5 Rescued From Capsized Vessel Off Kāneʻohe

Five people are safe on shore after their 14-foot recreational vessel capsized off Kāneʻohe, Wednesday.

Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Amanda Wyrick. U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaiʻi Pacific.

Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services personnel launched and were the first on scene along with Waterfront Operations crews from Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi. All five boaters were safely brought back to shore with no reported injuries.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Honolulu launched along with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point upon notification.

“We made sure everyone had their life jackets on and urged them to stay with their vessel until help arrived,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley Gray, an operations specialist, with Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “Staying with your vessel gives responders a larger object to search for in the water and can reduce search times.”

Just before 1 p.m., Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a call from one of the men aboard the vessel via cell phone reporting the capsized vessel with three adults and two children aboard between Mokoliʻi “Chinaman’s Hat” and Kapapa Island.

Weather on scene was reportedly 15 mph winds with 2-foot seas.