Hawaiian Superferry: Tourist Transport or Military Menace?

The Hawaiian Superferry is in troubled waters. The recently completed vessel went on its maiden voyage today to the consternation of many protesters; surfers actually blocked the ferry from docking in Kauai until the Coast Guard got involved. A judge on Maui issued a restraining order today blocking the ferry from docking in Maui’s harbor, just hours after its second trip there. Environmentalists want extensive impact studies and reviews completed before the Superferry begins its routes.

While many here look forward to an alternative mode of interisland transport, others are concerned about spreading invasive species, endangering whales and increasing pollution as well as straining an already suffering infrastructure (traffic congestion, no parking, crumbling harbors and highways). These paddlers on Maui weren’t prepared for the large, disruptive wake from such a fast ship.

Why all the fuss? The airlines are already in a fare war so they’re probably none too thrilled. This article explains many businesses stand to benefit from the convenience of driving a truck laden with goods between islands; but Young Brothers has had a monopoly on the market for years and can’t be too happy either. This site, Superferry Impact, gives a nice round-up of the controversy.

Most interesting is – no surprise here – the military finds them quite useful. In fact this article points out that there are far more fuel efficient and less environmentally dangerous vessels in existence, but they weren’t chosen for Hawaii. Why? They can’t carry Stryker Brigades, hummers, helicopters, and other equipment (which could even become contaminated with depleted uranium). The article goes on to point out that the Chair of the Superferry board is John Lehman, a former Navy Undersecretary during the Reagan years and member of the 9/11 Commision, and claim, “The Superferry was foisted on Hawai‘i to meet a new mission for the US military. That mission: To have civilian looking high-speed military transport, manned by subcontractors, available at short notice to deliver assault troops and equipment, anywhere in the Pacific.”

Apparently the military has identical ferries other places around the world and finds them convenient and unobtrusive. Camouflaged by civilian ownership and use, they could be commandeered if necessary. From the Pacific Business News in 2005, “With Lehman’s expertise, the Superferry plans …essentially to carry military equipment and ferry vehicles from O‘ahu to the Big Island on a daily basis.” Lehman told PBN that ‘This logistical plan will make it easier for soldiers to train when the Stryker Brigade comes to Hawai‘i.’” He also was quoted as saying, “Power corrupts, but absolute power is pretty neat!”

There is no doubt that Hawaii is very important strategically. The Big Island in particular has been the subject of a lot of controversy in regards to its Pohakuloa training facility; an acquaintance of ours is a former Marine who worked in what he called an enormous underground city there, replete with fast-food joints and malls, but I can’t prove that. We do see quite a bit of large military transport arriving and then just disappearing in the middle of nowhere out there. Those of you into the global grid will note the Big Island lies at 19.5 degrees latitude. Do I have to add the number of UFO sightings we have?

A second ferry is being built to serve the Big Island starting in 2009.

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