A man who lives on Maui and refers to himself as “Dolphin Dave,” on Facebook, was cited this morning at Kealakekua Bay on Hawaiʻi Island after state conservation officers received numerous calls reported alleged wildlife harassment.
Salvage efforts will resume sometime this weekend as crews attempt to free the grounded yacht Nakoa from the near-shore reef on the edge of Honolua Bay.
Work to remove fuel, other pollutants, and batteries from the grounded 94-foot-long luxury yacht Nakoa, will continue today (Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023) at Honolua Bay in northwest Maui.
The State will bill the yacht’s owner for reimbursement of the $460,000 salvage cost, and for additional staff and administrative costs, and take legal action if necessary.
The US Coast Guard federalized the vessel on Tuesday, which means the yacht cannot be moved until all fuel, batteries, and any other pollutants on board are removed. That process may involve a helicopter and is expected to take at least through Wednesday, according to a DLNR news release.
The owners of the luxury yacht Nakoa have hired a private contractor to salvage the vessel which grounded nearshore at Honolua Bay early on Sunday, state officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources report.