$95M Hawaii Superferry makes maiden voyage

KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) — Loaded with people paying a discount fare of just $5, the $95 million Hawaii Superferry made its maiden run Sunday with a rushed launch for a three-hour voyage to Maui — the first passenger ferry service between the islands.

Legal problems threatened to beach the giant catamaran like one of the whales that environmentalists fear it will run over, so the company moved up the debut by two days.

More than 500 passengers and crew, and 150 cars, were aboard when the four-deck, blue-and-white vessel pulled away from the dock.