Important Notice
The Hawaii Superferry ceased all operations on March 19, 2009, following a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling. There are no current fares to book and no active service. This page preserves the historical fare information for research and reference purposes.
How Hawaii Superferry Reservations Worked
The Hawaii Superferry offered three ways to purchase tickets during its operation from December 2007 to March 2009:
1. Online — Recommended for Best Fares
The primary and preferred method was booking through the Hawaii Superferry website at HawaiiSuperferry.com (now offline). Online booking offered:
- Access to the best available fares and promotional pricing
- Advance purchase discounts (typically $5 off per passenger when booking 14+ days ahead)
- Ability to book vehicle transport alongside passenger tickets
- Confirmation sent by email
The Superferry strongly encouraged online booking for best pricing. Customers were encouraged to visit the website for the latest schedules and fares and to make their reservations online.
2. By Phone
The Superferry operated a call center that could process reservations:
- Phone: 1-877-HI-FERRY (1-877-443-3779)
- Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM HST
Phone reservations were available for passengers who preferred not to book online or needed assistance with complex bookings involving multiple passengers and vehicles.
3. At the Port — Walk-Up Tickets
Tickets could also be purchased at the departure ports for same-day travel. Key rules for port purchases:
- Tickets had to be purchased at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time
- Cash was accepted at port ticket windows (unlike online booking which required a credit card)
- Same-day availability was not guaranteed — the Superferry could and did sell out
Reservation Requirements
Payment
Online reservations required a major credit card. The port ticket window accepted cash for same-day walk-up purchases.
Vehicle Reservations
Passengers bringing a vehicle needed to reserve vehicle space separately from passenger tickets. Vehicle dimensions affected pricing — standard passenger cars up to 17 feet were one rate; larger vehicles were priced differently. Motorcycles and scooters had their own separate fare category.
Boarding Requirements
The Superferry recommended arriving at the harbor well in advance of departure — similar to airline check-in requirements — to allow time for vehicle loading, which required more coordination than passenger boarding.
Promotional Fares That Required Advance Booking
Several of the Superferry’s best fares were only available through advance online booking:
Inaugural promotional fares (December 1–20, 2007): $29 one-way passenger fare — available only on an advance-purchase basis online or by phone. Reservations for these fares opened at 6:00 AM on Saturday, November 17, 2007.
14-day advance purchase discount: An additional $5 off per passenger fare when purchasing 14 or more days before travel — only available through advance booking.
Summer 2008 promotional fares: The $49 summer promotional rate was available for bookings made before August 5 for travel through September 30, 2008 — advance booking required to secure that rate.
Walk-up passengers at the port typically paid the standard fare without access to promotional pricing.
The Vessel: What Passengers Were Booking
Understanding what the reservation was for helps explain why the Superferry generated such interest during its brief operation.
The Hawaii Superferry operated the Alakai — a 349-foot high-speed aluminum catamaran built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The vessel was capable of transporting up to 866 passengers and approximately 200–282 vehicles, traveling at roughly 37–40 mph across the channel.
Onboard amenities passengers reserved access to:
- Multiple dining options and a café
- Spacious seating with significantly more room than an airplane
- Ocean views from large windows and open deck areas
- Live television and high-speed internet access
- A children’s play area
- Drive-on/drive-off vehicle access — your car traveled alongside you
The experience was genuinely different from flying — more like a short cruise than an airline flight, with room to walk around, grab food, and watch the Hawaiian Islands pass outside the windows.
The Route That Was Available to Book
Oahu to Maui:
- Departure: Pier 19, Honolulu Harbor, downtown Honolulu
- Arrival: Kahului Harbor, Maui
- Crossing time: Approximately 3 hours
Maui to Oahu:
- Departure: Kahului Harbor, Maui
- Arrival: Pier 19, Honolulu Harbor
- Crossing time: Approximately 3 hours
The Superferry’s original plans included routes to Kauai (Nawiliwili Harbor) and the Big Island (Kawaihae Harbor), but Kauai service was blocked by protesters and never successfully established, and Big Island service was planned for 2009 but never launched before the company shut down.
Why the Superferry Reservation System No Longer Exists
The Hawaii Superferry suspended all operations on March 19, 2009, after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the state law enabling the ferry to operate without completing a full Environmental Impact Statement was unconstitutional. With no legal basis to continue, the company filed for bankruptcy. The website, phone reservation system, and all customer-facing operations shut down simultaneously.
Passengers who had purchased tickets for travel after March 19, 2009, were left with unrefunded reservations — a significant loss for those who had booked non-refundable tickets in advance. The bankruptcy proceedings addressed some of these claims, but many passengers received little or no refund.
This outcome underscored one of the practical arguments for travel insurance — protecting non-refundable bookings against unexpected service cancellations.
How to Book Travel from Oahu to Maui Today
Since the Superferry’s closure, flying is the only way to travel between the two islands. The booking process is straightforward and offers significantly more flexibility than the Superferry’s limited daily schedule.
How to Book an Oahu to Maui Flight
Step 1: Compare airlines and prices Five airlines currently fly this route — Southwest, Hawaiian, Alaska, Mokulele, and Southern Airways Express. Each has different pricing, baggage policies, and schedules.
Step 2: Book directly or through a comparison site
- Southwest must be booked directly at southwest.com — they don’t appear on Google Flights or most third-party sites
- Hawaiian, Alaska, and others can be compared on Google Flights, Kayak, or through travel affiliate search tools
Step 3: Book early for best prices One-way fares start as low as $44–$65 booked in advance. Last-minute fares can reach $150–$200+.
➡️ Compare and book current Oahu to Maui flights →
Current Booking Tips
Book 4–6 weeks in advance for the best combination of price and availability.
Check Southwest separately — their two free checked bags make them competitive even when their base fare is slightly higher than other airlines.
Book your rental car at the same time — Maui has a well-documented car shortage. Unlike the Superferry where you brought your own vehicle, flying to Maui means you’ll need a rental car to get around.
➡️ Read the Maui Car Rental Guide →
Consider travel insurance — unlike the Superferry’s fare-at-risk situation, travel insurance protects your non-refundable hotel, tour, and flight bookings if plans change unexpectedly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still make a Hawaii Superferry reservation?
No. The Hawaii Superferry permanently ceased operations on March 19, 2009. The website is offline, the phone reservation system no longer exists, and there are no tickets to purchase. There is currently no ferry service between Oahu and Maui.
What happened to passengers who had Superferry reservations when it shut down?
When the Superferry filed for bankruptcy in 2009, passengers who had pre-purchased tickets for travel after March 19, 2009, were left with claims against the bankrupt company. Refunds were limited and many passengers received little or nothing back from their advance ticket purchases.
How do I book travel from Oahu to Maui now?
Flying is your only option. Book directly with Southwest, Hawaiian, or Alaska Airlines, or compare prices on Google Flights. One-way fares typically run $44–$120 booked in advance. The flight takes 35–40 minutes.
Did the Hawaii Superferry accept cash?
Yes — cash was accepted for walk-up ticket purchases at the port on the day of travel. Online and phone reservations required a credit card.
How far in advance did you need to book the Superferry?
There was no strict advance booking requirement, but promotional fares — including the $5 advance purchase discount — required booking at least 14 days ahead. Walk-up same-day tickets were available at the port as long as the voyage wasn’t sold out.
Was the Hawaii Superferry ever sold out?
Yes. The inaugural voyages when the Superferry launched with $5 fares were sold out immediately. Popular holiday and weekend departures also sold out during the promotional period. This was one reason the company recommended advance online booking.