HONOLULU – Over the weekend, a yacht-sized passenger boat ended up stranded in high surf off a Hawaii beach. The vessel was caught in a series of powerful waves, almost tipping over on its side before finally coming to a stop.
KHON-TV reported that the events occurred around 8 a.m. Saturday when the swells were peaking and the tide was bottoming out.
According to a statement by the U.S. Coast Guard, two crew members were aboard the 60-foot (18 meter) boat named Discovery when it got stuck near Honolulu’s Kewalo Basin Harbor.
The Coast Guard reported that fuel, oil, and batteries were removed from the boat to prevent any risk of pollution. Arrangements were made for a company to tow the boat away during high tide on Sunday afternoon.
Several videos captured the incident from different angles as spectators watched and shouted while the Discovery tilted heavily on a wave, then briefly corrected itself in the turbulent water.
Surf photographer Ramon Brockington told the television station that the Discovery got caught in a series of waves.
A witness described that the boat failed to clear a wave, causing the front to turn left and the vessel to tilt, eventually pushing it onto a dry reef.
Brockington said it was “unreal.”
He remarked that it almost seemed like the boat would flip over, but it managed to straighten up. The boat was seen effectively surfing on the waves, an unusual sight for a vessel of its size and type.
The Discovery eventually drifted against a concrete wall that lines the shore.
An email seeking comment was sent Sunday to Atlantis Adventures, which owns the Discovery. The company told KHON on Saturday that the two experienced crew members aboard the boat were not injured.
“We are working closely with all government regulatory agencies to have the shuttle boat safely removed from where it was grounded, towed back to its pier location and thoroughly inspected before it is returned to service,” Atlantis Adventures told the station.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
