KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — A divided audience of about 500 Big Island residents made sometimes impassioned pleas for and against the Hawaii Superferry at a hearing called by state lawmakers in Kona yesterday.

Supporters said the Superferry is offering a type of service that has been contemplated for decades to better link the islands for business and for disaster relief.

Opponents warned lawmakers that allowing the Superferry to operate before it completes the environmental review process under state law will set a dangerous precedent that undermines public confidence in the government and the law.

"I have many concerns, and I'm afraid of this Superferry. It is super-scary, for many reasons," said Ka'u resident Marie Burns.

Burns said she already sees a lack of enforcement of rules and laws created to protect the environment, and said the Superferry would bring in more people who would make the problem worse.

"We do not need to see more people added to this equation," she said. "The thought of Ka'u being so open to the rest of the state to access this precious jewel is scary."

She added that "the Superferry is a danger to the open spaces that we have left that need to be protected."

Representatives of canoe clubs from both Hilo and Kona spoke in favor of the Superferry, arguing the vessel would make it possible for clubs to compete in more events by making canoe shipping more affordable.

The Superferry is scheduled to begin service to Kawaihae on the Big Island in 2009.

Dianne Morgado, past president of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber strongly supports the Superferry as a new way to move agricultural products between the islands.

As for complaints that the environmental review is supposed to be completed before the Superferry operates, Morgado told lawmakers that "you made the law, you can change the law."

"The sad thing to me as I sat here today was knowing how much our residents fear people from O'ahu," she said.

Rich Caldarone, a resident of Kailua, Kona, told the Superferry critics in the audience at Kealakehe High School that they are kidding themselves if they think they can stop people from coming to the Neighbor Islands by blocking the Superferry. He pointed out the window of the school cafeteria toward the coastline plied by cruise ships to make his point.

'THEY'RE HERE, I'M SORRY'

"These people are coming, you're not going to stop them, they're here, I'm sorry," Caldarone said. "You people came here and nobody complained about you coming. That's what you have to think about."

The meeting was the final Neighbor Island hearing called by state lawmakers before they meet in a special session today to consider a bill that would require the governor to draft operating rules to mitigate potential environmental impacts caused by the ferry.

The measure also would set up a task force to oversee the operation of the ferry, and would increase plant and conservation inspection teams. A major concern voiced by meeting participants statewide is that the Superferry may spread invasive species.

The bill also would mandate an audit of the Lingle administration's actions in granting an environmental exemption to projects to accommodate the ferry at Kahului, Honolulu, Kawaihae and Nawiliwili harbors.

Lingle came in for special criticism, with activist Cory Harden calling for her impeachment. Harden said she was alarmed at the images of armed authorities confronting anti-ferry demonstrators on Kaua'i because "government should not be backing up corporate power in this manner."

John Buckstead, chairman of the Hawai'i County Democratic Party, said the county party is on record opposing the operation of the Superferry before the environmental review is done.

He blamed Lingle for the ferry crisis. "If the review had begun on time, it would have been completed long ago," he said.

'LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE'

Supporters of the Superferry urged lawmakers to resist the "vocal minority" that oppose the fast-moving vessels.

Ron Dela Cruz, a Waimea resident, said the vessels will give farmers and small-business owners a choice of ways to get their goods to market. He urged lawmakers to let the Superferry operate, and "let the people decide" whether to use it.

Those in favor of the Superferry included Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, who submitted testimony that was read to the committee.

Kim said he was concerned that using a special session to trump the court ruling that stalled the Superferry will lead to the perception of "politics overriding the legal process."

However, Kim said he is convinced the ferry would be beneficial for most people in the state, and said he hopes lawmakers can find a way to allow the ferry to operate while addressing the "reasonable concerns" of environmental endangerment.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.