It seems fitting that when the troubled Hawaii Superferry finally resumes regular service from O'ahu to Maui at 6:30 a.m. today, the wind is predicted to be blowing at 37 mph and seas to be running 10 feet.

"The conditions are going to be rough out there," said forecaster Henry Lau of the National Weather Service.

Small-craft advisories were issued for the Ka'iwi and Pailolo channels that the ferry will likely sail through, Lau said. "The Ka'iwi Channel will have 10-foot combined wind and sea waves, and the Pailolo — that's going to be rough, too."

Conditions have been rough for the Superferry operation since it arrived in Hawai'i. The day after it started service in August, the ferry was banned by a Maui court over concerns about the potential environmental impact. In October the company laid off 249 of its 308 employees after saying it was losing $650,000 per week. When it finally got clearance to operate in November, its scheduled relaunch was twice delayed by bad weather.

Today will be the ferry's first regularly scheduled service in nearly four months.

The Hawaii Superferry's 349-foot ship, the Alakai, designed to carry 866 passengers and 282 vehicles between islands, has been a magnet for controversy.

Once the Alakai arrives today at Maui's Kahului Harbor, federal, state and local law enforcement officers and agents will enforce a security zone around the ship. The zone is designed to keep out protesting surfers and paddlers like those in the flotilla that kept the Alakai from docking in Kaua'i's Nawiliwili Harbor in August, prompting Superferry officials to indefinitely suspend service to that island.

The security zone is to be activated one hour before the Superferry arrives and stay in place 10 minutes after it departs.

"The people of Maui have been respectful of people's abilities to move about," said John Garibaldi, the Superferry president and CEO. "From what we've seen, everybody's going to be respectful of each other. I'm very, very optimistic. I have a great amount of faith in the people of our great state."

Irene Bowie, executive director of Maui Tomorrow, one of three groups that pushed for an environmental review before the ferry resumed operations, plans to protest peacefully today in the areas designated for demonstrators.

"I've heard that people will be there with signs," she said. "I'm not sure if people will be getting in the water."

Other protesters plan to drive around the harbor demonstrating the kind of heavy traffic predicted from Superferry operations as vehicles leave the Alakai and merge with Maui traffic, Bowie said.

"Everything I've heard about is organized," Bowie said, "people with banners and signs voicing their displeasure about how this thing came about and people in cars demonstrating the congestion that will be a normal part of life with the Superferry."

State officials said a "unified command" under the direction of the Coast Guard will include Coast Guardsmen, state sheriff's deputies, harbor police, Maui police and officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

They will be augmented by agents and officers from Honolulu, but Coast Guard Lt. John Titchen declined to detail exact manpower and tactics planned to deal with trespassers or illegal protesters.

"Unfortunately, we do not talk about Coast Guard operations," Titchen said. "It simply helps us with regards to remaining agile and flexible. We will have the right assets in place and will be able to respond very quickly if we need to."

JOINT SECURITY

Although state officials said the Coast Guard is in charge of the joint operation, Titchen said it is a "shared responsibility in which the Coast Guard has an oversight role of the water and port operations. But any law enforcement officer can take action.

"We are hopeful that we will not see any unlawful demonstrations on the water," Titchen said, "although we have to be prepared for the possibility that people will take to the water and protest unlawfully."

Although the Coast Guard will not publicize its tactics, it is required to have its plan available in case of a court challenge, Titchen said.

"It is an unusual situation for the Coast Guard," Titchen said. "We are responsible for homeland security, and crafting a security zone is not a new mission. But crafting a security zone for one vessel with all of these assets is unusual."

SMOOTHER AT SEA

Superferry officials are not warning passengers about potential protests, Garibaldi said.

"We're not putting out any formal communications," he said. "There's been very good coverage in the local media."

There's also been plenty of warning about the potential for rough seas.

Ed Enos, a veteran harbor pilot, said today's forecast of waves and winds is typical for Hawai'i winters. The Alakai is outfitted with a special ride control system to keep it stable through rough waters, he said.

"It (the forecast) sounds pretty awful," Enos said, "but it's fairly normal conditions that are to be expected. She may be a little bumpy and rolly when it leaves the harbor and enters the harbor. But once she gets up to speed, it shouldn't be that bad. When it's rougher conditions, as it will be (today), it will be a little on the bumpy side. Overall, it should be a comfortable ride."

Passengers are being warned to prepare for potential seasickness.

"We are getting into the winter season, so people should be cautious," Garibaldi said. "They're going to have a great time aboard. For the first time, we'll have full menu offerings of food and beverage. If it's beautiful blue skies, we'll have beautiful views of ... Moloka'i and Maui and even beautiful O'ahu: Waikiki, Diamond Head and Koko Head in the background. What a great way to start the day."

The Superferry is offering special $29 rates for passengers and $55 for vehicles through Dec. 20.

Recent storm damage to Kahului Harbor has been fully repaired, said Michael Formby, deputy director of harbors for the state Department of Transportation.

"Everything's ready," he said.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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