Moani Makaiwi was born and raised on Molokai and remembers when she would journey across the ocean on a ferry from her home to Maui.

“It was a great thing for Molokai residents to be able to come and go and be able to come here and go shopping and work,” she said.

Molokai, which previously had a private ferry service from 1987 to 2016, has been without such a system leaving residents only one option–travel by plane or not at all.

But now the County of Maui is considering bringing that service back to residents, which Makaiwi says may provide a solution to neighboring islanders’ transportation challenges.

“I think now though it would be a really great thing because we could have kids that want to go college but can’t afford to live here. So if we have a system where the kids can come in, they can catch the first boat out, go to Maui Community College and be able to hop back on the boat and go back home, that would save a lot of Molokai kids a lot of money to be able to go back and forth for educational purposes,” she said.

Makaiwi was one of several residents attending a recent community workshop in Lahaina on Monday, Oct. 15, where representatives from the Department of Transportation and DanTech Associates, the firm overseeing the Maui County Ferry Feasibility Study, presented a wide-range of information and posed several questions for attendees.

Maui County Deputy Transportation Director Kauanoe Batangan, Neil Nakamoto, Maui Department of Transportation program specialist, as well as DanTec Associates consultants Dan Levy and Brian Mills led the workshop.

The Maui County Feasibility Study is a Maui County Council-initiated report that is being conducted by the County Department of Transportation. The study is anticipated to be finalized and presented to council for consideration in February, and stems from a $300,000 investment–supported by Maui County Council member Gabe Johnson, representing Lāna’i.

This week’s workshops are the second round of public feedback, and were held on Maui, Lanai, and Molokai.

Residents are being asked to provide input during the hour-and-a-half long meetings, where community members can discuss demand, routes and other preferences for a possible intracounty ferry.

Public engagement started in July to see how the public feels about the effort, what they want to see, what routes, how often and what kind of amenities should be included.

During the workshop, slides showcased the study’s depth–from focusing on minimizing harm to marine life and the potential for zero emission vehicles, possible amenities including space for appropriate baggage, ADA accessibility and basic refreshments, as well as various options for travel routes and times.

Makaiwi and others asked a wide-range of questions during Monday’s workshop at the County Office of Recovery-West Maui, from how large the vessels would be, the length of time it would take to be implemented while residents await the rebuilding of Lahaina’s harbor, travel distance and safety accommodations.

Makaiwi, who also works with the Maui Humane Society, said aside from helping with children and families traveling to Maui for school, shopping, and work, the service would also be helpful in the transportation of animals.

Currently, she said, the Humane Society only has three options–Mokulele, Kamaka Air, or the barge, all of which have their own challenges with cost of fares and space for the animals.

“It would allow the Maui Humane Society to help Molokai on the animal welfare side,” she said.

Lahaina resident Bobbie Palencia asked if they will adjust the routes during whale season.

“Are the trips between the islands, will they vary during when the whales come in?” she asked.

Batanagan said they will address that issue during the environmental review, but right now they are focusing on collecting public advice on where the residents want to go, how often, and so forth.

Palencia also asked if the county would be investing in a new ferry or utilizing current ferry services.

“At least for the Maui to Molokai route, we would have to purchase new ferries,” Batangan said.

Currently Lāna’i has a ferry service through Expeditions Maui-Lāna’i Passenger Ferry, which is for sale.

Batangan, Levy and Mills also brought to light the possibility of either utilizing current vessels and pushing the plan forward faster, or waiting three years to purchase newer, yet more expensive, vessels.

“It really is a question of starting now with what’s available or wait until we can design and build something that would meet the specs suitable for this kind of process,” Batangan said.

While Batangan said starting sooner wouldn’t necessarily mean they wouldn’t pursue new vessels in the future, the residents present weighed the pros and cons of the option, and worried that waiting longer could jeopardize their opportunity to bring the ferry back.

“Not saying we’re going to lose it, but there’s that chance, ya know?” Palencia said.

Batangan said that decision is out of their hands.

“But it’s really not in our control what ends up getting built. That’s going to be a policy decision made by the council,” Batangan said.

When asked how the ferry service would prioritize residents Batangan said:

“It is a public transit system, right, we can’t discriminate based on residency who can get on and off the vessel, but the way we are prioritizing residents is by coming to you and asking you the residents what is it you would like to see in the service and designing it around those needs and wants rather than a malahini,” he said.

Residents have a final opportunity to provide feedback about the proposed ferry today at the Kahului Community Center at 275 Uhu St.