Captain Robin Espinosa, first mate S. L. Pirtle and second mate Julie Duchi have known each other for years but this is the first time they have all worked together, heading a crew of 25 that is otherwise all-male.

Robin Espinosa grew up sailing, and loves her work, though she also looks forward to moving to Hawaii when she retires.

"I'm really happy… It's been really positive, fulfilling position," said Espinosa.

Espinosa's classmate in the merchant marine academy was Sam Pirtle, who has her master's ticket when Horizon Lines needs another captain but serves in the meantime as first mate.

"What I do is get the information and check. and make it safe," said Pirtle.

Pirtle lives in Honolulu and so does Julie Duchi, who's just a couple years behind her sisters on the bridge. As second officer she's the navigator.

"I'm still one of the few that prefers to use a sextant -- purely for fun," said Duchi.

Matson Navigation hasn't had an all-female officer crew, but does have two female masters, one of whom, captain Lynn Korwatch, headed Matson's fleet for several years.

In the skies, Hawaii transportation got this far long ago. Aloha flew its first all-female crew in 1988 while Hawaiian flew the first all-female crew of any U.S. airline in 1979.

Ship's officers get one vacation day for every day at sea.

Espinosa, Pirtle and Duchi said all that time off is the best thing about the trade, while being at sea for weeks at a time is the hardest part for them and their families.

It's a great life, they said, but it's not for everybody.

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