Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeIsland companies help customers affected by Superferry's shutdown

Island companies help customers affected by Superferry's shutdown

By Zahid Arab - bio | email

HONOLULU (KHNL) - The Hawaii Superferry will make its final voyage after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled a special law created to allow it to run without an environmental impact statement is unconstitutional. The Superferry ceased operations Monday.

It's not only people, but also packages and important freight that the Superferry transported.

With its final potential run, other companies are taking a bad situation and trying to make it better for customers.

Products, pets, to other packages, Aloha Cargo transports about 300,000 pounds of goods to neighbor islands and back each day. Since the Hawaii Superferry's shutdown, the company's catching a lot more calls.

"It's not a good thing, we feel for the employees, we feel for the customers," said Aloha Cargo President Mike Malik.

Its departure will cost the state almost 250 jobs and an affordable delivery service that businesses have relied on.

"They transport bread to Maui, they do ground package shipments for couriers, those are going to be the things hit," said Malik.

But Aloha Cargo says instead of thinking capital, it's community first. The company is offering a 15% discount to any of the Superferry's former clients.

"Most people would normally put the rates up because they have this captured market. We think the alternative because we're truly here to help the state of Hawaii," said Malik.

Aloha Cargo's pilots and crews will take on more flights as will other island companies that are saddened by the Superferry's loss, but know they must now pick up the slack.

The Hawaii Superferry will make one last run to Maui and back Thursday, March 19th. The company has been tight-lipped about the shutdown, but officials will talk for the first time before the final voyage.