The Superferry
Few stories have created as much "stir" in the Islands as the Hawaii Superferry. In fact, it is a real contender for the story of the year. After a 4 month delay, the Superferry resumed service to Maui last Thursday but now finds itself facing another court challenge. The latest challenge is from Maui Tomorrow on the constitutionality of the Hawaiian legislation's Special Session that neutralized the Superferry from it's last Hawaii Supreme Court defeat.
Whether you are for or against the Superferry, it has provided interesting insights of the Hawaiian Islands and the diverse people who live here. Few projects have elicited such strong reactions from so many different interests groups on the Islands and the story continues to be both uniting and divisive simultaneously. Environmentalist, individual Islands, business, the travel and tourist industry, locals and native Hawaiians have all found this to be an issue that has struck some of their core beliefs.
The Superferry has been on the drawing boards for years and is intended to provide an interisland connection for people and vehicles. Before the Superferry, airlines and shipping companies were the only alternatives to move yourself and your possessions around the Islands. The first of 2 planned ferries, the Alakai, is planned to provide service from Oahu to Maui and Kauai. Ultimately, there is a 2nd ferry scheduled to go into service which will then expand the available ports to the Big Island also. The cost of passage from their published rates make the cost relative to the cost of the airlines published rates. The big addition ... and controversy is the additional ability to take your vehicle with you for an additional charge.
There have been promotional fees offered by the ferry since it's scheduled service was started and then abruptly stopped due to the courts. Concurrently, there has been a raging price war between the airlines with the introduction of a new carrier, Go Airlines, so between the ferry and the airline price wars, it has never been a better time to Island hop. If that is something you've thought of doing, keep your eyes open and you might find some incredible deals out there. Examples to date are $5.00 one way ferry tickets and $7.00 one way airline tickets. Hmmm, fly to Kauai from Oahu for a fun day or get a hamburger.... now there is one choice I think most people can agree on.
For more information on the Superferry and Airline specials, try the Oahu links on the home page.
Whether you are for or against the Superferry, it has provided interesting insights of the Hawaiian Islands and the diverse people who live here. Few projects have elicited such strong reactions from so many different interests groups on the Islands and the story continues to be both uniting and divisive simultaneously. Environmentalist, individual Islands, business, the travel and tourist industry, locals and native Hawaiians have all found this to be an issue that has struck some of their core beliefs.
The Superferry has been on the drawing boards for years and is intended to provide an interisland connection for people and vehicles. Before the Superferry, airlines and shipping companies were the only alternatives to move yourself and your possessions around the Islands. The first of 2 planned ferries, the Alakai, is planned to provide service from Oahu to Maui and Kauai. Ultimately, there is a 2nd ferry scheduled to go into service which will then expand the available ports to the Big Island also. The cost of passage from their published rates make the cost relative to the cost of the airlines published rates. The big addition ... and controversy is the additional ability to take your vehicle with you for an additional charge.
There have been promotional fees offered by the ferry since it's scheduled service was started and then abruptly stopped due to the courts. Concurrently, there has been a raging price war between the airlines with the introduction of a new carrier, Go Airlines, so between the ferry and the airline price wars, it has never been a better time to Island hop. If that is something you've thought of doing, keep your eyes open and you might find some incredible deals out there. Examples to date are $5.00 one way ferry tickets and $7.00 one way airline tickets. Hmmm, fly to Kauai from Oahu for a fun day or get a hamburger.... now there is one choice I think most people can agree on.
For more information on the Superferry and Airline specials, try the Oahu links on the home page.
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