After nearly two months of being out of service, the Hawaii Superferry set sail for Maui Monday morning. The Alakai left Honolulu Harbor at around 6:20 a.m. with less than 100 passengers. It had been in dry dock because of damage to its rudder and hull.
The voyage is raising concerns about whale strikes, invasive species and traffic, but Hawaii Superferry officials expect smooth sailing.
The voyage came two weeks earlier than expected. This after Aloha Airlines abruptly shut down its passenger service last week. Superferry officials say while the timing is just coincidence, they're looking to fill at least some of the void left by the inter-island service.
