A 65-foot catamaran that grounded at Maui’s Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Marine Life Conservation District almost two months ago was successfully removed on Friday.  

The Hula Girl vessel ran aground at Honolua Bay’s Rocky Shoreline on Jan. 31 due to a storm and compromised motor, according to a Department of Land and Natural Resources news release. 

DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources worked closely with Kapalua Kai Sailing, Inc., the owners of Hula Girl, to develop and execute the salvage plan. 

At first, Kapalua Kai Sailing struggled to hire a salvage operator, as several companies said they were not available or were not willing to take on the project. Eventually, Cates Marine Service, LLC, was hired. This is the same company that removed the luxury yacht Nakoa from the same bay two years ago. After being removed from Honolua Bay, the Nakoa sank in 800 feet of water off Maui. 

On Friday afternoon, the tugboat Foss Marine, which is operated by Cates Marine Service, removed Hula Girl from the rocks within an hour. The catamaran is now mooring offshore at Mala small boat ramp, where it will undergo an evaluation for temporary repairs before being towed to Oahu. 

The DAR dive team conducted an initial damage assessment after the Hula Girl grounded and said it did not harm any no coral, fish or invertebrates in the bay. A follow-up assessment will take place now that the Hula Girl has been moved. DLNR said the boat did not spill any oil and did not scar the reef.