Kim was called as a witness by the company in a Maui Circuit Court hearing on whether the new interisland ferry should be allowed to resume service while the state conducts an environmental assessment on ferry-related projects at Kahului Harbor.

"We are the only state in the 50 states where interstate travel is limited to only air. To me it's very, very limited and it should not be," he said.

The ferry also would provide another alternative for moving goods throughout the state, and could assist Civil Defense agencies in disasters, according to Kim.

The mayor said he feels the ferry should be allowed to operate while an assessment is done. "I don't see what the harm would be to allowing this to happen," he said.

The Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow and the Kahului Harbor Coalition claim the harms would include potential collisions with humpback whales, the spread of invasive species, increased vehicle traffic around ports and interference with recreational use of the harbor.

The three groups won a Hawai'i Supreme Court ruling last month ordering the state Department of Transportation to conduct an assessment on the Maui harbor projects.

Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza issued an order preventing the ferry from using Kahului Harbor until he decides whether the company can operate during the environmental review process.

During the hearing this morning, attorney Isaac Hall, representing the three groups, argued that Kim's testimony is irrelevant since the court case involves only Maui, and the county has its own mayor and Civil Defense administrator to comment on the ferry.

In fact, Hall said, when Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares was serving on the County Council, she participated in a unanimous vote approving a resolution calling for a Hawaii Superferry review.