I found myself fortunate enough spend 28 days in Hawaii this past summer. Most of those days were spent on Kauai, but I also visited Oahu and the Big Island. It would have been very convenient to use the super ferry rather than fly between the islands. I even saw the ferry in person, docked in Honolulu.
Having the ferry would have provided needed competition to the airlines.
However, most of the charm of Kauai is that it is a polar opposite of Oahu. It is remote, secluded, and natural. Honolulu is crowded, noisy, and full of large, tall buildings.
The impact of cars on Kauai would be significant. There is only one road that connects the cities, and for the most part it is only one lane in each direction. The superferry would be introducing a high number of automobiles onto already overcrowded roads. Without bringing cars, the superferry would simply be another plane, and I think would be subject to much less opposition.
The people who choose to live on Kauai did so for many reasons, but a common reason for all seems to be the remote-ness.
While I find that I would have utilized the ferry service, I also recognize what the local citizens are trying to preserve.
While the environmental impacts may never be known, the one certainty is that Kauai (and probably maui) would become a very different place with the superferry.

I found myself fortunate enough spend 28 days in Hawaii this past summer. Most of those days were spent on Kauai, but I also visited Oahu and the Big Island. It would have been very convenient to use the super ferry rather than fly between the islands. I even saw the ferry in person, docked in Honolulu.
Having the ferry would have provided needed competition to the airlines.
However, most of the charm of Kauai is that it is a polar opposite of Oahu. It is remote, secluded, and natural. Honolulu is crowded, noisy, and full of large, tall buildings.
The impact of cars on Kauai would be significant. There is only one road that connects the cities, and for the most part it is only one lane in each direction. The superferry would be introducing a high number of automobiles onto already overcrowded roads. Without bringing cars, the superferry would simply be another plane, and I think would be subject to much less opposition.
The people who choose to live on Kauai did so for many reasons, but a common reason for all seems to be the remote-ness.
While I find that I would have utilized the ferry service, I also recognize what the local citizens are trying to preserve.
While the environmental impacts may never be known, the one certainty is that Kauai (and probably maui) would become a very different place with the superferry.

But it does strike me that Hawaiian Superferry’s management might have missed the proverbial boat in not anticipating and planning for this outcome and making sure their significant investments and employees were protected.