Hawaii Superferry

The Hawaii Superferry was a Hawaii-based transportation company that provided passenger and vehicle transportation between Honolulu Harbor on the island of Oʻahu and Kahului Harbor on Maui. Legal issues over environmental impact statements and protests from residents of Maui and Kauaʻi temporarily delayed the implementation of service, but service between Oʻahu and Maui began in December 2007. The company had hoped to return service to Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauaʻi and additionally planned to eventually provide service to Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island.

Ferry operations were suspended in March, 2009 after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a state law allowing the Superferry to operate without a complete environmental impact statement was unconstitutional. The company has left the possibility of returning to service open if the state does an EIS and approves future voyages. In the meantime, they will be investigating other possible uses for the Alakai. On July 2, 2009 a Delaware Bankruptcy Court granted the company's motion to abandon both the Alakai and Huakai, ending all possibilities that the company might return to Hawaii; the ships were bought by the US Maritime Administration in 2010, and the US Navy has expressed interest in buying them from MARAD. Both vessels, now in the possession of the U.S. Maritime Administration, are docked in Norfolk, Virginia and are in transit to Mobile, Alabama, for "insurance considerations".

Both craft have since been purchased by the United States Navy.