Which is the best and/or cheapest airline to take between islandsin the summer? How does the ferry compare?

Use any travel booking engines, or the airline sites (Hawaiian, Go! or Island Air), to see the available fares, which start at $54. You might want to check prices based on any scheduling specifics you have, as the lowest fares aren't available at all times of day.

Superferry is the cheapest, and I did a post on that last week: http://beatofhawaii.com/hawaii-super...summer-travel/.

Aloha, beatofhawaii.com

Please do not take the Superferry.

They are operating without any regard to the environment.

Take Hawaiian Airlines or Island Air.

dusty
Please explain your last comment regarding Superferry.

beatofhawaii,

I don't want to go to your blog to read about your experiences. How about a brief synopsis?

Hawaiian Air ...check travel engines for cheapest fares.

Superferry is controversial because of the lack of environmental impact planning.

Rental cars are not allowed on Supeferry.

They are cancelled for weather conditions, not uncommonly.

There is a seasickness factor.

The Superferry takes several hours, as opposed to about 35 minutes on one of the airlines.

The Superferry also only currently sails between Maui and Honolulu, and only has two departure times each day.

What you would take depends on your schedule how much time you're willing to spend in transit. I have friends that have gone on the Superferry and found it a great way to travel, and others that were extremely seasick and vowed never to do it again.

At the current time, Supeferry only goes between Oahua and Maui. You can google for the fare. It isn't a bargain.

Superferry got a sweetheart deal to operate in Hawaii without a requires environmental assessment. the Lingle Administration gave them an exemption even thought there was a law enacted in the mid-70's that required any new company that receives state or federal $$$ to provide an environmental assessment.

Several organizations got together & filed lawsuits requiring Superferry to get an environmental assessment before they operate in Hawaii waters & ports.

One of the lawsuits succeeded, the one to enter Kahului. When the court case was heard, a judge ruled that there was merit to the case that Superferry should have been required to provide an environmental assessment & that there was merit to the case that the environment may suffer damage.

The judge also ordered the Superferry to stay out of Kahului Harbor until an environmental assessment was provided.

Superferry was then given another sweetheart deal by the Lingle Administration. They passed a law allowing Superferry to operate while the environmental assessment was being conducted.

So the Superferry operates in a whale population at 43 mph whale no other vessel goes more that 25 mph.

Superferry is the only vessel that can take vehicles that were used in areas on different islands and taken to another island to be used the same day allowing for the spread of any invasive species.

Lingle lied to the public several times when she stated that no other vessel had been required to provide an environmental assessment. This was proved a lie. Her transportation director admitted that there were many cases where an environmental assessment was conducted.

I could add much more.

Please do not take the Superferry.

For those of us who live in the islands, environmental impact statements and reviews are critical to preserving our land, our rivers, our oceans, and our eco-systems.

The intrusion of just a few invasive plant seeds or (worse yet) an unwanted critter (for Kaua`i, that's DEFINITELY the mongoose; for all the islands it's snakes!) and our entire eco-system will be changed...forever.

The tires of vehicles arriving on the stupid-ferry could easily include seeds and pollen we might not want. And critters -- whether smuggled intentionally or as uninvited passengers -- could easily be on board as well.

The native Hawaiian communities on all the islands have also raised the issue of folks coming to their island to hunt & fish...which will result in food being taken from the folks who live on that island.

Please...boycott the stupid-ferry!

Count me in on one who opposes the superferry from the start. Never thought it was a good idea, and still do not.

beat - it would be helpful if you shared your thoughts rather then send us to your personal website. It has a way of sending up red flags to long time posters when someone continually signs off with their personal blog. Just a whisper away from advertising.

I'm sure you do it with good intent, but some continue to find the selfpromotion disturbing.

Aloha one and all.

Count me in on not using the ferry while we are in Oahu this 2009. We will be there for 5 wks and do plan on a couple day trips. We will fly. Thank you for the information.