OHA committee hears briefing on memorandum exploring electric "seaglider" interisland service

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Committee on Investments and Land Management received an informational briefing Jan. 8 on a memorandum of understanding with the Hawaii Sea Glider Initiative and Regent Craft Incorporated to explore whether electric "seaglider" vessels could serve interisland routes.

The memorandum, OHA Interim Director of Land Assets Lori Walker said, is exploratory: "we aren't committing any funding to this yet; we're committing to exploration." The briefing included a presentation from David Uchiyama of the Hawaii Sea Glider Initiative describing prototype tests, certification plans and potential service models.

Why it matters: presenters said the vehicles could add passenger, freight and emergency-response options between islands at lower operating cost than conventional vessels or aircraft, and could improve access for rural communities that currently lack reliable ferry service.

Regent Craft representatives described two vehicle types and testing status. The smaller Viceroy is a roughly 12-seat vehicle; the Monarch is described as a larger, roughly 100-seat design. Presenters said Regent’s team has moved from quarter-scale to full-scale prototype testing and intends U.S. Coast Guard certification before commercial service. Regent’s materials shown to trustees projected the Viceroy could reach commercial availability in late 2026–early 2027, with larger variants following years later.

Presenters described the vehicle as a hull that transitions to hydrofoil and then lifts to fly 30–60 feet above the water: "it will come out of the harbor on its hull, then lift up onto the hydrofoil, and then completely lift out of the water and fly at about 30 to 60 feet above the ocean surface," a presenter said. Those materials also said the company is pursuing an avoidance system for marine mammals and birds and that because the craft use electric propulsion, noise is low.

Trustees asked how the project would avoid repeating past failures of interisland ferry efforts. David Uchiyama said community acceptance, a feasibility study and a subsequent environmental impact statement (EIS) would be steps before any service — and that Coast Guard certification is required for commercial operations. "We’re trying to time this and get to an EIS so that hopefully we'll be able to get the vehicle through certification and once it's complete, we'll be able to introduce it into service," he said.

Operational and safety details explained during Q&A included: - Certification pathway: presenters said the craft are being developed to meet U.S. Coast Guard vessel regulation and must complete Coast Guard certification before commercial service. - Prototype timeline: presenters said full-scale prototype testing is under way and a Viceroy prototype was scheduled to enter the water in Q1 (presenters suggested the following calendar year) and, after foiling trials, proceed to certification. - Rough-water operation: presenters said the vehicle would foil and fly above swells and that the Viceroy has about a 5-foot draft in displacement mode and can transit in 5–8 foot swells on hydrofoil before lifting. - Cost metrics shown to trustees: presenters said the Viceroy’s base operating cost was about $27 per seat and the larger Monarch about $23 per seat, but that final fares would be set by private operators.

Public commenters and trustees urged caution. Doreen Myers, who identified herself as a beneficiary and a Hawaiian homestead lessee, questioned the readiness of the company and federal safety review, saying Regent Craft had not yet certified a commercial vehicle and comparing the startup risk to other failed technology ventures. "They haven't built it any yet... They haven't gone through any of the federal regulations yet which regards to safety," Myers said during public testimony.

Administration representatives emphasized scope limits. Kapuohana Stacy Ferrero clarified to trustees that the memorandum is not a funding commitment: "we have not been asked to invest in the company, We have not been asked to put any money forward. This is... exploration." Trustees asked for regular updates and were told administration would return with further briefings as the feasibility work and any EIS process moved forward.

Ending: The presentation was informational only; there was no request for appropriations or a vote. Trustees were told that the next steps are a technical feasibility phase, community outreach, an EIS and Coast Guard certification should the feasibility analyses support further action. Presenters said they have been conducting community outreach since 2021 and that potential federal funding sources for terminals and infrastructure are being explored.