On June 27, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 9:17 a.m. and responded to a boater in distress offshore of Hanauma Bay with 6 units and 20 personnel. The first HFD unit arrived on scene at the Lana’i lookout at 9:27 a.m. and confirmed an overturned canoe with six paddlers in the water. Additional HFD units responded to launch a rescue boat and establish a nearby landing zone in preparation for operations by air and ocean.
It was reported that three canoes encountered rough sea conditions and were overturned approximately one mile offshore. Personnel from the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department (HOSD) also responded with rescue watercrafts and bystanders on vessels nearby also provided aid. A total of 20 paddlers were safely transported to shore. Once all paddlers were accounted for onshore, HFD’s Air 1 located all canoes and HFD’s rescue boat, HOSD skis, and a bystander vessel towed the canoes back to shore.
All HFD personnel were accounted for, and no injuries to emergency responders were reported.