Hawaii Superferry still faces legal challenges

Hawaii Superferry still has at least one legal hurdle to clear.

The service opened months later than originally planned thanks to a combination of in-water protests and legal challenges that were finally resolved only with help of special legislation that allowed Superferry to resume operations while an environmental impact statement is completed.

Tomorrow, the Hawaii Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a legal challenge to the Superferry legislation brought by environmentalists.

Meantime, reports the Honolulu Advertiser, the Hawaii State Auditor today released a report that finds that the legislation compromised the state's environmental laws and set a worrisome precedent that put the interests of a single company ahead of state responsibilities.

The report was required by the very legislation that it criticizes,

The auditor also found that $40 million in state harbor improvements for the Superferry project could be in question if Superferry configures both of its high-speed catamarans with on-board ramps that could used as alternatives to the state's ramps and barges.

Today's audit report is the second of two. You can access it HERE (and you can access the earlier report HERE)