Two Rescued From Personal Watercraft Adrift in the Pailolo Channel

Two individuals aboard a personal watercraft were rescued after becoming stranded in waters between Molokaʻi and Maui on Saturday afternoon.

The incident was reported at around 3:22 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2019 in the open ocean within the Pailolo Channel.

The two, who are residents of Lahaina Maui, set out on a leisure trip, but ran into mechanical issues and were adrift for about an hour prior to the arrival of rescue personnel.

Photo courtesy Maui Fire Department.

Fire and ocean safety crews conducted a coordinated search about four miles off shore of the Sands of Kahana and located the vessel in distress.

Crews confirmed that those aboard were uninjured and did not require medical attention.

Both individuals were brought back to shore safely without further incident at 4:26 p.m.

Responding crews included Engine 11, Rescue Boat 3, Jet Ski 3, Jet Ski 11, Rescue 10 and Battalion Chief 5. The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety’s Air 1 helicopter was also on standby for the incident.

Fire officials say conditions were normal for the Pailolo Channel with clear skies, winds blowing at 15 to 20 mph and 3 to 4 foot choppy swells.