More troubles for Hawaii's Superferry

HONOLULU -- A dozen surfing protesters blocked the Hawaii Superferry from docking on its inaugural run from Oahu to Kauai with more than 500 passengers and crew Sunday evening, after a successful maiden voyage to Maui.

The four-deck, double-hulled Alakai carrying 500 passengers and 150 cars turned back from Lihue harbor to the cheers of several hundred protesters beating drums and shouting Hawaii chants along a sea wall, witnesses said. Its docking was prevented by protesters who paddled out to within a few yards of the ship off Kauai.

They were protesting the ferry's failure to obtain an environmental-impact report before launching Hawaii's first interisland ferry service.

Sunday's rushed voyages from Oahu to Maui and Kauai were moved up two days with radically discounted $5 fares after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled last week that the state should have required an environmental report and ferry opponents said they would go to a Maui court today to stop the service.

On the sailing to Maui, passengers browsed the gift shop, played cards and ordered breakfast while watching live NFL games on high-definition TVs.

Before Sunday, the only way to travel among the Hawaiian Islands was with highly competitive local airlines now engaged in a fare war.

Superferry sold out its first voyage in 30 minutes Saturday, offering $5 one-way fares for passengers and the same for cars. More than 400 of those aboard got right back on the Alakai for the voyage back to Honolulu.

The launch, originally set for Tuesday, was moved up after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that the state should have required an environmental review before the Superferry started service. Three environmental groups have sued, concerned that the vessel could collide with humpback whales, spread invasive species and create long traffic delays.

The environmentalists' attorney, Isaac Hall, said he would seek an injunction today to prevent the Superferry from doing business until environmental studies are completed. Environmental reviews are typically required of projects that use state money and land, such as harbors, and they can take months or years to complete.

Superferry supporters say it is being treated unfairly because other harbor users such as cruise ships didn't have to go through extensive environmental reviews.

More than 19,000 people have signed up to take advantage of the $5 fare through Sept. 5. After that, round trips to Maui or Kauai will cost more than $240 for one passenger and a car. A second ferry being built in Mobile, Ala., is scheduled to serve the Big Island starting in 2009.