July 1 start for Superferry wanted by most, poll says
But critics are not buying the results of the poll, conducted by QMark from March 9-13
The controversial Hawaii Superferry is trying to stave off critics with a new independent poll showing that three out of four residents want the interisland carrier to start on July 1.
With just over three months before its planned start of service, Superferry officials released yesterday the results of a new independent poll indicating that four out of five residents favor the interisland travel alternative.
"These results confirm what we've been hearing from people as we travel throughout the state," said John Garibaldi, president and CEO of the Superferry.
But opponents of the Superferry don't buy the results of the latest poll, saying that it is merely a public relations campaign to hide the true sentiments of residents, particularly in rural communities on the neighbor islands.
"They are misleading the public," said Lucienne de Naie, senior vice president of Maui Tomorrow Foundation Inc., a community advocacy group that is suing the state and Superferry for an environmental impact study. "The facts are being carefully hidden from everybody. They have the best PR campaign that money can buy."
Honolulu-based QMark Research & Polling conducted 407 phone interviews statewide proportional to the population by island from March 9-13, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.86 percentage points.
Highlights of the survey include:
» Nearly 70 percent of residents polled said that a delay of three years -- which Superferry officials say would be needed for the environmental study -- is not acceptable.
» About 84 percent of residents said they will likely consider using the Superferry for their next visit to a neighbor island.
» Roughly 75 percent of residents do not want a new law passed if it results in the Superferry canceling service.
Meanwhile, a Senate bill that would force the Superferry to conduct an environmental impact statement has crossed over to the House, though it was amended to drop a clause requiring the study's completion before start of service. The bill also was revised to shift the cost of the environmental review from the Superferry to the state.
Opponents have criticized state transportation officials for exempting the Superferry from an environmental assessment because $40 million in public funds has been allocated for harbor improvements on Oahu and the neighbor islands to make way for the new carrier.
"There's a potential for long-term very significant impacts on rural and relatively isolated communities," said Sen. Gary Hooser, (D-Kauai-Niihau). "We need to be very careful and take a measured approach and that has not been done."
Hooser said that most residents do not live on the neighbor islands and therefore the latest poll doesn't reflect the view of the general population that would be affected by the service.
"To do a truly accurate poll of any particular area you need at least 400 residents per island," he said. "To do an accurate poll of the state you need about 1,600 residents. It's safe to say that the poll doesn't reflect the general feelings of the constituents in my district."