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Luxury yacht finally freed from Maui near-shore reef only to sink in 800 feet of water

Nearly two weeks after a 120-ton, 94-foot luxury yacht grounded in Honolua Bay on Maui, a salvage ship and a tugboat from Honolulu finally freed the vessel named Nakoa from the rocky shoreline.

But there is no happy ending for the yacht.

It is now at the bottom of the ocean, about 800 feet deep.

The multimillion-dollar yacht had suffered severe holes in the hull during the days it was grounded, with the rough surf pounding it repeatedly against the rocks of the shoreline.

“It had taken on water, was listing starboard and riding bow high after being pulled free by a tractor tug early this afternoon,” according to the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

The yacht sank.

It was the end to an ordeal that began nearly two weeks ago when the yacht grounded just outside the Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District. Although the area has day-use moorings with a time limit of two hours, yacht owner Jim Jones told media that he didn’t know the rules  and stayed overnight with his family when one of the lines snapped and the boat hit the rocks.

It has been quite the ordeal to salvage the boat.

Once the boat stated leaking fuel, the U.S. Coast Guard federalized the vessel, meaning it has jurisdiction over the yacht which cannot be moved until all hazardous material was removed .

When that process was done the state Department of Land and Natural Resources took over because Jones said he did not have the money to pay for the salvage operation. The state organized and is paying for the operation, but will be sending Jones a bill, which initially was for $460,000 plus. But that will be sure to go up due to all the problems encountered during the salvage.

Once the hazardous material was removed, Visonary Marines’s salvage ship Kahi from Honolulu tried to removed the yacht from the reef but failed after multiple pulls. Sause Brothers’ tractor tug Mary Catherine was called in from Honolulu to help, but the second attempt with both boats also failed. Then bad weather forced both salvage boats to return to Honolulu.

They returned to Maui on Saturday.

A crew from the salvage ship rigged lines to the yacht Nakoa   all day Saturday and Sunday morning to prepare for the third attempt.

Prior to the 3,300-horsepower tug hooking up, the salvage crew used a carbon cutter to free either the yacht’s prop or rudder, believed to be the reason earlier attempts did not succeed, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

On Sunday, there were ideal weather and ocean conditions for the complex and costly operation. Once the tug turned the boat 90 degrees it pulled out into deeper water. 

“The yacht was listing to one side and riding bow high and it’s unknown at this time whether it was successfully pulled all the way to Honolulu or had to be scuttled in 1,000-foot-deep water offshore,” the Department and Land and Natural Resources said.

Department Chair Dawn Chang watched the salvage operation on Sunday with Maui Mayor Richard Bissen and Maui County Council member Tamara Paltin. Chang said she heard almost immediately from Randy Cates, the owner and operator of Visionary Marine. 

“I’m beyond words,” Chang said. “I extended our appreciation to him and his crew for doing a tough, thankless job when others in the industry were questioning the wisdom of taking it on. We all thought today was it. It was either going to happen or not. I’m extremely pleased.” 

Chang said the state will aggressively pursue recouping all salvage costs from the owner, which originally were set at $460,000 plus before delays and the need for a second boat were included in the cost.

It also does not include the cost to repair damage to coral reefs and live rock. A team from the state Division of Aquatic Resources will return to the grounding location this week to conduct a post-incident damage assessment. 

To read more about yacht tales in Hawai’i waters involving a pop star, Russian oligarch, coral wrecker and thief, click here .

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85-foot boat grounded in Kihei, Maui; breaks from mooring during strong winds

The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel that broke free of its mooring and ran aground near Sugar Beach, Maui, Tuesday.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watch standers received notification at 5:07 a.m. from a good Samaritan that the 85-foot motor vessel “Chaparral” ran aground. Local authorities arrived on scene and confirmed there were no individuals onboard at the time. 

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu pollution responders were notified and have been engaged with the vessel owner. Currently, there has been no report of pollution in the water.

“It is not unusual for recreational boats to run aground around in the Hawaiian Islands when there is a strong and sustained Kona wind. The Coast Guard has robust relationships with state partners and oil spill response organizations that enable us to ensure that salvage and pollution removal efforts are made as quickly and as safely as possible, said Cmdr. Kristen Hahn, Sector Honolulu Response department head. “We will continue to work with the owner of Chaparral until the vessel no longer presents a threat to the marine environment.”

Coast Guard officials say they will work with local partners and the responsible party to ensure the appropriate actions to remove the vessel from the beach are taken to minimize any potential impacts to the environmentally sensitive area. No wildlife impacts have been reported or observed at this time.

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First fuel, then yacht to be removed from Honolua Bay reef

Officials say it could take ‘another few days’ to remove materials and dislodge boat.

Department of Land and Natural Resources conservation officers survey the site on Tuesday where a 94-foot yacht “Nakoa” ran aground on the reef at Honolua Bay the previous day. DLNR said Tuesday evening that it would likely be “another few days” before the boat could be freed, as all fuel, batteries and other pollutants on board must first be removed. Photos courtesy DLNR

State officials said it would likely be “another few days” before a 94-foot-long luxury yacht could be removed from the rocks and reef at Honolua Bay, where the vessel ran aground over the holiday weekend and sparked worries over fuel spilling into the marine sanctuary.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Tuesday that the boat’s owner could also face “significant penalties” based on early findings that about 30 coral and live rock had been damaged.

“We understand everyone’s frustration with the grounding and harm to the reef at Honolua, a bay with abundant marine life that’s loved by many residents of Maui and visitors alike,” DLNR First Deputy Laura Kaakua said in a news release. “Wednesday, the focus will be defueling the vessel, and then we can turn to efficient removal with the least additional damage possible.”

