Archive image: A Coast Guard MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew assigned to Air Station Barbers Point approaches the landing pad at Queen’s Medical Center for flight training in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 14, 2024.
Air Station Barbers Point air crews routinely conduct touch-and-go flight training at various locations to enhance area familiarization to maintain readiness for search and rescue cases.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Robertson.
HONOLULU — A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point MH-65E Dolphin aircrew conducted the rescue of a boater (man) after his boat sank offshore the island of Molokai. Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders heard two mayday calls on VHF-FM channel 16 at 5:40 a.m. from a man stating his boat was taking on water offshore Ilio Point, Molokai. The call did not include the number of people aboard or the vessel’s description.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB) and directed the launch of an MH-65E Dolphin Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu, and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry.
Maui Fire Department helicopter, jet ski and engine crews also responded to the mayday calls.
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders directed the launch of helicopter crews that located a 59-year-old man clinging to a bait box after receiving a mayday call from the man approximately 2 nautical miles southwest of Ilio Point.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
U.S. Coast Guard Hawaii Pacific.
The Coast Guard MH-65E helicopter aircrew searched the eastern side of the Kaiwi Channel offshore Ilio Point without sighting anyone in distress. An HC-130J Hercules airplane crew and second MH-65E Dolphin SRR Helicopter aircrew then joined the search. At 9:37 a.m., the second Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew located a person in the water approximately 2 nautical miles southwest of Ilio Point.
The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer and hoisted the man, who was clinging to a bait box. The 59-year-old man confirmed that he had made the mayday calls and had been the only person aboard the 29-foot boat Hana Hou, which sank after taking on water in the Kaiwi Channel.
The rescue helicopter aircrew transported him to the air station for an evaluation by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. No injuries were reported.
“Emergencies often unfold quickly at sea, so it is crucial for you to wear a life jacket and have communications equipment like a VHF radio on board,”said Ensign Skyler Schroeder, command duty officer, Sector Honolulu. “Cell phones can rarely be relied upon in the marine environment. In fact, this mariner’s VHF radio directly led to his rescue. Beyond a radio, an EPIRB is especially useful during offshore voyages because you can send a distress alert and transmit your GPS location with the press of a button.”
The sunken Hana Hou does not currently pose a known hazard to navigation. Sector Honolulu pollution responders are investigating the vessel, which reportedly had 50-100 gallons of diesel on board.
–USCG–
For more Hlcopters Magazine breaking news, stories, images and videos visit hlcopters.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
