At long last, Hawaii may be on the brink of reshaping interisland travel. Maui is advancing plans for a publicly owned ferry system to connect its neighboring islands better. At the same time, the controversial yet promising airline-funded initiative featuring high-speed, all-electric Seagliders has gone largely silent for nearly a year, fueling speculation about its future. Here’s what we know so far.
Maui County’s public ferry initiative.
Maui County is actively pursuing a publicly run ferry to connect Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. This effort gained traction when the existing ferry, Expeditions, between Maui and Lanai was listed for sale.
A publicly operated ferry system would address transportation challenges for residents and visitors and open the door to federal funding for harbor infrastructure upgrades and operational support. Plans could include improvements at Lahaina Harbor and other key locations.
Despite growing momentum, significant hurdles remain. Maui County is exploring interim options, such as purchasing Expeditions or leasing vessels to meet immediate needs, though specifics have yet to be determined. The service would include building two custom ferries, which is expected to take up to five years.
Reviving interisland travel for remote Molokai and Lanai.
Molokai relied on ferry service for decades to connect with Maui, but that ended in 2016 due to declining ridership, financial losses, and regulatory challenges. Residents have long pushed for its return, citing the high costs and unpredictability of flights as barriers to essential travel. Current airfare is around $200 round-trip while the ferry would be considerably less.
Lanai’s current ferry, operated by Expeditions, runs three round trips daily between Maui and Lanai. However, its future remains uncertain following the Lahaina fires, which forced its relocation to Maalaea Harbor. Maui County’s interest in taking over the service underscores the ferry’s vital role in supporting Lanai residents with access to groceries, medical care, and education.
Hawaii seaglider initiative: progress stalled?
Initially announced with great fanfare, the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative promised to revolutionize interisland travel with zero-emission, high-speed vessels capable of reaching speeds of 180 mph. Plans included a fleet of 12-passenger electric seagliders operated by Mokulele Airlines, with proposed fares as low as $30.
However, the initiative has not provided significant updates since early 2024. The last announcement highlighted partnerships with Southwest Airlines and other organizations, but progress appears to have stalled. This lack of communication raises questions about whether environmental, technical, regulatory, or financial hurdles hold the ambitious project back.
Ferry environmental and economic impacts.
Both the proposed interisland ferry and Seaglider projects bring new opportunities and challenges. A publicly operated ferry could reduce the environmental footprint compared to short-haul flights by polluting less and offering a more energy-efficient travel option.
Similarly, the Seaglider promises zero-emission travel and aligns with Hawaii’s push toward sustainability, but questions linger over its energy sources, operational reliability, and potential unintended consequences, including potential impacts on ocean wildlife, the Hawaii dock ecosystems, and the long-term overall feasibility of such a service.
On the economic front, both initiatives could provide cost-effective alternatives for residents traveling for work, education, pleasure, or medical care while attracting visitors looking for more accessible interisland adventures without flights. Yet, funding challenges, ongoing operational costs, and the need for federal and local subsidies could also impact their viability.
What’s next for Hawaii interisland travel?
Both initiatives—Maui County’s public ferry plans and the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative—could dramatically alter interisland travel. While Maui County’s efforts seem more immediate and grounded in reality, the Seaglider offered an innovative vision for sustainable and affordable transportation.
For now, residents and visitors are left to wonder which, if either, of these projects will come to fruition. With federal funding opportunities and growing community demand, the need for change in Hawaii’s interisland travel remains urgent.
What do you think—will one of these solutions finally transform interisland travel, or will Hawaii be left waiting even longer for a breakthrough?
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Why don’t some of you enterprising media personnel dig up the records from several years( maybe over 20about the special ferry Hawaii had a shipyard down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast build and traveled to one or more of the islands over there. I believe a political fix was already in and the “powers that be “decided against it then and wasted all those millions? Any of you natives remember that?
My thoughts:
1. I don’t believe that any of the above will happen during my lifetime.
2. The Super-Ferry was great, but killed by Hawaii’s Supreme Court, after relentless lawsuits by various “environmental” groups, including whale-watching tour companies, and others.
3. Maui to Lanai or Molokai typical boat trips are extremely rough, especially in winter months, due to very rough seas … and then that’s the same time as whale migrations.
4. Expect non-stop litigation against all other inter-island regular (scheduled) boat shuttles.
5. I’m all for them. Good Luck.
Superferry 2.0????
How is this SeaGlider different?
Rob
The sea glider travels at low altitudes above the ocean.
Are these ferries going to be designed to handle the rough channels and can it be more comfortable for passengers? That’s always been a challenge – less so to Lanai, but always to Molokai.
A public ferry system would be great starting with this, but it feels like there are too many hurdles of all kinds to overcome and I wonder if they can succeed.
If the county takes over, will it really ever be affordable for residents, or will it end up costing more in some ways including taxes, or just turn into a debacle? Count me as skeptical too.
The seagliders sound futuristic. Will they ever get off the ground—or water, in this case. I’m not sure they even should!
I used to take the Molokai ferry every week, and it was such a reliable solid option. I really hope they bring it back soon!
The super ferry wad the best thing we had until politicians got involved .the people lost a vital transportation that was reliable
Super Ferry’s looking better and better isn’t it?
Best Regards
Contrary to your remarks that Hawaii Seaglider has stalled, Regent Craft Seagliders has started building its first full size Viceroy 12 passenger prototype for testing and U.S. Coast Guard certification. Sea trials will start in 2025. Regent Craft started as an idea. They had to find investor’s, start a company, find a manufacturing site, hire staff, find subassembly partners, design the 12 passenger model, test proof of concept. Now they are testing full size prototype.
As I’m planning a first time Hawaii trip for 2025, I could not find anything other than Pride of America that travels to the various islands. A ferry system would be great, but understand the environmental challenges. I’d rather not take a cruise but it seems there are no other options over water.
Florida has a bridge from Florida to the Florida Key Islands. This is getting old so just build a bridge. If not a bridge above the water make a floating bridge just like the one across the sound at Bremerton Washington. No boats, Ferry, or airline needed. Solve the problem instead of just going in circles.
But going “in circles” is Hawaii’s MO!!!
Hawaii is not the Florida Keys. The Keys are spread across a very shallow shelf of water. The Hawaiian Islands are separated by deep channels with extremely strong currents. Neither structural nor floating bridges are feasible. The Kaiwi channel between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi is 26 miles wide and 2,300 feet deep. The ʻAlenuihāhā channel between Maui and the Big Island is 30 miles wide and 6,100 feet deep.