KAHULUI - Hawaii Superferry is planning to install a new night vision, infrared-thermal imaging system and provide night-vision goggles to two lookouts to help prevent nighttime collisions this winter with humpback whales.
The move by the company is in response to a list of 34 recommendations included in the draft rapid risk assessment report overseen by the state-mandated Temporary Hawaii Inter-island Ferry Oversight Task Force. The task force met Friday at the Kahului Harbor Pier 1 Passenger Terminal.
When it came to the issue of preventing whale collisions, Maui task force representative Randy Awo said he found it troubling that there is still a question as to whether Hawaii Superferry would do more. Namely, he said the company could install a frontal radar system - which is still being tested - to help detect whales at night.
More than 100 people attended Friday's meeting, and 26 signed up to testify before the task force. Many speakers repeated concerns about the Superferry passengers having an impact on Maui's natural resources - especially to restricted marine life such as opihi, lobster and coral - as well as its limited campgrounds, the transfer of invasive species and potential for collisions with whales.
There also were repeated calls by the public as well as Mayor Charmaine Tavares to continue state vehicle inspections indefinitely at the expense of Hawaii Superferry.
Lesley Matsumoto of Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd. provided results from the rapid risk assessment, which is intended to be a precursor to the much more complete environmental impact study required by a state law that is allowing the ferry to operate. The draft EIS should be finished next month, said Mike Formby, state deputy transportation director for harbors.
Testifier Marcia Godinez said she's gone over the confiscation reports by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture. She found that officials have logged almost 2 tons of fish that were removed from Maui's waters and taken to Oahu in the past nine months.
Godinez called the revelations very disturbing and demanded continued professional state oversight.
In August, the state Conservation and Resources Enforcement Division and agriculture inspectors reported finding 109 pounds of opihi, 412 pounds of reef fish, sand, rock and coral - materials specifically prohibited on the Superferry - as well as two gill nets, devices barred from Maui waters. Ferry passengers also took out another few hundred pounds of unprotected fish - pelagic species such as ahi and aku that are not on the prohibited list.
Maui County Environmental Coordinator Kuhea Paracuelles conducted a site visit on Sept. 7 to observe the vehicle inspection process for Tavares.
"I am gravely concerned about the impacts that are occurring to Maui's special places and resources," Tavares wrote to the task force. "Many of the negative impacts we feared and predicted are being realized, despite the fact that Hawaii Superferry has been operating well below its optimal passenger load.
"I am appalled by the reported amount of marine resources that are leaving our island with Superferry passengers or being confiscated and destroyed."
Tavares also reported that Hawaii Superferry Vice Chairman John Garibaldi recently called on DOCARE to stand down from participating in inspections. However, the mayor said that DLNR Chairwoman Laura Thielen rejected the request.
Tavares went further to ask task force members to recommend that state conservation enforcement officers and agricultural inspectors be kept on to provide permanent, daily inspections at the expense of Hawaii Superferry.
The task force was created as part of the effort to allow the Superferry to resume service after the courts ruled the state should have prepared an environmental assessment before allowing the operation to begin.
In a special legislative session, the state required preparation of an environmental impact statement but allowed the governor to establish standards for the ferry to run while the EIS is being completed with the task force to provide oversight.
A group of seven Hana High School students addressing the task force Friday said they examined the rapid risk assessment and Lingle's executive orders to date. The boys and girls said they came away with concerns about the ship running at night, traffic congestion and the depletion of natural resources.
High school senior Aaron Friesen called on on Hawaii Superferry to pay for infrastructure improvements itself and to further restrict the types of marine life that can be taken by Superferry passengers visiting Maui.
A few speakers called for a total ban on transporting all fish and seaweed.
Some urged the Superferry to institute a $5 ticket surcharge to help ensure that enough DOCARE and DOA officers are always on hand to conduct vehicle inspections.
A few others recommended that Hawaii Superferry pay for independent third-party inspectors.
In the month of August, officials from both agencies said there were days that they had to miss inspecting vehicles because of a lack of available staff.
U.S. Coast Guard Ret. Adm. Richard Houck of Hawaii Superferry said pointed out some highlights in the last month. The company has recently reduced ticket prices for Maui farmers to sell their fruits and vegetables in Oahu. And in August, local farmers delivered more than 3,000 pounds of produce to Honolulu.
Last month, the Superferry averaged less than 350 people per and about 100 vehicles per voyage, Houck said. The Alakai has 836 seats and can hold 230 vehicles.
Houck said August's numbers were less than July's but not bad considering the current economic downturn and that it's off-peak for the tourist season.
Matsumoto said a consulting firm is surveying passengers to determine what impact they are having on local businesses, community resources, hotels and campgrounds.
To the applause of the audience, Awo, the DLNR Maui branch chief for DOCARE, called on Belt Collins to conduct a survey of residents as well.
"I just don't get it," Awo said. "If we are talking about socioeconomic impacts, why not go beyond ridership?"
* Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.
