Hawaii Superferry will return to service Monday, soothing some concerns about interisland travel options in the wake of this week's shutdown of Aloha Airlines passenger flights.

However, Superferry president and CEO John Garibaldi yesterday said the sooner-than-expected return of the company's high-speed catamaran Alakai is not related to the Aloha situation.

The vessel, capable of carrying 866 people and 282 cars, was in drydock for repairs for six weeks and wasn't expected to resume Honolulu-to-Maui voyages until April 23. It is now back at Pier 19 at Honolulu Harbor and ready to sail, Garibaldi said.

"She came out of drydock a week ago, so our intent, with our $85 million investment, was to get her back working as quickly as possible. Aloha had nothing to do with our return to service," he said.

"With all the trials and tribulations over the past six or seven weeks, we're eager to get back in service."

More than half the company's 300 employees were furloughed while the Alakai was in drydock, and most will be back on the job by Monday, Garibaldi said.

Hawaii Superferry has extended its promotional one-way fares of $39 per passenger and $55 per vehicle for travel through June 5, with the fuel surcharge waived.

The Alakai is scheduled to depart Honolulu at 6:30 a.m. daily and arrive at Kahului Harbor at 10:15 a.m. The return voyage is scheduled to depart Maui at 11:15 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 2:15 p.m.

Before going into drydock, Superferry was carrying only a third of its anticipated passenger load. The ferry also suffered from the effects of rough winter seas that resulted in 14 days of cancellations since its relaunch Dec. 13.

Although the Aloha shutdown caused upheaval for the air carrier's passengers and employees, the situation could prove advantageous to the new interisland ferry as more people appreciate the need for a transportation alternative. A predicted rise in interisland airfares also could work to Superferry's benefit.

At the time the company established its pricing in 2004, roundtrip interisland airfares were close to $200 and higher. By comparison, a roundtrip on the Superferry was priced at about $100, plus a fuel surcharge.

When newcomer go! airlines sparked a fare war with Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha in 2006, tickets dropped to as low as $19 — even $1 in rare promotions. The cheapest airfares remained at about $40 to $50 up until the end of Aloha passenger service on Tuesday.

Garibaldi said that when the high-speed ferry was under development as a business concept from 2002 to 2005, the state had two principal interisland air carriers, and Superferry's objective was "to provide another option for people to travel in a different mode that was complementary to the airlines."

"The Superferry was always a very, very sound option for people. It's just unfortunate we got into somewhat of an unrealistic marketplace that didn't reflect the reality of the situation. If you have an interisland airline losing tens and hundreds of millions of dollars in a short time, it's something that's not sustainable," he said.

A former executive with both Aloha and Hawaiian, Garibaldi said he was saddened but not surprised by the past week's events.

"These are difficult times with the credit market, and Hawai'i historically has been able to have only two airlines. When you have a third, something is going to happen eventually. ... It's unfortunate that it took a toll the way it did," he said.

Superferry is still hoping to start a second daily roundtrip to Maui by late spring, Garibaldi said, and eventually return to Kaua'i, where opposition to the ferry has been most passionate.

"People have seen ideas about our service clarified, and there's been a real benefit coming out of the oversight task force" set up by a new law allowing the ferry to operate while an environmental review is conducted.

"We're confident that over time, we'll be serving all four islands."

Superferry is planning to begin service to Kawaihae on the Big Island when a second ship goes into service next year.