The yacht “Nakoa” ran aground on the north side of the bay on Monday, and the eight boaters on board were rescued by the Maui Fire Department.

After efforts to remove the yacht during the Monday afternoon high tide failed, the U.S. Coast Guard “federalized” the boat on Tuesday, meaning it can’t be moved until all fuel, batteries and any other pollutants on board are taken off, DLNR said.

A wave pushes up against the 94-foot yacht “Nakoa” as it leans against the rocks and reef at Honolua Bay on Tuesday.

“That process may involve a helicopter and is expected to take at least through tomorrow,” the department said.

On Tuesday morning, “a sheen of diesel fuel was leaking from the boat’s hull and was visible in surrounding water,” DLNR reported. By Tuesday afternoon, a pair of DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers, who had been on the scene all day, reported that one of the owner’s friends managed to board the yacht and shut off the pumps.

“By late this afternoon, the sheen was not visible, but you could still smell fuel in the air. Booms will be placed around the fuel to keep any remaining diesel from moving out of the immediate area,” DLNR said.

Federal, state and county officials were monitoring the situation. Maui County Council Member Tamara Paltin, who holds the West Maui residency seat, said her biggest concern is “definitely more fuel spilling into the bay.”

“The worst possible thing that could happen is it gets pushed into the reef and destroys the reef and breaks apart and spills all the fuel. I think that’s everybody’s worst fear for sure,” Paltin said Tuesday evening.

Paltin, who’s still president of the Save Honolua Coalition, said she visited the site on Monday afternoon and watched as a couple of small local boats tried to pull the vessel off the reef, but “it just wasn’t budging at all.” A couple of Jet Skis also came by, “but they’re no match” for the yacht, she said.

“Why is it taking so long?” Paltin asked. “As soon as it ran aground, they should’ve put a boom around it and pumped out the fuel, because Honolua is so precious to all of us.”

On Monday afternoon, acting Maui County Planning Director Kathleen Aoki authorized an emergency permit to a private excavation company to help dislodge the yacht.

The state, however, still needed to issue a permit of its own. DLNR said Tuesday that it did not plan to and that the owners of the yacht had hired a private contractor to salvage the vessel. The salvage plan, which requires DLNR approval, will likely entail a tugboat pulling the yacht out to sea and to a harbor where it can be repaired.

If the state doesn’t agree with the salvage plan, it will remove the vessel and the owner will have to cover the costs.

The Coast Guard said Tuesday that it was working with the owner and that a federal on-scene coordinator had opened the National Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which can provide up to $1 billion for any single oil pollution incident.

Honolulu-based Sea Engineering Inc. has been contracted to remove all potential pollution and mitigate hazards to the environment. Sorbent materials are being deployed to address pollution in the water, the Coast Guard said.

On Tuesday morning, a team of divers with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources went to assess the reef below and noted damage to an estimated 30 coral and live rock, findings that could lead to penalties from the state. Divers will return for a more thorough assessment once the vessel is removed.

DLNR is also investigating what led to the Nakoa grounding, which could also result in citations and fines.

A representative from Noelani Yacht Charters told The Maui News that the Nakoa was on a mooring in Honolua Bay when the line was severed at around 5:45 a.m. Monday while they were in the middle of doing engine checks and preparation below deck to return to Lahaina Harbor.

By the time the checks were completed and they were back on the main deck and helm, the boat had been blown on the rocks on the north end of the bay, and “it was too late to fire up the engines.”

They tried pulling the vessel off the rocks as the tide was dropping and again during the high tide, but even then the tide was too low. A diver swam around the boat and noted no hull damage except for stabilizer fins that had been torn off.

“This was a family retreat with an unfortunate ending, but we do want to apologize to the local community for any inconvenience we may have caused,” the representative said.

* Colleen Uechi can be reached at [email protected].

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Luxury yacht runs aground in Honolua Bay on Maui

By Jack Truesdale

Feb. 20, 2023

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A 97-foot yacht ran aground in Honolua Bay on Maui on Monday morning.

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A 94-foot Sunseeker luxury yacht ran aground in Honolua Bay on Maui Monday morning after its mooring line snapped, sparking outrage on social media over the boat’s potential damage to the marine environment.

Videos posted to social media showed the vessel, named the Nakoa, stuck on the rocks in front of where some surfers paddle out to the world-famous right-hand point break. It came to rest about 700 feet out­- side of the state Honolua-­Mokuleia Bay Marine Life Conservation District at the part of the reef surfers call the Point.

“Such a bummer,” big-wave surfer Kai Lenny commented on one Instagram post.

“They need to be held responsible for every inch of reef,” wrote another user. “I hope they receive millions in fines by the looks of the yacht that they have.”

The vessel is one of two luxury yachts owned by Noelani Yacht Charters. With a top speed of 32 knots, the Nakoa has four bedrooms, five bathrooms and a full kitchen. Charter packages start at $9,801, according to the company’s website.

“While she’s well suited for day trips around any of Hawaii’s major islands, she’s more perfectly suited for unforgettable multi-day luxury experiences for guests who demand only the best,” the website states.

Reached by phone, Jim Jones, owner of Noelani Yacht Charters, said, “The boat’s in great shape,” although some “stabilizer fins” broke off. Asked whether fuel was leaking from it as some Instagram users noted, he said, “There’s no leak at all.”

Jones was on a family outing when the mooring line snapped around 5:30 a.m., and the boat drifted onto the reef around 6 a.m., he said. “The wind came up strong this morning,” he said. Jones hoped the rising tide would lift it off the reef by 4 p.m. Monday, he said.

By 4:25 p.m. the boat could not be removed, according to Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesperson Dan Dennison. The Coast Guard was still on the scene Monday afternoon, he said. There was no leak of fuel or hazardous materials, he said.

DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources received a report at 6:30 a.m. that the boat had run aground, Dennison said. It was unknown whether the anchor or keel had been dropped, he said.

Crews were scheduled to return at 3 a.m. Tuesday to try to remove the boat at the next highest tide around 5 a.m., Dennison said.

DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is checking the owner’s insurance, Dennison said. “If covered, recovery is the owner’s responsibility,” he said. “The full circumstances of this grounding are not known at this time, and the DLNR divisions will be following up appropriately,” he said.

Community members expressed their concern over the boat’s damage to the marine environment.

“The community is super concerned if another swell comes if the boat breaks apart in the lineup,” said Tamara Paltin, a Maui County Council member representing West Maui and volunteer president of the Save Honolua Coalition. “The Save Honolua Coalition has been trying for years to get the state to better manage the bay. The community is demanding full accountability from this company,” Paltin said.

When a crew tried to pull the boat off the reef at the 4 p.m. high tide Monday, “it wasn’t even budging,” Paltin said. “They might have one more chance tomorrow morning,” she said, when the tide is higher.

“What happened at Honolua Bay is an environmental disaster,” Tiare Lawrence, a board member of the community group Ka Malu o Kahalawai, wrote in a text. “In these situations, commercial and mooring permits should automatically be rescinded,” Lawrence wrote.

Day-use moorings have a limit of two hours, Dennison added. Buoys of this kind are intended to prevent boats from damaging the reef with their anchors, according to the Malama Kai Foundation.

Jones, who owns the Nakoa, says he spent the night in the boat moored to the day-use buoy. “We were unaware that that was not allowed,” Jones said.

“I get the locals are upset,” Jones said. “This is not intentional, and we apologize for being in this prime surf spot. We’re just trying to get off the rocks.”

Salvage work continues for grounded yacht at Honolua Bay; owner faces hefty fines

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Crews are still working to remove a grounded vessel off Maui.

It’s been nearly a week since a luxury yacht ran aground at Honolua Bay, damaging one of the most treasured surfing spots on Maui.

According to state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the yacht’s owner is unable to pay for the removal of the vessel but the state will bill the owner $460,000 and take legal action if needed.

Crews made some progress in moving the vessel off the rocks and the reef over the weekend. But as of Monday morning, it’s still stuck.

After successfully defueling on Saturday, a salvage ship came in and tried pulling the 94-foot, 120-ton yacht named Nakoa from the rocky shoreline.

Previous Coverage

• DLNR: Crews successfully defuel luxury yacht grounded at Honolua Bay
• Cleanup efforts underway after grounded luxury yacht leaked fuel into Maui bay
• Maui officials: Luxury yacht that ran aground near marine sanctuary leaked fuel into bay

The land department said crews pulled the yacht more than a dozen times during high tide and got it to move around 10 to 20 feet.

But, they said it still needs to move another 20 to 30 feet before it’s in the open ocean.

The owner told Hawaii News Now last week, the mooring line broke as he was about to leave and that he wasn’t being negligent.

The yacht leaked some fuel into the water and damaged the coral below but the full extent of the environmental impact is unclear at this time.

The dirt road at Lipoa Point will remain closed during the salvage operations.

Copyright 2023 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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'We need responsible tourism': Maui businesses plead tourists to help economy after fires

Each morning, Jason and Sabrina Rosenbloom anticipate waking up to new cancellations for their Maui-based eco-friendly kayaking tour company, Gabriel’s Ohana.  

Named after the couple’s youngest son, Gabriel, the small family-run business has lost more than 95% of its bookings since the devastating West Maui fires that started on Aug. 8 and left more than 100 people dead, thousands missing and the historic town of Lahaina in ashes.

Before the fires, the family would operate full tours of 20 guests at about eight to 10 bookings a day. As of Monday, the business has done only two tours.

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, tens of thousands of tourists evacuated the island. Social media messaging soon told tourists “to not travel to Maui” so resources could be used for residents who lost everything. 

People heeded the call. Images and videos on social media show Maui’s once-bustling – and arguably overcrowded – resorts and beaches nearly empty. To many, it’s reminiscent of the COVID-19 shutdown. The week after the fires, Maui hotel occupancy rates dropped 27.6% . Over the past week, daily passenger arrivals to Maui dropped 80% .

Learn more: Best travel insurance

It’s all causing a strain for locals who depend on tourism. 

“With the unexpected and quick shutdown of the island, our whole household is now without an income,” Sabrina Rosenbloom said. 

Now, a few weeks later, many people – including Hawaii Gov. Josh Green – are pleading for visitors to come and support Maui's economy. 

Though West Maui, including Lahaina, Napili, Kaanapali and Kapalua, remain closed, the Hawaii Tourism Authority “encourages travelers” to visit other areas of Maui, like Hana and Kihei.

Some tourists are ready to step up and help Maui’s local businesses in need, but it’s complicated to travel to a place where devastation and loss of human life recently occurred. Meanwhile, at stake are the livelihoods of many Maui locals because the island is so dependent on tourism. 

“Things are going to be dire soon if travelers don't return quickly,” she said. “What's worse, we have the ability and resources to employ numerous people who have lost jobs due to the fire, but now there is not enough work to help our own family, let alone our neighbors.”

If Gabriel’s Ohana continues to suffer, the family will default on the loans they took out for their business, won’t make their bills and could lose their home, Jason Rosenbloom said. 

More: How many people died in Maui fires? Officials near end of search for wildfire victims

Is it time for tourists to return to Maui?

Many people are wondering if they should continue with their upcoming trips to Maui. Some have voiced concerns about feeling strange being at hotels alongside families who lost their homes. They worry they’ll be treated poorly in a place with a contentious history with overtourism. Others just canceled their trips altogether. 

