SURPRISE! - SUPERFERRY TO CARRY NATIONAL GUARD GEAR TO MAUI
Officials Ignore Local Community Input
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - January 7, 2008
Twenty-four pieces of Hawai`i Army National Guard heavy engineering equipment are shipping to Maui to remove debris left behind from thunderstorms and flash floods last month....
...It is the first time the military has used the ferry to transport heavy machinery, and Superferry officials say it underscores the value of the vessel.
"All along, we've planned that this ship can be a real asset to civil defense at a time of disaster," said Terry O'Halloran, Superferry's director of business and development.
The Superferry's cooperation with the military comes days after Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares expressed disappointment that the Superferry was adding a second daily trip to Maui without consulting community members.
"It continues to be a contentious matter for many in our community," Tavares said in a statement.