Hawaii ferry nears reality

By ELLEN CREAGER

By 2009, a second ferry will launch, giving service between the big island of Hawaii and Oahu.I am excited to report this because it's something I've been following for two years. Traveling between Hawaii's islands is an expensive proposition for tourists by air. But the ferry will be cheaper. Trips will take about three hours each way.The first Hawaii Superferry, a specially built oceangoing 350-foot catamaran vessel called Alakai ("ocean path" in Hawaiian), was christened April 14.The ferry is similar to the type used by Lake Express across Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Milwaukee.Fares for the Alakai start at $52 each way for adults. It is $41 for children ages 2-12, seniors 62-up and retired military. It's $17 for children under 2. Vehicles can be transported starting at $59 each way.That's a pretty good deal compared to airfares.The schedule will offer daily service between Oahu and Maui: Leave Honolulu at 6:30 a.m., arrive Kahului, Maui at 9:30 a.m.; leave Maui at 11 a.m., arrive Honolulu at 2 p.m.From Sunday to Friday, there will be service between Oahu and Kauai: Leave Honolulu at 3 p.m., arrive Kauai at 6 p.m. Leave Kauai at 7 p.m., arrive Honolulu 10 p.m.The ferry starts taking reservations this month. For more information, see www.hawaiisuperferry.com.Meanwhile, environmentalists opposed to the Superferry are mounting a campaign to ask for more study of the environmental impact before it goes into service. Maybe I'm not green enough. But I think the ferry is a good idea.