Superferry Plan Raises Environmental Questions

Flickr: eye of einstein

With all the economic and political questions swirling around the Hawaii Superferry, it's easy to forget that some of the biggest issues that plagued the inter-island boat system the first time around were environmental in nature.

Governor hopeful Mufi Hannemann breathed life into the proposal — and the heated debate about its viability — on Monday when he made its revival part of his 10-point economic plan. His principal Democratic rival, former Rep. Neil Abercrombie, also favors the ferry but says it won't fix Hawaii's economic woes all by itself. Republican candidate James "Duke" Aiona was second in command in the Lingle administration that went to extraordinary lengths to make the Superferry possible in the first place.

So it seems that no matter who ends up in Washington Place after November's election, the Superferry could get another look. But whether the ferry gets any more than a cursory glance will depend on a number of factors, not least of which will be environmental issues.

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