Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 8

[LikaNui]

Service to Maui starts tomorrow, barring unforeseen situations. There was a trial run yesterday and protesters were supposed to be there. The Advertiser today mentioned nothing at all about SuperFerry, but the Star-Bulletin had a story, which included:

The Superferry drew a small group of observers yesterday who continued to express opinions both for and against the vessel's return.

And then there was a quote from this fool:

Kahului resident William Kaholokula expressed concern over security issues, saying, "I don't understand how come they don't have TSA workers here like at the airport, because common sense is going to tell you that Honolulu people are going to bring the ice (crystal methamphetamine) over here."

That's such a dumb thing to say in so very many ways.

[zztype]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

I'm on the boat in the morning, Honolulu to Kahului and back. If you're going to be on board, email zztype*gmail.com and let's try to hook up!

Blaine

[oggboy]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

Service to Maui starts tomorrow, barring unforeseen situations. There was a trial run yesterday and protesters were supposed to be there. The Advertiser today mentioned nothing at all about SuperFerry, but the Star-Bulletin had a story, which included:

And then there was a quote from this fool:

That's such a dumb thing to say in so very many ways.

I agree, like Maui people any better....

[LikaNui]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

Clearly Maui has its own share of a**holes, as per this article on the Advertiser's website (written by one of their reporters who was on board) which includes:

The Hawaii Superferry at 11:22 a.m. is pulling away from Kahului harbor after 215 passengers and 70-80 vehicles from Honolulu disembarked and passengers got on board for the return leg.
Protests that earlier included up to 100 opponents subsided after the last vehicles drove out of the harbor. U.S. Coast Guard and Maui police reported no arrests.
Earlier, protesters on North Pu'unene Avenue shouted at disembarking passengers who made their way out of Kahului harbor. Yelling "Go home," "shame on you" and "give us back our harbor," the protesters' ranks grew in number significantly from the early moments of the vessel's arrival.

Gosh, screaming at passengers as if the SuperFerry was their fault sure shows a lack of brains and a lack of aloha.
I wonder what would happen if every time someone from Maui arrived on Oahu and they got screamed at to "go home" and "shame on you" and "give us back our harbor".
Stupid fricking a**holes.

[LikaNui]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

I wonder what would happen if every time someone from Maui arrived on Oahu and they got screamed at to "go home" and "shame on you" and "give us back our harbor".

I just saw it on the 5pm KITV news, and they said about 70 cars were on the SuperFerry going to Maui this morning... and about 70 Maui cars came to Oahu on the return trip! Nobody here screaming at them.
Also interesting to see footage of the one haole guy on Maui screaming "We don't want you here!" at the locals in the cars coming off the SuperFerry... with his East Coast accent.

But from footage on board, I did think I saw a quick shot of ZZType! Looking forward to his report.

[zztype]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

I just saw it on the 5pm KITV news, and they said about 70 cars were on the SuperFerry going to Maui this morning... and about 70 Maui cars came to Oahu on the return trip! Nobody here screaming at them.
Also interesting to see footage of the one haole guy on Maui screaming "We don't want you here!" at the locals in the cars coming off the SuperFerry... with his East Coast accent.

But from footage on board, I did think I saw a quick shot of ZZType! Looking forward to his report.

Still recovering from massive seasickness. Sad to say, my sea legs were lost when I observed a Japanese tourist talking to Ralph into a seasick bag. The run up went north of Moloka'i, into a high wind and 5- to 6-foot swells. It was pretty rough. I'm literally still swaying with the ocean, internally, now, at 10:15 p.m.

I left all my photos at the office, so It will have to wait until tomorrow. (And FYI, Mel was on board, too.)

While both the Honolulu embark, disembark were remarkably quiet, the opposite was true of the Maui stop.

Maui was a zoo, with protesters in the water (kept at a respectable distance by an appropriate Coast Guard presence); protesters on the beach; protesters on the highway fronting the gate to the dock area; and, from what I could tell, dozens of protesters in cars, circulating on the highway in front of the gate, attempting to create the impression of a massive traffic jam.

One driver, on the green light, slowly pulled his (relatively new) late-model truck forward, stopped in the middle of the intersection, opened his doors and hood and walked around his vehicle in an apparent attempt to block cars exiting from the SuperFerry lot.

There were also three protesters on board the SuperFerry, who stopped at the exit stairway while disembarking, blocking following passengers from exiting. They unfurled a sign over the side of the ferry, which was promptly removed. They were allowed to stand blocking the stairs while being interviewed by media. Then they paused for a prayer, before quietly exiting the ship. As far as I could tell, they were allowed to leave without further problem.

The cars that exited the ship did so quickly and dispersed from the terminal area. The cars going back to O'ahu were lined up in orderly fashion, their drivers standing by. When the ship had unloaded the O'ahu cars, the Maui cars quickly drove up the barge ramps and into the hold of the SuperFerry.

Passengers were shuttled to and from the ship on small buses and the ship left the harbor smoothly under Coast Guard escort. Once clear of the harbor area, the ship increased speed to 36 knots and the sail back to Honolulu, with the wind and the wave action to our backs, was smooth and comfortable.

