Surfers Arrested Protesting Superferry
08.28.2007

Hawaii Superferry

Over two dozen surfers and blocked Hawaii´s new Superferry at Nawiliwili Harbor.

With an investment costing at least 95 million dollars, the Superferry is the first intrastate ferry service in Hawaii but the State Supreme Court ruled that the Superferry needed an environmental assessment which could take months, effectively shutting down the Superferry. However ferry officials point out that they have met all the requirements of the state Department of Transportation, including provisions pertaining to environmental review.

Hawaii Superferry decided that the court did not explicitly order the Superferry not to run and proceeded with the maiden voyage of the Alakai, a 350 foot long vessel capable of carrying over 900 passengers and crew plus 250 motor vehicles. The Alakai contains a jet propulsion system which has no exposed propellers to potentially harm marine life and an advanced stabilizer system.

Several protestors were arrested as the US Coast Guard broke up a human blockade. More swam out to join but were challenged by Coast Guard inflatable boats which weaved in between groups of people. Eventually after a few hours the Superferry was able to dock so that the passengers and cars could disembark.

Later the Maui Circuit Court issued a restraining order, prohibiting the Superferry from servicing the island. Further plans by environmentalists intend to block the ferry from operating completely.

Matson Completes New Kahului Crane
08.06.2007

Example of a mobile harbor crane

Matson Navigation Company, Inc. has just finished installation of a 5 million dollar mobile harbor crane for the port of Kahului. Manufactured in Germany, the new crane is 150 feet tall and can lift up to 40 tons which can be used in conjunction with Matson´s container and barge roll-on and roll-off (ro-ro) services.

In recent years Maui has seen increased container volumes due economic growth, the new crane is expected to meet the growing demands of Maui and improve container service to and from Hawaii.

Matson was the first to introduce direct long haul ro-ro service to and from Maui and the West Coast and the new Kahului crane is just one more example of Matson´s continuing investment to ensure speed and quality of service to Hawaii, the neighboring islands and Guam. In addition to this new crane, Matson has dry docked two container barges for enhancements and has future plans to improve delivery other systems.

Gay & Robinson plans new ethanol plant
07.11.2007

Sugarcane field in Hawaii

Gay & Robinson, Inc. is making plans to build the first plant in the United States to turn sugar into ethanol. The company will invest 80 million dollars into the new facility which will be built on the sugar fields Gay & Robinson operates in Kaumakani.

In partnership with Pacific West Energy, Gay & Robinson expects the plant will have the capacity to produce more than one forth of Hawaii's current ethanol needs using sugar juice and molasses as raw materials.

Hawaii State law requires gasoline to be blended with 10 percent ethanol but so far companies have had to import ethanol.