Some locals and Hawaiians continue to criticize the idea of vacationing on Maui right now. 

“First and foremost, we need to acknowledge that what happened was tragic and we can’t pretend that that didn’t happen,” said Ilihia Gionson at the Public Affairs Office of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The loss from the deadly inferno is difficult to measure and includes many lives, historical and cultural sites and families’ homes. 

“The two most important things to pack on a trip to Maui at this time are patience and grace, understanding that people have lost a lot,” Gionson said. “It’s a balance, right? If you just lost your house, we don’t want you to lose your job, too. And there are going to be some people who aren’t ready to return to work.”

HTA is letting the Maui community take the lead on what it needs to heal. The agency has been hosting community gatherings in West Maui, asking its residents “to define what recovery looks like, rebuilding looks like, to the extent that tourism is involved,” Gionson said. 

Tourists "should respect the ask from the community to give them their space and give them some time,” he said. 

Lisa Tam-Hoy Robbins, a Native Hawaiian entrepreneur whose grandfather is from Maui, says asking visitors to spend their dollars at local businesses goes beyond just tourism; it's everyone coming together to support Maui and its people.

“This is how we should approach this matter: Kako'o a Kokua,” she said, referencing the Hawaiian words meaning to "uplift and help selflessly."

How tourists can support Maui

Gionson said encouraging the return of tourism to Maui – with an emphasis on supporting local – is also driven by wanting to avoid “a widespread economic disaster like what we saw during COVID.” 

The agency is working on a resource for people to see which businesses are open and asking for patrons. 

About 70% of every dollar generated in Maui comes from tourism, according to the Maui Economic Development Board. Visitor spending contributed $14 million to Maui's economy in 2019, millions more than Kauai and Hawaii Island and just slightly behind Oahu. 

Economists called for Hawaii to diversify its economy after the pandemic revealed just how reliant the state is on tourism. There is currently no federal or state relief for Maui businesses affected by the fires, although Jason Rosenbloom is hoping the government would cover employee wages for job seekers and payouts to assist small businesses.

‘We need responsible tourism and we need it yesterday’

Tina Toles has a special place in her heart for Maui – she has been there more than a dozen times. The Alabama hairdresser has a trip planned for January to stay in Kaanapali and felt “devastated” when she learned of the fires. Friends who live in Maui told her to still visit. 

“It’s kind of a Catch-22,” Toles said. “I feel so sorry for (the Maui community) because it’s a very hard situation. This time, when I go, it’ll be a whole lot different though.” She said she plans on volunteering and patronizing only local businesses when she’s there.

“We’re not going to get a lot of souvenirs. We’re going to be double-tipping and looking for places to donate,” she said.

Rosenbloom said it’s a “butterfly effect” if people come to Maui, enjoy themselves and spread the word back home. “They need to learn about aloha, so they take it back to their world,” he said.

Garrett Marrero said he has seen layoffs at Maui hotels and boat companies in the few weeks since the tragedy. As co-founder of Maui Brewing Company, which has three locations on Maui, Marrero said the company is also considering rightsizing. The brewery’s Kihei location has stayed open and recently had two of its slowest days since the beginning of the pandemic.

Like many other local businesses, Maui Brewing Company had its boots on the ground to help with urgent needs, like using its Kaanapali location as a community kitchen. Now, it’s shifting its focus back on reopening as “a place to get some good food and grab a beer, gather together and support each other.” 

“We need responsible tourism and we need it yesterday,” he said, urging people to volunteer while here or donate to local charities .“If you’re thinking about coming and you’re wondering if it's a good time, you’re already starting down the journey to being responsible.”

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected]

Video shows moments before superyacht went down in storm off Sicily

Newly released video captures a luxury superyacht being battered by a violent storm before it suddenly sank off Sicily with 22 people aboard Monday.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored, about a half-mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast .

The yacht's 250-foot mast, illuminated with lights and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it finally disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The speed with which a yacht built to handle the roughest seas capsized stunned maritime experts.  

“I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size,” said Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five of the 22 other people who were aboard the 184-foot vessel remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped in the Bayesian’s hull, nearly 170 feet underwater.

Officials confirmed Monday that at least one person, the ship’s cook, had died.  

Superyachts like the Bayesian, which had been available for charters at a rate of $215,000 a week, are designed to stay afloat even as they are taking on water to give the people aboard a chance to escape, Richter said. 

“Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday,” Richter said. “They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, they’re typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed.”

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

On Tuesday, Italian rescue workers resumed the search for Lynch and the five other passengers still missing: Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

“The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” Salvatore Cocina, the head of civil protection in Sicily, told Reuters .

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was one of the 15 people rescued Monday after it capsized.

“It’s extremely rare for a boat of this size to sink,” Richter said.

What’s not rare is the kind of storm that sank it , said Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in oceanography at Britain’s University of Southampton.

“People assume the Mediterranean is this rather calm and passive place that never gets storms and always blue skies,” Boxall said. “In fact, you get some quite horrendous storms that are not uncommon at this time of year.”

The president of Italy’s meteorological society has said Monday’s violent storm may have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, which occurs more frequently but doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorology Society, also said recent temperatures may have been a factor. 

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius [86 Fahrenheit], which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli told Reuters. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who two months ago was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of fraud charges stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates,” and Autonomy’s vice president for finance, Stephen Chamberlain, had padded the firm’s finances ahead of the sale. Lynch’s lawyers argued that HP was so eager to acquire Autonomy that it failed to adequately check the books .

Lynch had taken Morvill, who was one of his defense attorneys, on the luxury trip. 

Chamberlain was not on the Bayesian.

