The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a man after he was seen sinking in a catamaran in Hawaii.
The unknown man was hoisted from the boat and brought to Lihue Airport in Lihue, Kauai, by a helicopter crew operated by the Coast Guard after they received a report on Sunday that the 35-foot catamaran, Alakai, was disabled and was experiencing steering problems while traveling from Oahu to Kauai.
The owner of the boat, which was 23 miles offshore Kauai, had sent a text saying the catamaran was flooding. He was concerned it might sink.
U.S. Coast Guard Fireman Jared DelAlcazar and Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Baird, crew members assigned to Coast Guard Station Kauai in Lihue, Hawaii, pose for a photograph on the deck of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, May 18, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Avery Tibbets)
The man was evaluated by medical staff, which found he had no medical concerns. The boat sunk with some 30 to 40 gallons of diesel fuel, two batteries, and 3 to 4 gallons of oil aboard.
“It’s incredibly important for mariners to equip their vessels with the proper safety equipment,” Cmdr. Andrew Williams, search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a statement. “Wearing a life jacket can significantly reduce the risk of drowning, and reliable communication devices help mariners contact the Coast Guard in the event of an emergency.”
The cause of the catamaran sinking is under investigation and further updates may be available.
Other Successful Missions
The Coast Guard also shared details on social media of its other recent rescue missions.
Posting on X, the service said last Friday that aircrew from Air Station Port Angeles in Washington assisted the National Park Service in hoisting a 15-year-old boy from Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park after he experienced a medical emergency.
“Strong agency partnerships ensure swift, lifesaving care when it matters most!” the Coast Guard wrote.
“No matter how remote the mission, we stand ready,” they added.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard members were the subject of a rescue themselves last month after a helicopter crash in Kodiak, Alaska.
Four Coast Guard crew members were declared safe after fire and rescue crews arrived at the scene of the crash.
“We are incredibly relieved our crew members survived with only minor injuries,” Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District, said in a statement on Monday. “We are grateful for the swift response by the Sitka Fire and Rescue who assisted us during this critical time.”
Elsewhere, Coast Guard crews made progress this week on reopening ports and waterways across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Bavi.
The ports had been closed so that crew could complete post-storm assessments and resolve safety issues.