The Maui News

Nearly two months after its grounding at Lahaina Harbor, the vessel Kuuipo is being removed this week, beginning with the placement of large sandbags between the boat and the culturally significant Hauola stone (birthing stone), which is less than 8 feet away.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said that the 56-foot motorboat grounded on March 8. Ten days later, the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation informed boat owner Vernon Ray Lindsey of Wailuku it was taking control of the vessel and was hiring a contractor to move it to a safe location, according to a DLNR news release.

On Tuesday, the salvage crew from D&D Towing successfully pulled the boat parallel to the seawall and plans on cutting the cabin from the boat next.

Lindsey was previously informed to stay “well away” from the Hauola stone due to its cultural and historical significance, the department said. Before DOBOR took over the salvage project, a contractor hired by Lindsey had refloated the Kuuipo, which brought it closer to its current location near the birthing stone, the department said.

This is the only birthing stone on Maui that’s in the water. Before the arrival of Western settlers, ali’i gathered around the stone when a chiefess was giving birth, according to DLNR.

On Tuesday morning, cultural practitioner Ke’eaumoku Kapu and his wife Uilani stood watch as the sandbags were put into position. Since there’s little information about the Hauola stone, the couple said this is a good opportunity to learn more about it and “make people care about protecting this treasure of Hawaiian culture.”

“To Hawaiians, Hauola stone carries the same kind of significance that Plymouth Rock had to America’s first settlers,” Kapu said in the news release. “A silver lining to this grounding is that it’s brought needed attention to Hauola and our desire to educate and inform people about its cultural significance.”

The salvage operation is expected to last up to three days. On Thursday, the salvage crew plans to lift what remains of the vessel onto shore, where it will be trucked away.

Recent groundings in West Maui have raised concerns among community members over risks to the natural environment and sites of cultural and historical significance.

In February, a 94-foot luxury yacht broke free of its mooring and grounded along the rocky shoreline of Honolua Bay. The yacht was removed after nearly two weeks and multiple attempts, leaving a swath of damaged coral in its wake.

In early March, two boats broke loose from moorings due to strong winds in Lahaina, prompting DLNR to advise mariners to secure their boats.

“The majority of boat owners are responsible, but recent actions by a few have harmed Hawai’i’s natural and cultural resources,” DLNR Deputy Director Laura Kaakua said in March. “Damage to our reefs and cultural sites is unacceptable. DLNR is exploring ways to enforce responsible ownership to protect our ocean environment.”