KAHULUI, Maui — The Hawaii Superferry received a peaceful, if not polite, welcome yesterday as the state's newest mode of interisland transport.

The 350-foot catamaran sailed into Kahului Harbor at 10:05 a.m. under a light drizzle and the protection of federal, state and county law enforcement agencies, but protests were limited to sign-holding and shouts of "Go home!" and "Give us back our harbor!"

There were no arrests.

Hawaii Superferry reported that 190 passengers and 60 vehicles rode from Honolulu to Kahului, and 160 passengers and 40 cars made the return voyage, arriving in Honolulu at 2:15 p.m.

The round-trip will be a daily occurrence for the high-speed ferry, Alakai, which has survived false starts caused by legal delays, protests and bad weather.

"It was a wonderful feeling to pull into the Maui harbor," said Hawaii Superferry President and CEO John Garibaldi, who joined passengers on the voyage.

He said the relaunch after nearly a four-month delay "exceeded all of my expectations."

Garibaldi said it's natural for some potential customers to be wary of booking travel "with what we've gone through and all the challenges we've had all these months. But we're very pleased with the loads we had starting up. ... This is a really good time of year to do this."

CHOPPY SEAS

Yesterday's voyage on a route north of Moloka'i proved "a little choppy," he said, and over the next couple of days the ferry likely will take a route south between Moloka'i and Lana'i to provide a more comfortable ride.

"It's one of those things we're re-evaluating. Over the next couple of days we'll probably just take the southern route as we need to. That's something we defer to the captain on."

The southerly route would take the Alakai through the shallower waters of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The ferry must travel no faster than 25 knots while in the sanctuary, a condition of a new state law passed to allow Superferry to operate while an environmental assessment is conducted.

Its usual cruising speed is 37 knots, or about 43 mph.

Garibaldi didn't indicate when the Alakai would return to Kaua'i, where protesters blocked the vessel from docking during the company's start-up in late August. He said that for now, Superferry will focus on its Maui service, which will be "a big help for us to show how the Alakai is something that has great benefits and that we are being true to our environmental commitments."

He would not say whether the company is considering a second daily trip to Maui in the absence of an evening sail to Kaua'i.

A larger protest rally organized by Maui Tomorrow, the Pacific Whale Foundation and Save Kahului Harbor is expected to greet the ferry tomorrow.

Maui Tomorrow is a nonprofit citizens group that won a court ruling in October halting the ferry from operating until an environmental assessment is done. The ruling was essentially voided when the Legislature and Gov. Linda Lingle approved the law that allowed the ferry to operate during the assessment.

"The rally for Maui is meant to encourage people to speak out about their concerns with Superferry operations during the environmental review period and to speak out so that Chapter 343 (the state's environmental review law) remains intact," said Maui Tomorrow executive director Irene Bowie.

"It's a really good law that's been around for 30 years and it needs to stay in place," she said.

Bowie said Maui Tomorrow is still considering appealing a Maui judge's ruling last month that the new ferry law does not violate the state Constitution.

Meanwhile, the Superferry Oversight Task Force will hold its first meeting today. The 13-member panel, set up under the new ferry law, will monitor Superferry service and report monthly to the Legislature starting this month. Members include state, Superferry, environmental and cultural representatives.

As the Alakai entered the Maui harbor yesterday, about 100 to 150 people watched from the beach or stood on North Pu'unene Avenue outside the Superferry gate. The crowd included those who support the Superferry and those upset that the vessel is being allowed to operate before an environmental study can be conducted.

Five people on surfboards, a paddler in a one-man canoe and two men in a four-seat canoe paddled out to the edge of the open-water zone along the harbor beach, stopping short of a line of floats that marked the edge of a fixed security zone encompassing the remainder of harbor waters. The Coast Guard had warned that anyone violating the security zone faced federal prosecution and possible imprisonment for up to 10 years.

PEACEFUL PROTESTS

Brooke Porter, 27, of Waiehu, entered the water on a surfboard holding a sign that said, "Save the whales, Skip the Superferry." Her protest was meant "to get somebody to listen," she said.

In between holding up a large banner that said, "Cuz, No take Superferry," the paddlers in the four-man canoe caught small swells while awaiting the ferry's arrival. Otherwise, the harbor was largely calm and there was no surf break to attract surfers.

Patrolling nearby were three 25-foot Coast Guard boats, the 87-foot Coast Guard cutter Ahi, and two watercraft operated by Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel. Buzzing overhead was a Coast Guard HH65 Dolphin helicopter on stand-by for water rescues.

The Coast Guard supplemented its Hawai'i forces with personnel from the Mainland, and county and state agencies posted dozens of officers.

SECURITY TO STAY

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Mark Mackowiak said there were no incidents during the ferry's visit and that everything "went very smoothly." The fixed security zone in the harbor and a 100-yard moving security zone surrounding the Alakai will remain until authorities determine they are no longer necessary.

Paukukalo residents Clarence and Marion Lopes came to the harbor because they were curious to see the Alakai in action.

"I've seen a lot of progress growing up on Maui and I think the Superferry will do good," said Clarence Lopes, 75, a retired heavy-equipment operator.

Bob Mundy, 64, of Kahului, said protesters have forgotten that steamship travel was a common way for Island residents to travel in the past. He said the Superferry is just the latest chapter in Hawai'i's seafaring history.

"The Superferry is faster and more agile. The people running the ship out there in the ocean are being vigilant to avoid any obstacles," he said.

Most people lining both sides of North Pu'unene Avenue near the ferry entrance gate were opposed to operating the high-speed ferry without further environmental review. Their concerns include collisions with whales, the spread of invasive species and depletion of Native Hawaiian subsistence resources.

The protesters held signs with slogans such as "Abuse of Power," "Environment over profit" and "No EIS, No ferry." There were a few unfriendly verbal exchanges between arriving passengers and demonstrators, but no physical skirmishes.

Another sign-holder offered greetings to ferry passengers with a sign that read: "Aloha Superferry, Welcome to Maui."

Several cars that arrived on the Alakai pulled back into the ferry entrance minutes later to check in for the return voyage. One Honolulu motorcyclist apparently saw the Superferry as an opportunity to pick up several boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which he had strapped onto the back of his chopper.

Maui environmentalist Rob Parsons said he was not pleased to see some of the protesters shouting at arriving passengers. "It is rude. Unfortunately a few persons are venting some of their anger, but I can understand their frustration," he said.

Traffic is another of their concerns, and there was a bit of a jam while the ferry was in port. A major First Hawaiian Bank branch shares the short street upon which the ferry entrance and exit are located, and there were delays for both bank and ferry customers.

It took about 20 minutes to a half-hour to release all of passenger vehicles onto the road.

"This intersection was never designed for this operation," said Richard Michaels of Maui Tomorrow. "I think the traffic is always going to be a problem."

The Department of Transportation will monitor the traffic situation "to see if we have to make any adjustments," said DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

When the Alakai pulled away from Pier 2 at Kahului Harbor around 11:20 a.m., most of the protesters had dispersed and only two men sat on surfboards in the open-water zone, waving their arms to suggest they were happy to see the vessel leave.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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