STAR-BULLETIN A surfer, one of almost 50 people who blocked Nawiliwili Harbor on Aug. 27, climbed onto a buoy to express his displeasure with the Superferry.

Governor to visit Kauai hoping to calm waters for Superferry

LIHUE » Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday that she will travel to Kauai on Thursday to answer public questions about the security for the Hawaii Superferry's return to the Garden Isle.

The 6 p.m. meeting at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall will be held to outline the new, stricter federal security zones at Nawiliwili Harbor and the penalties that violators face when and if the Superferry returns to Kauai as scheduled Sept. 26.

The security zone, which will be enforced an hour before the Superferry makes port until 10 minutes after it leaves, will affect the entire harbor, the sole major port on Kauai. All boat, pedestrian and car traffic is scheduled to be stopped in the area while the security guidelines are in place. Local businesses in the area, and the Kauai Food Bank, might also be subject to closure, but neither U.S. Coast Guard officials nor Kauai police would discuss exactly how these businesses could be affected.

Protesters said yesterday they will be in attendance Thursday to let Lingle know how they feel about her recent actions.

"If she comes expecting just a small group of dissidents, it will be shocking to her," said Jimmy Trujillo, of the group Hui-R.

Accusing the governor of consistently ignoring the comments of the Kauai public, its legislators and the County Council, Trujillo said he expects the governor will make no concessions, despite any protests.

"It's too late for an opportunity to dialogue with her," he added.