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WikiWiki Ferry
makes final run
today; state hopes
private firm takes over

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

Iroquois Point ferry riders are disappointed that the WikiWiki Ferry demonstration project will end today.

Ewa Beach resident Pat Monroe said, "It's the greatest thing that ever happened out here."

Spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said the state Transportation Department will compile a report on the $3 million ferry demonstration project by the end of December to include passenger surveys, passenger rates, ferry schedules, maintenance and the number of vessels needed to run a ferry.

The report will be available to companies that might consider running a ferry regularly between downtown and the Leeward Coast, with its growing population. The report also will be available to government officials and the public.

"We hope there is an interested operator out there who will see the benefits of such a program and figure out how to supplement the commuter ferry with commercial operations to keep the cost down," Kali said.

Earlier departure sites for the ferry service were Barbers Point and Middle Loch.

At Iroquois Point, there has been an average of 1,100 ferry riders per week. All of the ferry rides terminated at Aloha Tower.

Overall, there were at least 35,000 passengers on the trial ferry service since its inception last year, said ferry project manager Dean Nakagawa.

The nature of the ride enabled commuters to socialize and relax on their way to and from work, he said.

Ewa Beach resident and regular ferry rider Diane Rosa said, "Everybody arrives so much more calm and willing to go to work."

The service even attracted some tourists, who rode the ferry round-trip as a sightseeing outing.

Nakagawa acknowledged that implementing a permanent ferry service could be a slow process. He encouraged ferry riders to continue supporting the project in hopes of having it as an alternative commute.

"If there's continued support, something good can come out of it," Nakagawa said.

Rosa, a dental hygienist in Honolulu, said more than 300 names have been collected on a petition asking to continue the service.

Kali said it seems logical to use water for transportation.

"We're surrounded by water. On an island, you run out of land space."

Ferry facts Over the past year, the WikiWiki ferry demonstration project had trial runs from three Leeward Coast locations to Aloha Tower in downtown Honolulu. Here's how ridership stacked up as of Nov. 22: Barbers Point: 19,000 passengers Middle Loch: 4,500 passengers (departures were limited to one ferry ride in the morning and two in the afternoon) Iroquois Point: 11,300 passengers