LIHUE, Hawaii — Opponents of the first passenger-vehicle ferry between major Hawaiian Islands greeted Gov. Linda Lingle with boos and interruptions as she tried to sell the project to residents of Kauai.
Despite the angry reception Thursday, the Republican governor said the Hawaii Superferry would resume service between Oahu and Kauai next Wednesday under Coast Guard protection.
Residents, many of whom oppose the ferry on environmental grounds, packed the 1,000-seat Kauai War Memorial convention hall. They shouted down Lingle, the state transportation director and a Coast Guard official as they tried to discuss the resumption of the service.
“We are not going to allow this to happen,” ferry opponent Robert Pa said to a chorus of cheers. “The first whale that’s killed, I’m going to drag it to (Kauai Mayor) Bryan Baptiste’s office.”
The officials warned the crowd about state and federal penalties for disrupting the ferry, which offers the only alternative to air travel.
“I do believe it’s a great option and I support it,” said Lingle, who kept her composure despite being called a liar and a lawbreaker.
Ferry service was stopped three weeks ago by waterborne protesters in Kauai’s Nawiliwili Harbor and by a court order on Maui. The ferry is built to carry more than 850 passengers and 250 vehicles daily.
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