Parodies of SF Supporters: Souki   Lingle

by Karen Chun

I was already on Pu'unene when the experiment started.  We were supposed to drive out, make a big loop and come back again twice. We had fewer cars than the 240 the Superferry carries so each of us was going to go twice during the hour.

Ha! It took me 45 minutes just to get to the stoplight. 

I heard it was over an hour just to get 100 cars out.  But I didn't stay to see because by that time I was hungry and cranky.

Off duty cops had been hired to keep the bank traffic flowing so they were only letting  the Superferry cars out a few at a time.  In real life, I'm not so sure the bank will be able to keep the Superferry traffic bottled up like that. 

The result was to confine the traffic impact to Pu'unene.  Without the cops keeping traffic bottled up, I think the intersections, bank and Hideaway will clog to a stop, just like we did.

Here's what I found out.

1) It is really, really hot waiting to get out from Pu'unene. 

2) Air conditioners don't get very cold when you are at a dead stop for  45 minutes.

2) I got really thirsty.

3) That bank is very busy.

4) The Hideway had trouble getting their supplies delivered

5) Although we helped the fishermen and people using the beach to get to the front and get out, I don't think the ferry traffic will be so nice.

So,  the only way that the Superferry can work is if they do what the Bank did to us and slowly trickle out the traffic over time.  1 1/2 hours for 100 cars. 3.5 hours for a full Superferry.

In fact I hope the County of Maui does exactly that and stations cops to cause the superferry cars to be held back and released only 1 per minute as was done today.

Much thanks to Cary and Eddie at the Hideaway. Although they weren't part of the experiment, they were gracious and patient with what had to be a real disruption to their business. Show your appreciation of their tolerance and go eat there and thank them.