LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A joint state Senate committee heard overwhelming testimony on Kaua'i yesterday — much of it from people wearing red shirts with anti-Superferry slogans — for requiring an environmental impact statement for the Hawai'i Superferry.

Speakers on Kaua'i expressed concern about the movement of drugs and alien species, impacts on traffic, increased crime, and other issues. Some demanded an environmental impact statement, but many argued against the Superferry outright.

"The impact is mauka-makai, to put it simply," said Jeff Chandler, of Kaua'i's north shore. "The superferry is so detrimental to this island that if you don't do anything, we will," he told a joint hearing of the Senate committees on Energy and Environment and on Transportation and International Affairs.

Legislators hearing testimony on Senate Bill 1276, which calls for the EIS, included Sens. Kalani English, D-6th (East Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i), Ron Menor, D-17th (Mililani-Waipi'o), Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i-Ni'ihau), and Shan Tsutsui, D-4th (Wailuku-Pa'ia), and Rep. Mina Morita, D-14th (Kapa'a-Hanalei). They were to fly to Maui yesterday afternoon for another hearing late in the day on that island.

"We need to know all of the potential impacts of this business," said Carl Berg. "The danger to marine animals is so great that the Superferry should not be allowed to operate at high speeds in Hawai'i."

Among the few in support of the ferry, Don Thornburg argued that the additional transportation channel will benefit farmers and residents generally.

"Do not take away this opportunity to improve life on Kaua'i," he said.

In part, SB 1276 would require that improvements in harbors, which do not now require extensive environmental studies, automatically trigger such studies.

"Harbor improvements necessarily involve shipping activities and ... new maritime shipping activities could have serious effects on vehicular traffic, transport of non-native species between islands, introduction of invasive plant and animal species, collision with whales and increased warehousing at the harbors, among other issues," the bill says.

The bill also would order a halt in construction at Maui's Kahului Harbor to handle the ferry and block the Superferry from launching service until environmental studies are done.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.