In what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a car struck and killed Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family,” Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement .

Henry Austin reported from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Salvaging Shipwrecks Is A Tough Business. Just Ask The Company That Towed The Maui Yacht

The crashed vessel in Honolua and a wave of groundings during last week's storms put a focus on just how hard it is to haul away grounded boats.

The crashed vessel in Honolua and a wave of groundings during last week’s storms put a focus on just how hard it is to haul away grounded boats.

As a fierce storm swept through the islands last week, Maui residents’ social media feeds were filled with photos of all the boats that had been wrecked.

In West Maui, two sailboats were stuck in the shallow water at the north end of Front Street. Less than 2 miles away, a large motorboat was lodged into the reef outside Lahaina Harbor. On the other side of the island, another watercraft crashed onto the beach in north Kihei. 

It’s not uncommon for boats to wash ashore in bad weather on Maui. But last week’s wave of groundings drew more attention, having occurred days after a marine salvaging company had finally hauled away a luxury yacht that crashed outside of one of Maui’s most beloved marine sanctuaries. 

Because of its sheer mass and the location where it ran aground on the rocky coastline at Honolua Bay, the high-profile effort to free the 94-foot, 120-ton yacht put a spotlight on the marine salvage industry — and the challenges facing the people tasked with recovering wrecked ships.

Marine salvage operations often come with a dangerous combination of waves, wind, reefs, rocks and slippery vessels weighing thousands of pounds that are constantly being jostled around. Then, even after salvors succeed in freeing them, complications can arise when trying to get insurance companies to cover the cost — or waiting on boat owners or the state government to pay up when that doesn’t happen.

Hawaii also has a limited number of marine salvage companies, and most of them are located on Oahu.

“I, too, didn’t appreciate how difficult this was,” Dawn Chang, who heads the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said in a video statement after the yacht was finally hauled away from Honolua Bay on March 5.

The agency struggled to find a company with the experience and equipment to take on one of the most logistically challenging and politically charged marine salvage jobs in recent Hawaii history. 

High Risk Operations

In general, boat owners are responsible for paying to clear wrecked vessels, but the DLNR may intervene to expedite the process, as it did in the case of the yacht.

DLNR hired the Oahu-based Visionary Marine company for $460,000 to haul away the yacht operated by Noelani Yacht Charters. The owner of the company, Jim Jones, has said that he plans to pay the state back. The government also has warned it will “aggressively pursue” the payment. After two weeks on the reef, the ship was scuttled after taking on water during the tow .

Because of the physically — and financially — volatile nature of the job, the industry is a tough one to make it in.

Michael Parker, who runs Oahu-based Parker Marine Towing and Salvage, which often responds to wrecks on Maui, said he has been working in the industry for decades and is acutely aware of the hardships that come with it.

When jobs start, there are the dangers that come with working underwater, often in surf zones where boats crash. It also requires getting your timing to free a ship just right; otherwise the tides, wind and waves can stand in the way of success.

“I’ve only gotten hurt once, when I ripped my thumb off,” Parker said. “I’ve been doing it my lifetime … so more than 1,000 wrecks. I expected to get hurt sometime.”

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He also cited financial uncertainties, saying salvors risk not getting “paid a dime” even after spending hours on a job if they aren’t able to haul a ship away, thanks to a fundamental part of salvage law known as “no cure-no pay .” Even when jobs go right, there’s a risk that the vessel owners’ insurance companies will try to fight reimbursement.

“To get paid, it’s a game every time,” said Parker. “Basically, the only way to make it work is you have a relationship with (insurance companies), and that takes a lot of work. It takes some years to have a relationship with the people where they can see a long track record of success.”

In the past, Parker has been stiffed on jobs — he estimates having lost tens of thousands of dollars over the years — when vessel owners didn’t have proper insurance or the cash to pay the cost. For him, it never made sense to go to court because a jury trial might run more than the job itself. 

Instead, Parker has focused on the surest way to get reimbursed — by being vetted ahead of time by an insurance company so that, as soon as a wreck happens, the insurance company sends him to respond.

‘Is It Really Worth It?’

In marine salvage, timing is key. If a boat runs aground at a high tide, for example, pulling it out within hours can save days worth of struggles and damage to the vessel when the tide goes out.

In the wake of the grounding at Honolua Bay, that’s been a big focus for Maui County officials: Pushing reforms to prevent vessel groundings and ensuring that, when they are stuck, the situation can be addressed quickly, before it worsens or fuel spills into the sea.

“Many folks have reached out about these private boats wrecked at Kihei, Lahaina and Mala,” council member Tamara Paltin, of West Maui, said in a statement on Facebook last week. “We are reaching out to the authorities, this is part of the systemic changes we are seeking because practically every Kona storm there’s boats breaking their mooring and it is unacceptable.”

Elected officials and local mariners agree that the solutions are multifold. On the front end, they say harbor officials and DLNR need to step up enforcement to ensure that boats have proper insurance and are legally moored with the right equipment.

With the looming threat of worsening storms as the climate changes, some Maui residents worry that groundings will increase in the years to come. At the same time, as the superyacht industry has exploded across the globe, some mariners and Maui officials say that special attention needs to be paid to the large boats that have the potential to cause even more damage.  

And since most of the marine salvage companies and their resources are on Oahu, Maui officials are exploring ways to buy a towing vessel to be housed on the Valley Isle or at least put on retainer private companies contracted to respond to shipwrecks at a moment’s notice.

But after what happened in Honolua Bay, there’s also a new concern that salvage companies might avoid tough jobs because of the hostility from armchair marine salvage experts who flood social media with criticism. In a statement, the Save Honolua Coalition wrote that a “fear of mob mentality and possible backlash” made it hard to find companies to help free the yacht that crashed outside of one of Maui’s most beloved marine sanctuaries. 

