Maui County May Buy The Lanai Passenger Ferry
The privately owned ferry service is a critical mode of transportation for the island’s 3,000 residents.
A ferry service that鈥檚 a vital link for Lanai residents traveling to and from Maui for work and medical appointments may sell its assets, creating uncertainty about the future of travel on the tiny island.
Now Maui County is exploring the prospect of buying it.
On Tuesday the approved a first reading of the county , which includes $300,000 for a feasibility study on the operation of a county-owned ferry.
Councilman Gabe Johnson, who lives on Lanai, proposed the funds, saying a study could lay the groundwork to justify a public purchase of the ferry.
鈥淚 want public transportation to be in the hands of the public,鈥 said Johnson, who serves as chairman of the . 鈥淚nterisland transportation is such a hot topic for my community and the ferry is our lifeline.鈥
Expeditions, , has five boats that make eight trips a day between on Maui and on Lanai.
The importance of the private ferry service has been underscored in recent years by the reduced number of commercial airlines that continue to serve Lanai.
Mokulele Airlines is the only public airline still servicing the Pineapple Isle, putting a squeeze on last-minute travel. In recent months residents have complained that the airline鈥檚 nine-passenger planes aren鈥檛 sufficient to meet resident demand for interisland travel.
The ferry is the only other alternative for off-island travel. While its route is limited to the roughly one-hour crossing of the Auau Channel, it鈥檚 more affordable than an airline ticket.
A one-way ferry ticket for a kamaaina adult costs $25. Kamaaina tickets for seniors and children are $10. This compares to a one-way airplane ticket from Lanai to Maui, which starts at $74 on Mokulele Airlines.
Johnson said there are a number of federal grants that could help the county buy the ferry service. He envisions the acquisition as a launchpad to a multimodal transportation program where residents could purchase a ride on the ferry and a trip on the county bus with a single ticket.
“The ferry makes money,” Johnson said. “We all know the bus system is not making any money. So the ferry can help subsidize the bus system.”
The upcoming fiscal year starts July 1. The nine-member council by charter has until June 10 to send its budget counterproposal to Mayor Richard Bissen. The next council meeting on the budget is scheduled for June 6.
Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.
