Save the Hawaii Superferry

The Hawaii Superferry needs your help. A bill and several lawsuits are pending which will force Hawaii Superferry to do an environmental impact statement (EIS) long after the courts ruled that none was required. Fact is Superferry already did their own study and it is available at their website.

Hawaii Superferry will offer the inter-island traveling public with another option of travel. Many residents and businesses want the Superferry to happen. I think Hawaii Superferry is a great idea and offers us the option of moving our vehicles between the islands. It may even be a hedge against higher airfares as the base price for individual travel on Hawaii Superferry has been announced at $42. That is competitive against air fare prices of $79 or more that Aloha and Hawaiian Airlines wish they could charge. Thank goodness Mesa / Go is in the inter-island airline marketplace.

Despite all of this, there are politicians, "environmental whackos" and several businesses within the transportation and shipping industries that oppose the Hawaii Superferry. Legislation was introduced this year to force Hawaii Superferry to do an EIS even though the courts say they don't have to. All the other shipping, transportation and airline companies including cruise ship lines do not and never had to do an EIS. Why is the Superferry singled out?

Has to be political. The effort to sink Hawaii Superferry using fear tactics pushed by the environmental whackos, the "hidden" transportation industry types (Aloha Airlines, Young Brothers, Matson) and a handful of Hawaii State Senators may come to a head tomorrow if the State Senate passes SB 1276 to require the EIS. The politicians leading the charge to sink Superferry include State Senators Roz Baker, Shan S. Tsutsui, J. Kalani English, Gary Hooser and Russell Kokubun. Several others may vote the same way as them if the bill makes it to the Senate floor tomorrow.

Now is the time for Hawaii Superferry supporters to take action. Call, fax and email your legislators. Tell them to vote "No" on SB 1276. Concentrate on the Senators today. The House has tabled efforts to thwart the Superferry. The bad bill is only happening in the Senate tomorrow. If it passes then it goes to the House.

Save the Superferry. Stop SB 1276.

Additional Links:

• Hawaii Superferry Website
• Clear Channel's Chuck Cotton's editorial (MP3)
• Hawaii Superferry Environmental Commitments & Actions
• Senate Bill 1276
• Opponents Attempt to Stop Superferry, Honolulu Star Bulletin
• Email Hawaii State Senators: sens@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Hawaii Superferry Discussion @ HawaiiThreads.com
• Spirit of Ontario Visit to Hawaii, April 2004
• Who Wants to Kill the Superferry
• Hawaii Superferry Photos

Photo: Hawaii Superferry, Inc.