Six people rescued by Coast Guard off Diamond Head in Hawaii

The Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department, and Ocean Safety Lifeguard Services rescued six paddlers aboard a sinking canoe off Diamond Head.

There were no injuries reported. An Ocean Safely Jet ski operator successfully towed the canoe to shore with one of the boaters. The remaining five were rescued and taken by a Station Honolulu 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew to Ke’ehi Boat Harbor.

“Cases such as this require teamwork between different agencies, and by working together with our local, regional, and national partners we can coordinate effective responses,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Alvin Seguin, a Sector Honolulu watchstander. “Our regular joint training exercises prepare us for these eventualities.”

At 11:40 a.m., Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a call from the Honolulu Fire Department stating canoe paddlers reported their vessel taking on water one mile off Black Point near Diamond Head. Sector Honolulu watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast Notice to Mariners to keep a sharp lookout for signs of distress and launched the RB-M crew to respond. Honolulu Fire Department and Ocean Safety deployed crews aboard a fireboat, Hawaii Fire Department Air 1 helicopter, and a Jetski to assist.

The weather on-scene was winds of 17 mph and seas up to 4 feet.