Several O'ahu-based businesses took advantage of the Hawai'i Superferry's relaunch yesterday and said they would use it on a regular basis, but only if the ferry can sail consistently and become a reliable mode of transportation.

The ferry set sail for Maui from Honolulu Harbor yesterday morning following months of delay because of legal hurdles. On board the 350-foot Alakai were trucks and employees from some O'ahu businesses.

One of them was Futura Stone, which transported two company trucks that were loaded with material for a job on the Valley Isle. Co-owner Pat Cozzo said the job required more supplies so her husband and another worker used the ferry to transport the material.

Cozzo said the same-day delivery was quicker and cheaper than using an inter-island barge and she said the savings will be passed on to her customers.

"It'll save homeowners money because we can pass on the savings. If we're spending $1,000 for shipping and we're only spending $500 on the Superferry, and that's just hypothetically, then we can charge people less and provide better service faster," Cozzo said.

Superferry officials have said they hoped the service would be used regularly by businesses, such as contractors, construction workers, farmers, service providers and others.

But whether or not the Superferry becomes a regular part of businesses here is in question because of the possibility of more legal action that could delay service again.

Cozzo said her company had planned to ship their products on Monday, the original restart date of the ferry, but had to put the merchandise on a Young Brothers barge because the trip was postponed until yesterday. Futura Stone also planned to use the ferry to go to Kaua'i before the courts shut down the service.

It's unexpected delays such as these that has business owners concerned.

George Toyama, owner of general Trades and Services, a flooring contractor, said the Superferry will be good for small businesses that want to expand to other islands. He said current transportation methods are expensive and time consuming.

"Trying to take our vehicles and equipment down to Young Brothers, ship it over, pick it up and do what we need to do, or try to rent equipment on the Neighbor Islands, is a little difficult," Toyama said. "If we had the Superferry, we could take some of our own equipment."

But Toyama said he will wait and see before he books any trips.

"I don't want to schedule something out there and then they tell me that the Superferry is going to hang it up for a month or so," he said. "We're just crossing our fingers and watching them play it out. I'm convinced that it's going to work."

John Souza put an employee and truck on the Superferry yesterday and will send another truck to Maui this morning. The owner of Expediters Hawai'i, a freight-forwarding firm, said he'd use the ferry again, but it won't be his sole source of transportation.

"It's just another avenue of moving people and merchandise," Souza said.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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