Hawaii Superferry faces waves in court

Environmental groups sought court intervention Monday to ground the first passenger-vehicle ferry service among the Hawaiian Islands.

The groups submitted a motion for a preliminary injunction and requested a temporary restraining order to halt the Hawaii Superferry from using Maui's Kahului harbor until an environmental assessment is conducted.

The Superferry made two sold-out trips Sunday, two days ahead of schedule, after the state Supreme Court ruled last week that the state should have required an environmental assessment before the ferry launched. State transportation officials, noting that the court didn't explicitly say the ship couldn't run, allowed the service to start.

An attorney representing three environmental groups, Isaac Hall, said state law clearly says that a project cannot be launched and state land cannot be used until an environmental assessment is being prepared.

"I'm hoping the judge will agree with us," Hall said. "I don't think operating for one day or two days in absolute bad faith should give anybody a leg up at all."

Hawaii Superferry Inc. officials said they were preparing a response to the court filings.

The environmentalists argue that the ferry's plan to ply 400 miles of Hawaii waters each day endangers whales, threatens to spread invasive species and will worsen traffic and pollution.

Superferry officials have said the ship's water jet propulsion system means there are no exposed propellers to strike aquatic animals.

Before Sunday, the only way to travel among the islands where an estimated 1.3 million people live and tens of thousands of tourists arrive each day was by the local airlines.

The $95 million ship is built to carry more than 800 passengers and 200 cars. After Sept. 5, the fares will go up significantly: Round trips from Honolulu to Maui or Kauai, with taxes and a fuel surcharge, will cost more than $240 for one passenger and a car.

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On the Net:

Hawaii Superferry: http://hawaiisuperferry.com/