Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release October 27, 2015

Photo by DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation

GROUNDED VESSEL AT HANALEI BAY IS DAMAGED – 
SALVAGE REMOVAL TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND WHEN SURF SHOULD SUBSIDE

HANALEI —   Last night a 33 foot vessel, Serenity, belonging to Randy Perez, was leaving Hanalei bay when his motor died. He hoisted sail but it tore so the vessel drifted back into the bay.  The vessel dropped anchor, but due to high surf it broke its mooring and washed onto the rocks on the bay’s west side at Waipa. The vessel suffered a hole in its port side (left) of the hull.  Perez was injured while trying to get off the vessel and was taken to a hospital for treatment.  

Just before 7 am a Kauai DOBOR harbor agent received a call from a citizen in Hanalei reporting that floating debris was washing ashore. The boat had washed further up on the shoreline.  DOBOR Kauai Boating manager spoke with the owner, who said he did not have any insurance nor any plan to remove the vessel within 24 hours, per the law, and needed to address his injury.  DOBOR has assumed control of the vessel and obtained bids for its removal.  A salvage company will remove and dispose of it once surf subsides this weekend.  

Deborah Ward
Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources
Communications Specialist
(808) 587-0320
fax (808) 587-0390