Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

CARTY CHANG ACTING CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release January 5, 2015     

 

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and several of its divisions responded to reports of at least six vessels adrift or grounded, as a result of a short, but severe winter storm on Jan. 2 and 3. 

A 75-foot, 84-ton sailing ketch, Hawaii Aloha ran aground in the wave zone fronting the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on Hawaii Island, Friday night. The boat’s captain and three crew members managed to get off before it grounded.  The search for a fifth crew member is continuing.  Staff from the DLNR Divisions of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), are working with salvage and insurance companies to develop a salvage and wreckage removal plan for the Hawaii Aloha. Interim DLNR Chairperson Carty Chang said, “We want to exercise great care in removing this boat, as it still contains more than 500 gallons of diesel fuel and is resting in a position that could cause environmental damage.  The plans we’re working on currently will take into consideration all factors to minimize any further damage to fragile natural resources.” 

A 45-foot sail boat, Kanua Kai, ran aground atop the reef fronting the Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant on Front Street in Lahaina, Maui.  DOBOR worked with the owner and the boat’s insurer to remove this vessel. DLNR was involved in this vessel removal to assess and mitigate any reef damage caused by this grounding. 

On Friday night, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) informed DLNR that a 780-foot container ship Horizon Pacific ran aground in the channel as it exited Honolulu Harbor.  The ship was able to “self-extract” and returned to port Saturday afternoon where divers assessed its hull for damage.  DAR is sending a team into the water, as soon as weather and ocean conditions allow, to get a better picture of any damage. 

DOBOR, DAR, and the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) were informed by the USCG and various county authorities of additional groundings or vessel capsizes including: 

• A 13-foot Boston Whaler with an outboard engine capsized off Swanzee Beach Park, Oahu, Friday night.  The owner reportedly swam ashore. 
• USCG reported two vessels in distress in Kaneohe Bay, Friday night. A 36-38 foot long sailing vessel was reported loose and heading toward Chinaman’s Hat.  Weather conditions did not permit a U.S. Marine Corp (USMC) waterfront operations vessel to relocate. 
• While attempting to locate the vessel above the USMC vessel located the 26-foot sailing vessel Kaileadrift in Kaneohe Bay.  It had a broken anchor line off its bow.  It later grounded atop the sandbar in Kaneohe Bay.  This boat was removed late Saturday. 

  DOBOR Administrator Ed Underwood reminded boat owners and operators, “To always have required safety equipment on board your vessel and to pay very close attention to marine weather conditions and reports.”

Media Contact: 
Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager                 
Office of the Chair
Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 130 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 

Tel    808-587-0407 
Cell   808-295-8749 
Fax   808-587-0390 
[email protected]