Company officials also talked about an alternative in which passengers could be ferried from Maui on smaller boats. But no final plans or conclusions were reached, according to those who attended the meeting at Kulana 'Oiwi in Kalama'ula.

"I liked what happened," said Walter Ritte Jr., a leader of Hui Ho'o-pakela 'Aina, a group that with the environmental law firm Earthjustice filed the lawsuit against the cruise lines last year in an effort to block the cruise stops. "It sends a clear signal that if you’re going to do business on Moloka'i, you’re going to have to go through a community process first."

Isaac Moriwake, an attorney with Earthjustice, said the meeting represented a new beginning and brought a measure of healing for residents and officials with Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, the companies that had added Moloka'i to its list of Ha-wai'i ports of call.

The two cruise lines faced fervent opposition from some Moloka'i residents who were opposed to their port calls. The opponents cited environmental concerns and disruption to the small community of 7,300 residents.

Others on the island and in the tourism industry saw cruise visits as an economic opportunity with the influx of thousands of visitors.

After failed attempts to stop at the island, the cruise lines decided earlier this year to cancel their plans for cruise visits.

Tom Dow, spokesman for Princess Cruises, described last night’s gathering as a friendly discussion but noted that no conclusions had been reached. He said the companies apologized for causing the controversy.

Meanwhile, the suit asking for an environmental review before the cruise lines stop at Moloka'i is still pending. A judge dismissed the cruise lines from the case, and Earthjustice appealed the dismissal. The state remains a defendant in the case.