LIHU'E, Kaua'i — About 100 people gathered for a beach park picnic yesterday, marking the protests one year ago that turned the Hawaii Superferry back from Nawiliwili Harbor.

"We're celebrating one year of Kaua'i being ferry-free," said "Jam in the Harbor" event organizer Rich Hoeppner, president of the People for the Preservation of Kaua'i, a community group that doesn't want the Superferry to return to Kaua'i without first completing an environmental impact statement.

The low-key gathering at Nawiliwili Beach Park featured musicians on a small stage, a potluck lunch and about 25 people on surfboards and bodyboards paddling into Kalapaki Bay at 2 p.m. for what Hoeppner called a "water parade."

Yesterday's event was a far cry from the Sunday evening a year ago when dozens of surfers, swimmers and canoe paddlers attempted to block the Superferry vessel Alakai's first voyage to Kaua'i. A second protest a day later turned the ferry back because the Coast Guard was concerned about the protesters' safety.

"I'm back to celebrate what surfers and people in the water did," said Sandy Allen, who has a second home on Kaua'i and says she objects to the Superferry because of its potential to harm whales and other marine life.

Superferry supporter James "Kimo" Rosen of Kapa'a showed up with a sign reading "Bring Back Da Superferry," and police asked him to stay at a distance from the group with the park permit to avoid a conflict.

Rosen said he believes he represents the "silent majority" who do want the Superferry to return to Kaua'i.

The Hawai'i Supreme Court has ruled the state had acted improperly by allowing the company to start service without an environmental impact statement.

A special session of the state Legislature last fall passed a law allowing the Superferry to operate while the study is being done.

The interisland, high-speed ferry has operated since December between O'ahu and Maui but hasn't returned to Kaua'i.

Adm. Thomas Fargo, president of the Hawaii Superferry, confirmed to The Advertiser Friday that he met Aug. 4 with business leaders and elected officials on Kaua'i to present information about how Superferry operations have been going between O'ahu and Maui.

"We will continue to answer questions and talk story" over coming months, Fargo said, "to get as much information (about Superferry operations) in front of leadership and of people as we possibly can."

Kaua'i Chamber of Commerce President Randall Francisco said he was convinced that Fargo wants the Superferry to return in a way that's "pono," or righteous.

"I told him (Fargo) the silent majority looks to you as an option" for interisland transportation, Francisco said.

A recent nonscientific online poll in the Garden Island newspaper found that 50 percent of respondents favor the Superferry returning to Kaua'i; 17 percent want a return only after an EIS is completed; 5 percent recommend further outreach to the people of Kaua'i by Superferry officials; and 28 percent don't want the ferry on Kaua'i under any circumstances.

Fargo said he interprets that poll as "2-to-1 in favor of the Superferry returning" at some point. He didn't address ongoing court appeals by Maui and Kaua'i groups opposing the ferry.