Heavy seas, and harsh weather made it unsafe for salvage crews to make another attempt at freeing luxury yacht Nakoa which continues to stay stuck on the shore of Maui’s Honolua Bay.

After rigging failed, the salvager, contracted by the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), returned to O‘ahu late Monday.  

In a press release DOBOR Administrator Ed Underwood said, “Everyone’s safety remains our top priority and until the weather and sea conditions improve, we simply cannot put anyone at risk during a salvage operation.” 

Underwood continued, “At this time, it’s expected the salvage ship Kahi, operated by Visionary Marine LLC, will return to Maui on Friday or Saturday. After the rigging, being pulled by the Sause Brothers Inc. tractor tug Mary Catherine, failed Monday night, both it and the Kahi traveled back to Honolulu. When conditions improve, the vessels will return to Honolua Bay with stronger rigging, hopefully by Friday or sometime this weekend.”

For public safety, Officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) continue to maintain a presence at the entrance to the dirt track at Līpoa Point.

DLNR Photo