A handful of furloughed Hawaii Superferry employees have been called back in to work, a day after the company cut 249 of its staff.

The Hawaii Superferry furloughed 80% of its employees yesterday, keeping only 59 employees.

But some of those let go were called back in on a part-time basis.

Several hours after Theresa Morales learned she was furloughed, she and a half dozen other port utility inspectors got the call to return to work.

"We got called that we had to come in because the gate had to be open 24 hours, maintain the gates 24 hours," said Theresa Morales, Hawaii Superferry Port Utility Inspector.

Raffy Giray got the call at noon today.

"They needed 4 ab's to stand the gangways for a few days," said Raffy Giray, Hawaii Superferry Able Bodied Seaman.

Despite a handful of call backs, Pier 19 remains mostly empty.

"Still sad to think coming back here to a ghost place," said Morales.

The empty Hawaii Superferry office at One Waterfront Plaza, now without a receptionist, is also a reminder of the situation -- 249 employees furloughed.

The State Labor Department says ten Superferry employees filed claims for unemployment today, although they got many more inquiries.

"The maximum anyone can collect is $475 a week," said Linda Uesato, Unemployment Insurance Division Administrator.

163 of the furloughed employees were part-timers.

"If you have two jobs, a full time job and a part time job, and the Superferry job is part time then as far as qualifying, you may qualify for unemployment but we do deduct earnings from any employment you have," said Uesato.

Rapid Response Teams plan to meet with Superferry employees next week to brief them on their benefits and to discuss with them their options.

"It hurts because it's a family can't walk away and say it's another job. We all ohana," said Morales.

"I hope this thing will resolve quick because affecting everybody," said Giray.

Superferry officials have said the only way they'll be able to bring back all employees is if the company will be able to resume service. thus pressuring legislators to meet for a special session.