The high-speed ferry that became a military asset after a failed island dream

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Originally built to bridge the islands of Hawaii, the Alakai ferry faced protests, legal battles, and bankruptcy before finding a second life as a U.S. Navy vessel. Now known as HST-2, this high-speed catamaran has transitioned from commercial passenger service to military transport and international ferry routes.

The vessel now known as HST-2 began its life as Alakai, a 349-foot high-speed ferry designed by Austal USA for Hawaii Superferry. Launched in 2007, the ship was built to carry 866 passengers and hundreds of vehicles between Oahu and Maui at speeds of 35 knots. However, the project faced significant turbulence. While the maiden voyage to Maui was successful, the trip to Kauai was met by protestors on surfboards blockading the harbor. By 2009, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the legislation allowing the ferry to operate without an environmental review was unconstitutional, effectively ending the company's Hawaiian operations.

Following the collapse of Hawaii Superferry, the U.S. Maritime Administration purchased the vessel at auction in 2010 for $25 million. The U.S. Navy later acquired the ship in 2012, intending to use it for transporting troops and equipment in the Pacific. The design of the Alakai proved influential; the experience gained by Austal USA in building these high-speed ferries helped the company secure subsequent contracts for the Navy's Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessels and Littoral Combat Ships.

After years of being laid up or evaluated for military use, the vessel found a new commercial purpose. In 2016, Bay Ferries Limited chartered the ship to operate a service in the Gulf of Maine, connecting Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Branded as The CAT, the ferry eventually shifted its U.S. port to Bar Harbor. Despite disruptions caused by marina construction and the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled service in 2020 and 2021, the vessel returned to operation in 2022, marking a long journey from its origins as a Hawaiian sea path to a fixture of the North Atlantic.

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