One person not happy to see Hawaii Superferry back in service so soon is Irene Bowie. She is executive director of Maui Tomorrow, one of three groups that successfully challenged the state's failure to undertake an environmental review of $40 million in ferry-related port improvements and potential ferry impacts.

Although the whale season has peaked, a large number of the endangered migratory marine mammals remain in Hawaiian waters, and some were spotted yesterday off the Waiehu coastline as the high-speed vessel made its way to Kahului Harbor for the first time in nearly two months.

Bowie said she would have been glad to see the Alakai wait an additional couple of weeks before resuming service, to give the whales more time to depart for their arctic feeding grounds.

"We very much feel there is an absolute threat if they continue to operate at high speeds through whale season," Bowie said.

No ferry-whale collisions were reported since the new interisland service relaunched Dec. 13.

NO MAJOR CONCERNS

During the eight round-trip sailings in February, special observers and crew aboard the Alakai reported an average of 31 whale sightings a day, according to the Hawaii Inter-Island Large Capacity Ferry Vessel Oversight Task Force's March report to the Legislature.

Superferry also reported no whale approaches within 100 yards of the vessel in February.

However, Bowie noted the task force reported three close encounters in January, and is skeptical of early findings by a state-funded rapid risk assessment that so far has not identified any substantial risks to natural and cultural resources from ferry operations.

The $250,000 assessment was ordered by Gov. Linda Lingle to evaluate the effectiveness of more than 40 state-imposed operating conditions imposed on the ferry to mitigate potential impacts.

Due to repeated ferry cancellations caused by repairs and foul sea conditions, the rapid risk assessment team so far has been able to complete only 68 percent of its planned observations, according to the task force report. Additional observations will take place through mid-May.

Contractor Belt Collins said the low number of vehicles transported on the ferry has meant that traffic impacts have been nonexistent on public streets around Kahului Harbor.

The report also said a Belt Collins cultural resource specialist did not identify any major concerns about the ferry's onboard presentations about Hawaiian culture and cultural resources.

VIGILANCE QUESTIONED

On the subject of vehicle inspections to reduce the spread of invasive plants and insects, the report stated that assessment observers recommended more emphasis on cleaning vehicle wheel wells and under the hood near the windshield, where dead bugs collect.

Another recommendation calls for the creation of a survey to find out what shore activities passengers plan to engage in so that appropriate education and enforcement programs can be developed.

The task force report said that "in regard to marine mammal requirements, observers are impressed with the level of vigilance and responsiveness on the part of the observers, captain and crew."

However, the observers also were concerned that the high degree of vigilance by Superferry employees may wane once the rapid risk assessment observation period is over. Several state conservation and agriculture officials also have expressed doubt about whether the company can sustain thorough vehicle inspections over time.

"We still think they need more inspectors down there," Bowie said, "and as they state themselves, what happens when the observation period is over and when it's left to the Superferry employees themselves is very doubtful."

KAUA'I STILL RESISTANT

Belt Collins also was hired by the state to prepare a $1 million environmental impact statement on the port improvements and ferry service. A round of statewide hearings was held last month, and a draft EIS is anticipated for release in October, to be followed by a comment period. The final EIS is expected in May 2009.

Any recommendations for mitigation of potential ferry impacts are unlikely to appease some residents of Kaua'i, where anti-ferry passions have been strong enough to put Superferry's plans to call at Nawiliwili Harbor on hold indefinitely.

"I can guarantee you if the ferry comes back to Kaua'i, it will never get to its dock," said Rich Hoeppner, chairman of People for the Preservation of Kaua'i, testifying during a March public hearing on the EIS. He said dozens of people would again block the Superferry on surfboards and in canoes.

Superferry president and CEO John Garibaldi said the company talked to Kaua'i elected officials and some community representatives in the past, but wasn't going to restart dialogue anytime soon. He projected that consideration of a Kaua'i route wouldn't come until "months" after Maui service resumed.