A luxury yacht that has sparked controversy on Molokai successfully docked at Kaunakakai Harbor Today.
About 100 folks stood outside the Kaunakakai Harbor to protest the ship's arrival but in all it was pretty peaceful.
This was the scene in the waters off Kaunakakai Harbor Saturday morning.
Officials from several different government agencies waited in jet skis, boats and on land for the American Safari Luxury Yacht's arrival.
"We were a little bit surprised that there was that much strength being shown but I think given the threats that were out there and the concerns they had for the vessel's safety and passenger safety," said Dan Blanchard.
It was a peaceful protest. About 100 folks lined the pier holding signs against the boat's arrival, but welcomed tourists.
"We do want the passengers we love tourists but they need to come either on our most of the time empty Molokai Princess or maybe fly in but the message here is the boat itself is not welcome," said Patricia Hammond.
Protestors fear that by allowing the 36-passenger ship to dock, it will send a message to other boat companies to come to Molokai.
"I understand the concerns that the protestors have I certainly do and those have been discussed and we came to an agreement some months ago that obviously the agreement was there would be no more protests but that didn't take place," said Blanchard.
Last November, protestors on boats and surfboards formed a blockade preventing the luxury yacht from coming into Kaunakakai Harbor.
This time, as a precaution Coast Guard officials created a security zone in and around the harbor.
"A lot of businesses on Molokai lost money today, fisherman had chartered they could not go out of the pier today because they were shutdown," said Hammond.
Blanchard said, "On the side of our presence we would like to see the security zone not be there."
The boat is expected to make several more trips to Kaunakakai Harbor through May.
"I hope that they continue to what they're doing between now and May and after May next year they do not come back here," said Hammond.
Blanchard said, "We certainly have every intent of returning we want to continue to work with the community as a whole not just one very small portion of it."
The yacht is scheduled to depart tomorrow.