“I took a huge risk, and there’s all this backlash,” said Randy Cates, the owner of Visionary Marine, the company hired to haul the Nakoa from Honolua Bay. “Is it really worth it?” 

“I’m worried about operating in an environment where nobody wants to do the work,” he added.

Cates has been in the business for decades, and these days he only works on the major salvage jobs, like the one in Honolua Bay. He said only a couple companies in Hawaii have the bandwidth to take on a project of that scale. It was such a massive undertaking that he had to team up with Foss Marine and Sause Brothers to bring in another tractor tug boat and other equipment to get the job done. 

Cates said every decision was carefully calculated. Although there were airbags on the inside of the vessel to help it float, some people criticized him for not putting airbags on the outside. However, he said those would’ve needed to be fastened with rope, something that could easily catch on the reef. 

Others wondered why he didn’t fill the hull with foam to keep it from sinking once pulled off the rocks. Cates said there simply wasn’t time since the forecast called for a Kona Low to sweep across the island. The last time he undertook a similar job, he said, filling the hull took more than two months. 

The holes in the yacht’s hull were so big that “you could drive a golf cart through one of them,” Cates said, adding that the only hope was hauling it into deep water before it spurred a new crisis. And the state wanted it gone as soon as possible.

“We got it out,” Cates said during a recent interview. “And today, there’s 50 foot surf — where would we be right now? If that boat broke apart, it would have debris all the way to Lahaina.”

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by grants from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation and the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation.

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Taylor swift and travis kelce relaxing at rhode island beach house, taylor swift & travis kelce reunited in rhode island after several cruel weeks of summer.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce 's love story's heating back up ... 'cause they're side-by-side again after weeks apart -- cuddling up at her beach house.

TMZ has obtained photos from Taylor's Rhode Island home ... capturing the pair appearing just over the edge of her balcony as they soaked in the salty air coming off the Atlantic.

The pics are taken pretty far away ... but, there's Kelce, recongizable mustache and longer hair slinging his arms around Taylor as the two reunited for some much-needed time together after weeks apart.

Travis and Taylor were joined at the beach house by some friends it looks like ... 'cause a couple of kiddos ran out on the balcony to hang with the superstar couple too.

TAYLOR AND TRAVIS LEAVING THE SHOW TONIGHT 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ep2RDvimFx — ✩ CEL ✩ (@moonlithoax) July 17, 2024 @moonlithoax

Remember ... the last time we saw Travis and Taylor together was in Germany after one of her shows last month -- when Killa Trav wrapped an arm around her waist after one of her "Eras" tour performances.

Since then, they've each been pretty busy ... Travis back in preseason mode with the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor crisscrossing Europe for all her performances.

She just finished a series of eight shows at Wembley Stadium in London earlier this week ... and, she's off until early October. So expect to see a very coupled up Travis-Taylor relationship.

Plus, Tay Tay's a big football fan now ... and, the Chiefs opening game against the Baltimore Ravens kicks off Thursday, September 5.

For now, though, the two have got some time before Travis dives into another NFL season ... and, looks like they'll celebrate by diving into the ocean!

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1 person hospitalized after boat fire in north palm beach.

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A boat fire behind the Lott Brothers parking lot leaves one hospitalized.

According to the Village of North Palm Beach, firefighters received the call around 7 a.m.

Westbound traffic was reduced to one lane only on Northlake Boulevard from Southwind Drive to Lake Circle.

Northlake Boulevard in North Palm Beach reduced to one lane due to marina boat fire

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. — A boat fire in North Palm Beach could cause traffic congestion Saturday morning.

At around 7 a.m., firefighters were called to a fire scene at the marina behind Lott Brothers, according to a tweet posted by the Village of North Palm Beach.

Westbound traffic on Northlake Boulevard is reduced to one lane between Southwind Drive and Lake Circle.

The post said that one person was flown to the hospital with injuries.

Westbound traffic is reduced to one lane only on Northlake Blvd from Southwind Drive to Lake Circle because Village firefighters are working a boat fire scene at the marina behind Lott Brothers. They were called there at 7 a.m. One person was flown to the hospital with injuries. pic.twitter.com/31loG6WMtP — Village of North Palm Beach (@VillageNPB) August 24, 2024

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This beloved taco bell boasts beachfront real estate, beer and whale watching from the patio: ‘an honor just to stop by’.

Take a boat, hop a train, catch a plane.

America’s “most loved” Taco Bell has some of the most valuable real estate in the state of California — a prime oceanfront location in suburban San Francisco , so close to the beach that some customers even walk in barefoot after a morning of surfing.

Located in the town of Pacifica, the restaurant boasts a smart, nautical theme — think white walls, vaulted ceilings, walls of windows to take in the stunning view and a fireplace for chilly days.

There’s also a popular, beach-facing patio — the perfect spot for an affordable beer , which the restaurant, a “Cantina” location of the chain, serves, along with a range of boozy treats.

The otherwise business-as-usual location of the franchise has won over so many fans, it’s earned the title of best in the country, according to Fast Company , which crunch-wrapped review scores nationwide to determine the finest (and the most fearful) five branches of the chain.

Using Google Maps, researchers ranked thousands of locations, taking their average score and then weighting them to level the playing field, as some of the restaurants boast far more reviews than others.

The Pacifica ‘Bell came in caliente with an average score of 4.42 out of 5 and 3,400 Google reviews to take the ultimate prize.

“Officially the worlds most beautiful Taco Bell! A wonderful place to stop for people passing through,” one happy customer wrote on the site.

