Hawaii Superferry

Feasibility of a Hawaii Island Ferry

A Hawaii Island ferry system is back in the news. Will there ever be an alternative to Hawaiian Airlines when traveling inter-island, or is it a moot point. With the seemingly short distances between islands, locals and visitors often wonder aloud about this. Furthermore, Hawaii is reliant on air service for transportation in a way that is unprecedented in the US.

A new State of Hawaii study says there will be no ferry service in the future. Here’s some of the reasons why.

1. Costs for the ferry and its required infrastructure are too great. It is likely that the state would need to subsidize its operation. Lesson learned – not a good idea.

2. Inadequate space exists at piers to accommodate such a new ferry system.

3. No real interest in such a system exists. In fact there have been 70+ ferry feasibility studies done in the past half century.

4. A ferry system could not operate with lower fares than airlines.

Latest Hawaii Island Ferry Study

1. Both inter-island and intra-island (Oahu) services were studied.

2. More than $100 million in additional state infrastructure improvements would be required.

3. Environmental issues including invasive species remain an ongoing concern that would need to be addressed.

4. The federal government would need to approve of any such service.

5. Vessel cost would be very high. Federal laws require such a ferry to be built domestically.

What caused the failure of the past SuperFerry?

Hawaii Superferry

First, two SuperFerries were built, but only one entered service. The operation began in 2007 and ceased in March 2009 due to a final legal blow from the Hawaii Supreme Court. Thereafter, SuperFerry filed for bankruptcy and the ships were returned to lenders.

The two Hawaii Superferry catamarans, Huakai and Alakai, cost approximately $90 million each to build, but were finally sold at an action for $25 million each. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration ultimately purchased both ships. They were moved to Norfolk, Virginia.

Hawaii is still paying off tens of millions in debt associated with SuperFerry. Additionally, barges and other equipment the state acquired for SuperFerry cost nearly $40 million and were sold were sold for about 1% of their cost.

Rough Hawaiian ocean conditions in winter resulted in significant sea sickness and many SuperFerry service cancellations. Transit times were longer than desirable. The 866 passenger, 282 car SuperFerry was fuel inefficient and required use of expensive barges and tug boat assistance.

Prior to it’s fail, we wrote: “SuperFerry is likely to cease operations. They have too high cost, too few riders, a rough winter ocean ahead, and an upcoming decision about a complete environmental impact study, among other problems.”

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the SuperFerry exemption from an environmental impact study was unconstitutional.  Cut-throat competition fueled by the airlines, together with poor economic conditions at the time, were among good reasons the SuperFerry called it quits.

Did you ride the Hawaii SuperFerry between 2007 and 2009? Let us know your experience in the comment section below.

22 thoughts on “Feasibility of a Hawaii Island Ferry”

  1. Bring it back we need it so sad because of young brothers and Hawaiian air paying people to protest and make a uprising just like maunakea sad nothing better to do but make trouble and in the end we all loose why are we so easy to take sides and rise up without listening equally to both side before we start yelling and chanting Is it for us so we can be recognized because we want to be heard because we are the little guy I guess so but who looses us the little guys in the end because the big guy pushed us in the way they wanted the get what they want and we think we made a difference yeah we did ?

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  2. Aloha I’m from the big island Hawaii that I call home. It’s really sad to see such a great service we could of have in are hands.Go to waste! The state should have ok the permit for five years put gambling on boat an lottery let that pay for rail in the big city oahu. Bring the taxes back down

    But Strip clubs get the only 🙄k come on.

    Where’s the Different options for people of hawaii to visit what nature has in store for people of Hawaii an the hawaiians to gain from like seeing family an friends with there own wheels.

    It’s sad people call Las Vegas the 9th island..come on Hawaii have some lets have some class you imagine how many people from Hawaii go to Las Vegas to spend money all that could be right here in our island ,schools, police an people of Hawaii an the many thing transportion is key in any community..Come on hawaii lets bring it back!!

  3. I took one of the last super ferry trips in 2007. It was incredible. Large lounge seats. Comfortable walking space. Awesome to watch the waves go by. One of the BEST travel decisions I have made. The ship was full. Crew said it was always full despite the reports. I wish I could do it again.

  4. I’ll be visiting Big Island from the UK in 2019 and have been researching travel options.

    It seems odd and very much a shame that there are no ferry services between the islands. After so much flying to just get to Hawaii it would have been nice to travel a different way and I for one would certainly pay a premium over the flight cost to do so. I suppose the problem is that too few people think that way.

    In Scotland there are numerous islands that are linked by ferries and some that also have air services. The ferries are quite heavily subsidised by the Scottish government, as a public service to the remote communities.

  5. If the Super Ferry had been allowed to run its course and proved successful we would have achieved more economic integration state wide. Travel between islands for stays longer than 2 days would have been lower allowing greater freedom of movement for business and pleasure. There would be a brisk RV purchase and rental system which (along with the lower cost of moving vehicles and personal goods) would be presently in action helping with the slow rolling volcanic disaster on the Big Island. Which is the final point we have NO integrated means of transporting people and their own vehicles/goods, particularly in emergency situations, as is common throughout the world.

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  6. Aloha,

    I love beatofhawaii.com! I can’t believe how
    many questions you answer, it is so kind of you!

    I recently joined my husband in retirement, so we plan to spend more time in Hawaii! We are so lucky! We will be traveling with our daughter, who is disabled, so nonstop flights are best.

    We will be going Seattle to Maui 11/15, then to Honolulu on 1/4/19, then back to Seattle 1/18/19. Hawaiian Air is currently right around $800 for the flights. I tried Alaska and Delta, but I didn’t really like their times nor prices. Do you think prices will go down at all?

    Thank you so much, I apprecite your help!

    – Lanell

    1. Hi Lanell.

      Thank you! Yes there are a lot of questions and answers on Beat of Hawaii. Actually tens of thousands of comments already.

      Your 11/15 and 1/18 flight dates should yield good prices – in the range of $400 RT. A couple of thoughts. First, you might need to buy two one way fares, since generally (not always) round trips are set to only yield best prices if completed within 60 days. November flights might be optimally priced in summer and January flights in fall. That is very speculative and there are variables that could change that. Stay tuned but don’t panic.

      Aloha.

  7. The ferrys around Seattle, to all of the islands, including to Vancouver Island, are considered part of the Federal Highway System. Using Federal Highway monies and support.
    Could that be a possible solution to the ferrys in Hawai’i?
    Using commercial leased wharfs, as suggested by another reader, is an excellent suggestion.

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