Superferry barge repairs to cost state $414,284

So far the Superferry has cost us:

$40,000,000 for harbor improvements and the useless barge
$10,000,000 to buy land to relocate Interisland freight taken by Superferry
$503,000 for tug boat because the barge doesn't work

Most of this money would have been avoided if Gov. Lingle hadn't tried to outsmart the State Environmental Law and chosen to dock the ferry on a barge. The 2nd ferry comes with its own ramps on board -- as this one should have done.

The Superferry continues to operate at a loss with passenger counts well below their breakeven.

If they had done an EIS, they might have downsized the ferry and created a more viable operation.

As it is now, we will have thrown away all this money when they go belly up. They've already moved the 2nd ferry into military contracting instead of using it in Hawai'i.

We could have used HALF this money and create pipelines to use our reclaimed water for irrigation, freeing up about 30% more water for us to use.

Which do you think would be better for Maui's economy? 30% more water or the Superferry?