Hawaii’s lawmakers vote to relaunch grounded Superferry

Hawaii’s fast new ferry has been bailed out by state lawmakers who voted Wednesday to put it back in service despite worries that it could damage the islands’ environment.

The House of Representatives voted 39 to 11 for an emergency measure to save the Hawaii Superferry, the final obstacle in the way of the 800-passenger, 42-mph ship that has been stalled for two months by protesters and court rulings.

Some residents fear the ferry could collide with endangered humpback whales and destroy the tropical charm of islands now linked only by air and cargo boats.

But lawmakers decided they needed to make way for the state’s first passenger and vehicle transportation alternative to air travel.

The ferry could resume service from Oahu to Maui and Kauai in about two weeks once ferry supporter Gov. Linda Lingle signs the bill into law. It previously passed the state Senate.

“We are one island, one state,” Democratic state Rep. Joe Souki said. “The water is our highway. Water, land and air should be made free to access what the islands have to offer.”

Superferry President John Garibaldi said he would rehire about 250 furloughed employees and sell tickets starting at about $56 each way. One-way air fares run from $39 to $79.

The Superferry law was passed explicitly to override a decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court that the state needed to first complete an environmental study of the vessel, a process that could have taken years.

Superferry officials threatened to leave Hawaii if their $300-million ferry, a giant catamaran, couldn’t quickly resume business. A second ferry under construction in Mobile, Ala., is scheduled to begin serving the Big Island in 2009.

Lingle, a Republican, called lawmakers into session to pass the measure that permits the ferry to run but also imposes limited environmental restrictions.

Opponents called the legislative action illegal and wrongful.

“Once we lose what we’re about to lose, we’ll never get it back,” said Democratic Rep. Lyla Berg.

Others said it would be a revolutionary improvement to Hawaii’s transportation options, allowing people to take their cars to other islands, farmers to transport goods and sports teams to carry equipment.

“We need to think like Kamehameha and unite these islands,” said Republican Rep. Gene Ward, referring to Hawaii’s famous king. “We have to learn to get along together. We need to lower the decibels of incivility.”

The bill requests whale observers on ferry trips, requires inspections for vehicles the vessel carries and calls on Lingle to create more regulations. It also provides oversight of Lingle’s actions, prohibits the company from suing the state and opens an inquiry into why the Superferry was granted an exception to Hawaii’s environmental laws.