A Hawaiian icon has gone the way of the sunset. TheBoat, which was a $2 ride, sailed its last voyage on June 30th. This ends the golden age of water transport for Hawaii and moves the islands into more current modes of transport, cars and airplanes. Currently, the only interisland passenger service is now by air.
Buses are being added to make up for the loss of the water commute but for the regular commuters who used the waterway around Oahu, which sailed out of the beautiful Aloha Tower Marketplace to Kalaeloa Harbor across from the Ko Olina resort on West Oahu. Many of the former passengers are not excited about going back to a bus service and will start driving instead of riding the bus, which could crowd the only major transportation corridor.
According to CNBC.com and the Associated Press, “Besides the spectacular shoreline vistas, the hour-long voyage on TheBoat offered amenities not found on Honolulu’s often-crowded bus system: a snack bar, free newspapers, tables for creating a traveling office, high-backed seats, wireless Internet and an attentive crew.”
Additionally, the article shares, “Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said he still supports the idea of a city ferry and it could come back when it becomes more viable. A Web site has been set up for a grassroots campaign to “keep hope alive.”
“What I’ll always remember is the sense of peace I feel with the ocean breeze in my face — a perfect way to begin and end the day, a feeling no drive home or bus ride could ever match,” says the Webmaster, who identifies himself only as Mel, regular commuter and supporter of TheBoat.”
