As Maui County’s three islands inch closer to a revived long-dreamed public interisland ferry system, one major obstacle among others threatens to sink the plan before it sets sail: Lahaina Harbor. The harbor remains closed nearly two years after the devastating fire, putting the county’s ambitious proposal in limbo.
A newly released feasibility study details a path forward for the county to purchase vessels from the current provider Expeditions and contract out operations. The county would continue serving Lanai, and later expand to Molokai. It’s the most detailed effort in years. Whether or not the ferry launches depends on both funding and political will.
And so far, the harbor remains untouched.
Maui’s ferry proposal takes shape.
The county’s $300,000 privately performed feasibility study outlines a 10-year plan that would generate over $68 million in fare revenue, compared to $87 million in expected operating costs. That leaves Maui County needing to subsidize nearly $2 million per year—a relatively modest figure compared to many public transit systems, especially given the geographic isolation and social need.
The projected $46 million capital investment covers vessel acquisition, design of two new boats for the Molokai route, upgrades to an existing vessel, and other operational infrastructure. It does not include the $25 to $30 million needed to rebuild Lahaina Harbor—a separate project not yet underway.
If the council moves forward, Maui could purchase Expeditions’ three existing vessels and launch an expanded system by contracting out daily service. Lanai routes could begin as soon as 2026. Molokai service would take longer—three to five years—due to the need for sturdier boats and permitting requirements.
The ferry could also benefit Hawaii visitors looking for a scenic, water-based alternative to interisland flights. More frequent, reliable service between Maui, Lanai, and Molokai could support day trips and regional exploration. But only if all proposed routes—especially Lahaina—become operational.
Lahaina Harbor remains a missing link.
The county’s ferry proposal includes Maalaea and Lahaina Harbors as departure points to Lanai and Molokai. But Lahaina’s harbor, destroyed in the 2023 wildfire, remains closed and unrepaired. Until restoration is complete, any ferry plan will be restricted to Maalaea.
The impact of this delay isn’t hypothetical. Readers expressed outrage over the harbor’s continued closure in a previous Beat of Hawaii article. One commenter, Keahi H, wrote, “The state has not even started rebuilding the most prolific harbor in the state.” Franklin M added, “The harbor should be viewed the same as a road that people use every day.”
Others questioned the state’s priorities. “People’s lives and businesses depend on this,” one reader said. “Stop the bureaucratic games.”
For now, West Maui visitors and residents must rely on Maalaea, a less convenient location for ferry access.
Residents have long pushed for a ferry alternative.
Calls for expanded ferry service are nothing new. Lawsuits, environmental opposition, and regulatory blocks derailed previous efforts, including the Superferry. But frustration has grown as airline service—particularly from Mokulele—fails to meet community needs.
Beat of Hawaii readers have made their feelings clear in comments. David O wrote, “No self-respecting state or county would allow an airline… to be the only means for transportation.” Jessica B added, “I used to take the Molokai ferry every week. It was such a reliable solid option.”
Lanai councilmember Gabe Johnson has led the current push. “I’ve got to say we’re the closest we’ve ever been to the county owning a ferry,” he said.
Under the current proposal, ferry service to Lanai could begin relatively soon. The Lahaina route, however, is expected to be at least three to five years away.
Environmental and logistical hurdles remain.
Environmental concerns remain a sticking point. Whale migration patterns, risks from invasive species, and rough channel conditions all affect feasibility. Past ferry projects were challenged over fears of whale strikes and species transfers between islands.
Mitigation strategies, such as mandatory vessel speed limits during whale season and hull-cleaning protocols, are expected to be part of the plan. However, these measures add complexity and cost.
Logistics are another factor. Residents on Lanai and Molokai have requested morning and afternoon runs to support work, school, and medical travel. In Lahaina, some residents have voiced concerns about whether ferry traffic should return to a community still in recovery.
Skepticism lingers about cost and execution.
Despite the momentum, many remain unconvinced. Some question whether subsidies will keep fares affordable or if taxpayers will bear the brunt of a limited service. Others worry about vessel reliability in rough waters, particularly in the challenging Pailolo Channel to Molokai.
In a previous article, one reader asked, “Will it really ever be affordable for residents, or will it just turn into a debacle?” Another wondered if comfort had been considered: “Are these ferries going to be designed to handle the rough channels, and can they be more comfortable for passengers?”
Still, Johnson and others believe that county ownership opens the door to federal funding and ensures service prioritizes need over profit.
What this means for Hawaii visitors.
A revived ferry system could offer travelers an enticing alternative to interisland flights. Scenic routes between Maui and Lanai have long been popular, and expansion to Molokai could support deeper exploration of Hawaii’s lesser-visited islands.
But access remains a challenge. Without Lahaina Harbor, visitors staying in Ka’anapali or Napili face a long drive to Maalaea to board the ferry—something that has already deterred some from booking water excursions.
One reader noted, “We used to take a dinner cruise from Lahaina. Now it runs from Maalaea, and we’ve stopped booking it altogether.”
Looking ahead.
The Maui County Council is expected to begin budget talks in April. Mayor Richard Bissen’s budget proposal, due March 25, will likely include funding for the ferry system. Councilmember Johnson has also spoken with Hawaii’s congressional delegation about unlocking federal subsidies once the county acquires the vessels.
But without Lahaina Harbor in operation, a significant piece of the plan will remain stalled. While optimism grows, so does pressure—from residents, travelers, and those weary of years of transportation failures.
Whether this plan will float depends on Lahaina Harbor’s recovery and the county’s ability to navigate logistical and political challenges. For now, the dream of a reliable ferry system remains just that—a dream. But with growing pressure from residents and visitors alike, the tide may yet turn.
We welcome your comments. Mahalo!
