KAHULUI, Maui — Testimony continued for a third day yesterday in a Maui Circuit Court hearing to determine whether Hawaii Superferry can resume service to Kahului Harbor while the Department of Transportation conducts an environmental assessment of $40 million in ferry-related projects at four ports.

So far testimony has focused on whether allowing the ferry to operate before the assessment is complete would endanger humpback whales and risk the spread of invasive species hitchhiking on vehicles transported by the ferry.

A temporary restraining order issued Aug. 27 by Judge Joseph Cardoza that suspended Maui operations expires tomorrow afternoon and cannot be extended.

Attorney Isaac Hall, representing three groups that won a court case requiring the DOT to perform the assessment, said yesterday he will ask Cardoza to continue the Maui ban in the form of a preliminary injunction while the hearing continues.

Testimony will resume at 10 a.m. today.