More than a 1,000 people packed into the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihue Thursday night.

The audience got hostile at times. But the governor remained calm and stayed firm that the Alakai would resume service to Nawiliwili Harbor on September 26.

The goal was to avoid a confrontation in the water. But Linda Lingle and other state and federal leaders on the panel got an earful, including chants of "E-I-S" from audience members calling for an Environmental Impact Statement.

"I hope people at least feel they have a chance to get up and speak and share their thoughts," Lingle said before the meeting started.

There were cheers and there were jeers. Tensions ran high from the start of the meeting.

The governor got booed during her opening remarks when she mentioned next week's sailing of the Superferry.

Other members of the panel, including Department of Transportation director Barry Fukunaga and Coast Guard Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara, got a similar response.

Then when people started asking questions, no subject was off-limits.

"How is that gonna feel for you when somebody actually dies to protest against this? How's that gonna make you feel?" said one woman to the panel.

"The first whale come on the beach killed from that boat, I'm gonna drag it to Bryan Baptiste's office," said another protestor.

Several Superferry employees sat in the crowd. Some residents also spoke in support of the service.

"I'd love the Superferry to come here because I'm handicapped," said one woman. "And with the Superferry I could bring things in my car without nobody assisting me."

Earlier in the day, demonstrators met for a peaceful protest on the steps of the county building.

"We are such peaceful people that it's not our nature to be out there protesting, but it's left us no other option cause our voices have not been heard," said Kilauea resident Megan Wong.

The meeting finished after nearly four hours of discussion. Not everyone who was waiting in line at two microphones got a chance to speak.

"We're not here tonight to make a decision about when the Superferry comes in because we've made that decision already," Lingle said.

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