“I couldn’t believe the surrounding view. We sat on the balcony and were able to watch the surfers. Coolest Taco Bell ever,” another gushed.

Yelp ranks the restaurant much lower — 3.5 out of 5, with 690 reviews — but many of them are raves as well.

“It’s an honor just to stop by the world’s most beautiful Taco Bell…you really can’t beat this prime beach location nor its scenic views — especially with a taco and beer in hand,” said one local customer.

Out of the top five, three locations were located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas — literally requiring fans to “Make a Run For The Border.” Minutes from Mexico, Taco Bells in Harlingen, Brownsville and McAllen earned some of the highest scores in the land.

And finally, the last to be admitted to the top five? A Taco Bell just over the Hudson River from NYC in Union City, NJ, according to Fast Company.

“It’s very nice to go to a place where you are treated with respect and the person shows hospitality towards others,” one burrito lover said of the service of the J.F.K. Boulevard store.

The article also called out the five worst Taco Bell locations in the country, according to the same metrics.

Hanover Park, IL, Cincinnati, OH and Deltona, Fla. were shamed, along with two Upstate New York branches; one in Buffalo and the other in Queensbury, just outside of Glens Falls.

Taco Bell was founded in 1962 in Downey, Calif. by Glen Bell, who found prior success selling his version of the crunchy tacos he enjoyed at a restaurant called Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, Calif., which still exists.

The restaurant has recently been in the news for relaunching nostalgic menu items such as Meximelts from the ’80s, Gorditas from the ’90s and the Caramel Apple Empanada, an aughts-era favorite.

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The 21 Best Beaches in Hawaii

These gorgeous Hawaii beaches are perfect whether you love surfing, snorkeling or tropical views.

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The islands that make up Hawaii's archipelago are known for their unique culture, their stunning tropical foliage and their laid-back vibe. Hawaiian beaches are also some of the most beautiful in the world thanks to the tall, swaying palm trees and the dramatic mountain scenery that surrounds them.

Which beaches in Hawaii are worth a visit? Practically all of them, but some feature better scenery or waters for surfing or snorkeling than others. As you start planning your next trip to the gorgeous Hawaiian islands , consider adding a stop to these Hawaiian beaches for a few hours … or a few days.

Poipu Beach: Kauai

The island of Kauai is popular due to its mountainous terrain, its verdant and lush landscapes, and its accessible waterfalls. However, the golden sand beaches are also a sight to behold. Once named "America's Best Beach" by the Travel Channel, Poipu Beach is located on the south shore of the island and features a natural ocean wading pool perfect for snorkeling and swimming.

Big Beach (Makena Beach): Maui

Maui 's Big Beach (also called Makena Beach ) is long, beautiful and wide, with rough waters and stunning mountain views. Visitors can spread out and enjoy plenty of space thanks to the sheer size of the beach, and its shorebreak brings huge swells perfect for surfing, extreme boogie boarding and other water sports.

Read: The Best Maui Helicopter Tours

Hanauma Bay: Oahu

Located within the city of Honolulu , Hanauma Bay is home to an array of tropical fish and other marine life, making it an ideal place for learning about the area's delicate underwater ecosystem via a snorkeling excursion. This nature preserve is so important to locals that tour buses are no longer permitted inside. However, individual travelers can still make the journey to admire this gorgeous stretch of coastline.

Hulopoe Beach: Lanai

Hulopoe Beach is located in front of the Four Seasons Resort Lanai , one of the premier luxury resorts in all of Hawaii . In addition to its incredible scenery, this beach offers some of the best snorkeling and swimming waters off the coast of Lanai. Large tidal pools on the eastern side of the bay also create ideal swimming and exploring opportunities for children.

Polihale Beach: Kauai

Polihale Beach is located within Kauai's Polihale State Park, and it's known for its amazing sunsets and jaw-dropping views of the famous Napali Coast . This stretch of coastline is perfect for families who want to enjoy a picnic or relax in a remarkably natural setting. Plus, swimming is possible when ocean conditions are calm.

Kahalu'u Beach: Big Island

Located on the Kona coast near the town center of Kailua-Kona, Kahalu'u Beach boasts an array of marine animals that range from sea turtles to tropical fish. This makes the beach ideal for snorkeling and learning about the ocean, although rocks near the shore necessitate water shoes. Rougher waters not far from the shore also make this beach a popular spot for surfers.

Ko Olina Beach: Oahu

Ko Olina Beach is home to several resorts, including the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina and Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, and is made up of four different lagoons that are ideal for swimming and snorkeling. While the beaches here are privately owned, travelers can visit and daily parking is available. Many activities like scuba diving and surfing are prohibited, but the beach is worth a visit thanks to its ample ocean wildlife and clear waters.

Pa'iloa Beach: Maui

Maui's Pa'iloa Beach (also known as Honokalani Beach) is located along the Road to Hana within Waianapanapa State Park , and is only accessible with park reservations. However, the trip will be worth it thanks to the beach's startling black sand and clear turquoise waters. This stretch of sand even boasts a natural lava arch in the water, which creates the perfect backdrop for your Instagram-worthy photos.

Read: The Best Things to Do in Maui

Polihua Beach: Lanai

Located on the northern shore of Lanai, secluded Polihua Beach is harder to reach than some of the other top beaches in Hawaii (accessing it requires a four-wheel drive vehicle or a professional guide). However, this beach is 2 miles long and blissfully empty, making it perfect for sunbathing or enjoying the views without any crowds. Strong ocean currents make the waters along Polihua Beach too dangerous for swimming, but it's still a great place to get away from it all.

