HONOLULU -- The first day of travel for the Hawaii Superferry on Sunday was not without controversy.

Opponents to the Superferry greeted the Alakai on the dock at Kauai while a group of surfers blocked the vessel from docking at Nawiliwili Harbor.

Coast Guard crews circled the surfers, but the 350-foot ferry was forced to turn around and wait in waters outside of the harbor.

Eventually the Coast Guard escorted the ferry to the dock.

"The Coast Guard was saying that if you're going to get in the water it's a violation of federal law. I think it's something like you have to be outside of 100 yards and people are clearly outside 100 yards right now,"

At least one person was arrested in the water for blocking the ferry from docking, state officials said.

Kauai police officers were called in to control the crowd on the dock.

About an hour after the scheduled arrival time, the harbor was cleared, allowing cars and passengers to disembark.

Superferry opponents plan to go to court on Monday on Maui to force the ferry to stop operating. The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the Hawaii Superferry should have been required to do an environmental study.

The five justices were unanimous. The state Department of Transportation made a mistake by exempting the Superferry from laws requiring an environmental assessment before harbor improvements were made, the justices said.

Despite the ruling, the state Department of Transportation said it would not stop the ferry from operating and the company moved up the launch two days to start sailing with paid passengers.

Earlier in the day more than 500 passengers took advantage of the inaugural journey to Maui offered at a special price of just $5.

The ferry was not at full capacity on the voyage so most had a comfortable place to sit and watch TV, play cards or just relax. Children also have their own play area.

Rona Reed and her husband Randy were traveling on business. They sell Goji Juice and brought a company van full of the health drink to sell on Maui.

"I mean it's such a convenience to being able to go ahead and take a vehicle to Maui and Kauai, and do business a couple of days a week and come back," said Reed.

By 9:30 a.m., the ferry was docked at Maui and the vehicles were rolling off.

Protestors greeted passengers at Kahului Harbor. They said they are concerned about the environmental impact the Alakai will have on our eco-system.

Environmentalists said the Superferry could spread invasive species to the islands, harm marine life and cause traffic congestion.

KITV reporter Dick Allgire said that if someone is prone to motion sickness that they should take some ginger before taking the ferry. The ferry also has air conditioning, so he recommended that passengers bring a sweater and wear long pants.

If you want to take a ride on the Superferry the Alakai departs Honolulu for Kahului, Maui, at 6:30 a.m. daily and arrives on Maui at 9:30 a.m.

The ferry departs Maui for a return to Oahu an hour and a half later.

If you are heading to Kauai, the ferry departs Oahu at 3 p.m. in the afternoon and arrives at Nawiliwili Harbor three hours later. The Superferry then leaves Kauai for Oahu at 7 p.m.

In 2009, the company plans to bring a second ferry and offer service between Oahu and the Big Island and a second Oahu to Maui roundtrip.