I would guess that a summertime run, south of Moloka'i would be as smooth, both ways. I'll wait until then to take the family to visit my sister and her kids on Maui.

Really, folks, we didn't run over any whales (didn't even SEE any, though we were looking), didn't bring back any truckloads of rocks or coolers of 'ophihi. As far as I could see (personal opinion), the objections are highly overblown.

More tomorrow, after I sleep more and get my land legs back! As I said on Twitter from the SuperFerry, "Barf! Barf! Good Blainey!"

[mel]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

I left all my photos at the office, so It will have to wait until tomorrow. (And FYI, Mel was on board, too.)

OK, I waited for Blaine to post first to see what he would say about the seasickness thing. Me, I'm not an ocean guy at all. I had almost no problem with motion sickness. Ride was bumpy going over. I found out later that there were small craft warnings for Hawaii waters today. Ride going back from Maui to Honolulu was smooth and uneventful, even though we went through the same choppy waves... except Superferry was going with the flow instead of against it. Big difference.

Everything else in Blaine's previous post is true to confirm. I'll be writing about the trip for HawaiiReporter.com. I spent most of tonight sifting through 900+ photos I shot on the trip. I haven't posted any except for the one below of the video gaming "pay to play" console in the small media room.

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

They were allowed to stand blocking the stairs while being interviewed by media. Then they paused for a prayer, before quietly exiting the ship.

How long did that take? I wouldn't have tolerated it for very long. At minimum I would have liked to see them blacklisted so they can't do that again.

[zztype]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

How long did that take? I wouldn't have tolerated it for very long. At minimum I would have liked to see them blacklisted so they can't do that again.

They were blocking for a few minutes. I think the HSF people were trying to be as tolerable as they could stand it. I know they KNEW the three were on board, as I heard crew mention their location on board a few times. They were being watched the whole trip.

They were relatively respectful, as well, and that helped, I am sure.

When HSF people asked them to clear the pathway, they moved off to the side, a little, and people started to slide past them and down the stairs. (This move actually trapped ME in a corner behind them, as I had been nearby trying to pick up their conversation with a reporter!)

Finally, HSF people flatly stated, "OK, come on, we need to clear this area. Let's move along." So they ended their interviews at the stairs and went to the bus loading area. Interviews continued there, out of the way of the traffic.

[LikaNui]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

I just saw it on the 5pm KITV news, and they said about 70 cars were on the SuperFerry going to Maui this morning... and about 70 Maui cars came to Oahu on the return trip! Nobody here screaming at them.
Also interesting to see footage of the one haole guy on Maui screaming "We don't want you here!" at the locals in the cars coming off the SuperFerry... with his East Coast accent.

And KITV now has video of their report, on their website at this link, though you have to wait thru a 15-second commercial first. Wait until you see the idiots screaming thru the fence!
Also, thanks for the reports, Blaine and Mel! Kinda hard to image a former submarine guy getting seasick. Too much red wine at the HT Christmas party, I'm guessing.

[Composite 2992]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

These protesters aren't being very smart.

Part of the purpose of protesting is to make others aware of a situation. The other purpose is to make people sympathetic to the cause.

In this case they're doing things that make themselves a detestable nuisance. Just the opposite of winning hearts and minds.

ZZType -- I guess your ride over to Maui was a lot like being in the Navy again. Manning the rails! :-)

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

When HSF people asked them to clear the pathway, they moved off to the side, a little, and people started to slide past them and down the stairs. .... Finally, HSF people flatly stated, "OK, come on, we need to clear this area. Let's move along." So they ended their interviews at the stairs and went to the bus loading area.

OK, that helps my blood pressure. I was picturing something more disruptive.

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

These protesters aren't being very smart.

Part of the purpose of protesting is to make others aware of a situation. The other purpose is to make people sympathetic to the cause.

What's more, it's clear these people come from somewhere else, where nasty confrontation is the way they do things. They are the ones causing greater damage to Hawaii then the HSF.

[zztype]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

ZZType -- I guess your ride over to Maui was a lot like being in the Navy again. Manning the rails! :-)

Well, they did take the route past the NORTH SHORE of Moloka'i in a high wind and small craft warning! This being winter, and all, I think that the wave action might have slapped a cruise ship around just a little bit.

I estimated seas to be about 6 feet, but it was reported by the weather people that it was more like 12 feet.

I was OK, until somebody else lost it in front of me... then I started feeling queasy. After that, it was all over!

[joshuatree]

Re: Hawaii Superferry - Chapter 7

So today's SB article lists yesterday's numbers for the ship's voyage. Seems like Maui gained a net of 10 cars and 20 people on the isle as a result of this boat. Far cry from the massive invasion alarms.

The three-hour return trip to Honolulu at 11 a.m. carried about 170 passengers and 50 vehicles, about a fifth of the vessel Alakai's capacity of 866 passengers and 282 vehicles. About 190 riders and 60 cars were aboard when the vessel pulled away from Pier 19 in Honolulu Harbor for Kahului at about 6:40 a.m. yesterday.