HONOLULU -- Right now, the only way to get to another island is to take a plane. On Friday, a group previewed what it said will be another way. You'll also be able to take your car with you.

A huge inter-island ferry is scheduled to shuttle people and their vehicles around the islands.

The Hawaii Superferry will have 900 seats, along with places for lounging and three food service areas. The ferry also will have space for 282 cars.

Travel time from Honolulu to Kauai or Maui would take about three hours. Travel to the Big Island from Oahu would take about four hours.

Passengers will pay half the price of an inter-island air ticket, according to Hawaii Superferry officials. To bring your car will cost about one and a half times the passenger ferry price.

"Of course, if you're traveling without a car, you have to pay to park your car, and you probably have to pay to rent a car on the other end," said Timothy Dick of Hawaii Superferry.

The builders are confident the 346-foot boat will be able to handle choppy channel waters.

"We're talking about a very, very big vessel. The sheer size of a vessel will make a big difference to its comfort," said Chris Pemberton of Austral USA, the company hired to build the ferry.

Company officials showed off "The Spirit of Ontario," which is on its way to upstate New York. It's a smaller version of the Hawaii Superferry.

The Hawaii Superferry has yet to be built, but the company is targeting Thanksgiving 2006 as the launch date. In the meantime, get ready for what already is being dubbed the H-4.