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All that money sunk into the Honolulu rail debacle and nothing done about inter Island ferry service. Incredible.
Exactly, and no one will ever be held accountable. Remember that California did the same thing with their rail and I think it even cost them more money. But they didn’t even build anything. I wonder if California and Hawaii have something in common? Oh, wait… 😂
Bring back Da Superferry… It’s the only cost effective way to get around the islands. As airline fares spiral out of reach for your average Hawaii resident, sooner or later the opposition to it will be unable to overcome the voter’s threat to unseat politicians for continuing to allow a wealthy minority to dictate quality of life issues to the other 90% of Hawaii’s population…
Best Regards
I’m a 78 year old native and remember taking the ferry to Lanai with friends to golf lunch and returning. Do any of you remembers those fun staff that came over from Molokai daily to work at the Pioneer Inn?
Now no harbor and no ferry! I don’t expect to live to see the day when I can do weekend trips to Molokai again.
Today we have way too much infighting, political posturing and local protest shenanigans to get anything done. Lahaina rebuild will take years due to ineptitude. Not rebuilding the harbor is inexcusable. 100 businesses and hundreds of jobs lost revenue to Maui county.
Really quite pathetic.
What about the Regent Seaglider planes? Mokulele was planning to acquire several and they would be cheaper to operate than ferries, take less time to cross, and present a much lower risk to whales and the local ecology. They are not yet ready for public use, but prototypes have been flying for a couple of years, so actual deployment could be just as fast as for ferries.
Aloha Bernard, I am happy to hear there is someone else supporting the seaglider by Regent. I am very impressed by that company (not associated in any way, although I wish I was) and would love to “glide” from Maui to Molokai. They should probably start in summer when the whales are gone, but didn’t feel like the existing ferry to and from Lanai did anything to protect them …also see motor boats from my lanai speeding towards the whales and we heard stories about whales getting entangled in fishernets. Anyway, love the idea of the seaglider in Hawaii.
Aloha Eva,
Coincidentally, Regent just started testing their 12-seater Viceroy prototype, which seems pretty complete. And Hawaiian Airlines has (had? not sure what Alaska Airlines will do) a contract with Regent to purchase some number of their larger Monarch model, which won’t be out for another couple of years. Regent has strong backing from Gulf states, so should not suffer from lack of funding.
So we may well have a chance for interisland travel aboard electric seagliders in 3-4yrs!
I think Mokulele was one of the airlines buying into it. I assume Alaska could use this as well …The sooner the better, especially in Maui.
We have been going to Maui since 1981. Maui is the only island we go to…It’s sad that lahaina is no longer there but in years to come they will rebuild the town again…
It would be great to have a ferry boat to take tourists to other islands instead of flying to other islands…
Still hoping they will consider the seaglider by Regent.
The pathetic Maui county offcials actions is just beyond belief. Have done nothing for 2 years. Interesting, where did all the money go given to Maui for clean up and restoration?
Raises probably for them all………..
Why is the Harbor sitting for 2 years when it is as important as a any.road that people drive on the Island of Maui?…………
Stop the stupid excuses and care about all the people on the west side who need the harbor to make a living………….
Want to wake up these lazy county offcials.?………..
Tell them their roads to work and computers are no longer accessible because we turned off electricity and the roads are closed to focus on taking care of Lahaina. …. So sorry,your salaries will be frozen until you show full transparency and start taken care of the people on the west side and open the harbor………..
Stop the excuses…….
This is written in the way people feel on the Wesr Side.
Highlights concerns over the environment, but not other more substantial issues, eg:
1. Privately-owned meant there’d be big pressures to keep to schedule (eg. no slowing down if coming across a pod of whales); this could be an improvement.
2. Other matters involved extraction, or more pressure on island-specific supply: solveable, but should be addressed up-front. Think running out of milk at the store, or that time trucks were stopped with illegal moss rock for Oahu walls.
3) Each taxpayer in the state has to pony up a few hundred bucks to make this happen ? At least offer a free ride or two to residents. Although, Mr. Ellison can find that much in his sofa cushions, and would benefit greatly. Maybe a tax break or something in return to sweeten the deal ? esp. as Federal subsidies seem more unlikely by the day.
Well, I wonder who’s ‘Brother-in-Law’ got that $300K “study” contract on how to fix things at Lahaina? It never ceases to amaze me how much these “studies” cost, and how long they take, and nothing gets done. Lahaina Harbor needs to be dredged to clean out the debris and sunken craft, to open it up for a return to commercial operations. Why, after Two Years has this not even Started?! Is Maui gov’t still ‘studying’ the idea? This ‘banana republic’ county gov’t is unbelievable in its ineptness and disorganization. But have not fear, folks. The locals will keep these twits in office, because they are ‘their twits’, so you know you can trust them to do what’s right, eventually. No affordable housing for the ‘working classes’, no rebuild of the Lahaina area, the harbor still a mess and unusable, what is the county gov’t doing other than going to lunch on your tax money, folks???
No state would allow an airline to be the only means of transportation?..
Apparently you’ve never heard of Alaska.
How many habited areas are only accessible by air?
Well, if you don’t count those with one barge service a year after the icebreaker comes.
The Navy has a ship sitting at Pearl. It is the exact same type of ship as the old Superferry. They plan to scrap it unless someone finds a need for it. When you drive the H1, you can look towards Middle Loch and see it sitting there, just doing nothing, like it has for (I believe) five years. They do maintenance on it to keep it floating, and that is about it. Takes cars and people, has airline style seating and even sleeping areas.
Maybe see if the Navy would not mind unloading it and taking the burden off their hands.
So there are no surfers holding hands and the worry about hitting whales this time? The environmental impact that stopped it before has just gone away now? Makes perfect sense.
Oh, just wait till it gets closer to happening. Green Mafia never sleeps…