recreation, the spread of invasive species and increased drug trafficking.

Just days before service was to start, the state Supreme Court ruled that an environmental assessment should have been conducted. A request is pending in lower courts to halt the ferry while the assessment is done, which could take months.

Asked why an extensive environmental impact study was not conducted, Lingle responded that Superferry has a legal right to use the harbors and that a bill to require an environmental statement died in the state House of Representatives.

“We’re not here to make a decision on when the Superferry comes in because we’ve already made that decision,” Lingle said.

Several people criticized the Coast Guard’s plan to safeguard the ship and the use of the military to police the protesters.

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On the Net:

http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/

http://www.boycottsuperferry.org/