Read: The Best Things to Do in Lanai

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach: Big Island

If you're eager to see a unique black sand beach, the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach on the island of Hawaii should be on your radar. This beach is located between the towns of Pahala and Naalehu in Kau, so it's easily accessible. While not ideal for swimming, the stark contrast of the black sand and clear waters makes this beach unforgettable. You may even see protected sea turtles relaxing on the shores or swimming directly off the coast.

Hanalei Bay: Kauai

Kauai's Hanalei Bay is known for its incredible surf and proximity to the gorgeous Napali Coast, as well as the many luxury resorts located in nearby Princeville, including The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas . There are actually three different beaches within Hanalei – Waioli Beach Park, Hanalei Beach Park and Black Pot Beach. Each one is dotted with lifeguards, and swimming is possible when the waters are calm.

Read: The Best Things to Do in Kauai

Wailea Beach: Maui

Wailea Beach features soft white sand and calm waters that beg visitors to jump right in. Known for drawing in lots of tourists, this stretch of coastline boasts many upscale eateries featuring gourmet cuisine and fresh seafood. This beach is also home to an array of popular resorts, from the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort to the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea .

Waimanalo Beach: Oahu

Waimanalo Beach is not very popular with tourists, but it's not due to a lack of beauty. This beach on the island's southeastern shore is a sight to behold thanks to its powder white sand, mountainous backdrop and azure ocean waters. There aren't any amenities here, but what the beach lacks in facilities it more than makes up for in its peaceful atmosphere.

Makalawena Beach: Big Island

The Big Island's Makalawena Beach is popular with hikers, and it's easy to see why. As part of Kekaha Kai State Park, this beach is not accessible by car, meaning it's less frequented by tourists. If you do decide to make the 4.5-mile trek to the beach along the Ala Kahakai Trail, you'll be rewarded with a palm-lined shoreline, plenty of shade trees and astonishing natural beauty in every direction.

Read: The Best Things to Do on the Big Island

Lanikai Beach: Oahu

Oahu's Lanikai Beach is located 15 miles northeast of downtown Honolulu, so it's not that difficult to reach. Travelers who make the journey will find a tranquil beach that's a mile long with lighter crowds than nearby Waikiki Beach . While parking can be limited, the calm waters found here make this beach a family-friendly gem.

Read: The Best Things to Do in Honolulu - Oahu

Kalapaki Beach: Kauai

Kalapaki Beach sits behind a protected break wall directly next to Marriott's Kaua'i Beach Club , making it convenient for hotel guests who don't want to drive. This beach is ideal for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and learning to surf, yet you'll also find visitors sunbathing and playing beach volleyball.

Sunset Beach: Oahu

Oahu's Sunset Beach is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it's perfect for active vacationers who want to take part in water sports like surfing and boogie boarding. This North Shore beach is also easy to visit by car thanks to its location near the town of Haleiwa south of Waimea Bay. Parking is available across the street from the beach, as well as basic facilities like restrooms and showers.

Hapuna Beach: Big Island

Hapuna Beach is located within Hapuna Beach State Park on the Big Island, and it's one of the area's largest white sand treasures. This postcard-perfect beach tends to offer excellent conditions for swimming, as well as calm water activities like stand-up paddleboarding and snorkeling. You can even see whales migrating along the coast during part of the year (most often from January to March), and amenities like food vendors, restrooms and showers will make your visit more comfortable.

Papohaku Beach: Molokai

Papohaku Beach is located on the island of Molokai, and it's one of the longest and widest white sand beaches in all of Hawaii. Families love to camp along the broad expanse of this beach year-round, and picnic and restroom facilities are found on-site. While swimming is safe for part of the year, visitors should avoid getting in the water here from October through March.

Papakolea Beach: Big Island

After you've visited a few of Hawaii's black sand beaches Papakolea Beach, also known as Green Sand Beach, should be next on your list. While this unique shore on Hawaii's Big Island offers no amenities and often experiences a strong surf that makes for dangerous swimming conditions, it's worth a visit just to view the stark contrast of the green sand, which is made that way by a common mineral called olivine. Note that reaching the shoreline requires a hike from the parking lot and that there is little to no shade along the way.

Waikiki Beach: Oahu

Waikiki Beach is located along the south shore of Honolulu, which boasts many of Oahu's most fabulous hotels and resorts, including Halekulani and The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki . This means you'll share the sand with thousands of tourists in the area, but that you'll also be able to find dining and entertainment with ease. Not only does Waikiki Beach stand in the shadows of the beautiful Diamond Head landmark, but it's also an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling and surfing lessons for beginners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hawaii has more than 100 beaches across all of its different islands. Some of the best beaches in Hawaii include:

• Poipu Beach
• Makena Beach
• Hulopoe Beach
• Wailea Beach
• Polihua Beach

See more of the best beaches in Hawaii .

The Big Island and Maui both have several black sand beaches. Some of the top black sand beaches in Hawaii are:

• Punaluu Beach (Big Island)
• Kehena Beach (Big Island)
• Kaimu Beach (Big Island)
• Honokalani Beach at Pailoa Bay, located in Waianapanapa State Park (Maui)
• Oneuli Beach (Maui)

See more great beaches in Hawaii, plus photos .

Waikiki Beach is in Honolulu, about 9 miles east of Honolulu International Airport. It's situated on the southeastern coast of the island of Oahu.

Learn more about Waikiki Beach .

Hapuna Beach is on the Big Island. It's located on the western coast of the island, about 30 miles north of Kailua-Kona and 25 miles north of Kona International Airport.

Find out more about Hapuna Beach .

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Hawaii Tours
• All-Inclusive Resorts in Hawaii: Hotels With Awesome Amenities
• The Top Beach Resorts Around the World
• The Top Overwater Bungalows Around the World
• The Best Beach Bags

Tags: Travel , Hawaii Vacations , Beach Vacations , US Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

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