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Ferry starts Monday
with Pearl Harbor
to town trial

WIKIWIKI FERRY SCHEDULE

By Steve Murray
Star-Bulletin

The next leg of testing for the Wikiwiki Ferry is to start next week.

Beginning Monday, the ferry will begin its trial service from the Middle Loch area of Pearl Harbor at 6:30 a.m., arriving at Aloha Tower at 7:30 a.m.

The return ferry will leave Aloha Tower at 5:15 p.m. and arrive at Middle Loch at 6:15 p.m. A final one-way trip will be made to Aloha Tower at 7:30 p.m.

Transportation on the ferry is free until Aug. 4.

Passengers will board the ferry at an inactive Navy maintenance pier across from the Ted Makalena Golf Course on Waipio Point Access Road.

A guarded parking lot is available for those driving in while a shuttle service will pick up passengers at area bus stops.

Following the completion of the Middle Loch runs, the ferry will move to an Iroquois Point pickup spot in yet another part of the demonstration project.

State Department of Transportation ferry project manager Dean Nakagawa said the points of departure are being moved to better determine where the ferry is needed most.

When the ferry began last October, 300 to 400 people a day took advantage of the free trip to town from Barbers Point.

Nakagawa said the number dropped to about 60 passengers a day when the $3 round-trip price was added. He said the number rose to about 150 near the end of the first testing.

The ferry service from Barbers Point was temporarily halted while the state awaited the permits necessary to use the Middle Loch site and to perform upkeep on the ferry.

"The Coast Guard has strict maintenance requirements, so we put the vessel in drydock to do the work," Nakagawa said.

If the ferry project is approved, Nakagawa said it is unlikely the state would be able to subsidize the cost. "I don't think we can operate free," he said.

WIKIWIKI FERRY'S SHUTTLE SCHEDULE Pickup and drop-off points for the shuttle bus at the Middle Loch site of the Wikiwiki Ferry: Kamehameha Highway, after Lumiauau Street on Waipio-Gentry side of the road. Lumiaina Street, after Lumiauau Street intersection, and past the Waikele Premium Outlet Stores entrance. Paiwa Street, across Puloko Street, past Hiapo overpass, and in front of Waipahu District Park. Ferry terminal, 93-051 Waipio Point Access Road. Pickup and drop-off points for the shuttle bus at the Aloha Tower site of the Wikiwiki Ferry: 707 Alakea St. Central Pacific Plaza, 220 S. King St. Executive Centre, 1060 Bishop St. 223 S. King St. 465 S. King St. Alapai bus stop, South and Young streets Punchbowl Street, Diamond Head side of state Capitol 830 Punchbowl St., at Halekauwila Street Reverse commuter parking lot on Forrest Avenue Federal building, 300 Ala Moana Ferry terminal, Pier 9