Two Children, Three Adults Safe After Boat Capsizes Off Kaena Point

Two children and three adults are safe after they were rescued from their capsized vessel off Kaena Point Saturday morning.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu received a mayday call over VHF channel 16 at 6:41 a.m. after the 17-foot pleasure craft capsized.  A 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew from Station Honolulu and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point were immediately launched to the scene.

The Dolphin crew arrived and found the two children in lifejackets and the three adults not in lifejackets, clinging to the overturned vessel.  A rescue swimmer was lowered to the water and rescued one adult man and the two children.  A vessel that was nearby rescued the two other men.

Sector Honolulu coordinated with the Honolulu Fire Department to setup an incident command post at Dillingham Airfield where emergency medical technicians provided treatment. The response boat crew marked the position of the capsized vessel and the location is being broadcast over VHF Channel 16 to notify mariners of the capsized vessel until it is removed.

“This rescue is a perfect example of why boaters must be sure they have good safety equipment and reliable communications before heading out on the water” said Lt Kevin Cooper, Sector Honolulu public affairs officer.  “Because this boat had a working VHF radio and properly sized lifejackets for the children, we were able to determine the boat’s location and rescuers were able to save five lives in distress.”

The Coast Guard recommends all mariners ensure they are prepared before heading out on the water. This includes having appropriate safety equipment, checking local weather conditions and ensuring the vessel is seaworthy. For more information on bopating safety visit www.uscgboating.org.

For more information contact Lt. Kevin Cooper, Sector Honolulu public affairs officer at (808) 286-4675 or Lt. Casey Corpe, Air Station Barbers Point public affairs officer at (808) 682-2750.