The gathering is planned for 4:30 p.m. in front of the historic County Building in Lihu'e. It will be followed by a march to the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall where Lingle, members of her administration, Coast Guard officials and others have said at 6 p.m. they will brief residents on new security measures created on behalf of the ferry at Nawiliwili Harbor.

Kaua'i Councilman JoAnn Yukimura has been urging residents to attend this afternoon's gathering as "a non-violent show of support" for completing a full environmental review before the ferry can return to the island.

"We have to find some way to reconcile our differences (with the Lingle administration) so we can avoid the confrontation next Wednesday," Yukimura said.

Some Kaua'i residents have vowed to oppose the Superferry's return next week, despite a new federal security zone aimed at preventing people from halting the ferry's movement through the harbor, as they did on Aug. 27.

The state has agreed to conduct an environmental assessment on work done to accommodate the ferry at four harbors, but Lingle has said the vessel can return to Kaua'i before the assessment is completed. A hearing on that issue is now under way in a Maui court, with a Kaua'i judge set to take up the matter tomorrow.

Yukimura, an attorney, said Lingle acted prematurely in allowing the ferry's return to Kaua'i.

"The law itself states that 'acceptance of a required final statement shall be a condition precedent to implementation of the proposed action.' As a matter of law, the operation needs to be halted," she said.

Other residents said they plan to gather outside the convention hall tonight to show their unity as a community, but won't participate in the governor's meeting because she has said the discussion will be limited to the security zone and federal penalties for violating it.

"I think a lot of people are pretty angry," said Kilauea resident Rosa Silver. "They're looking for some inclusion and respect."