LAHAINA, Hawaii — Work to salvage the Kuuipo, a boat that ran aground on March 8 in Lahaina, began Tuesday morning, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a news release.
The boat is grounded less than 8 feet away from the Hauola stone (birthing stone), the only birthing stone on Maui that’s in the water. According to the release, ali‘i (royalty) would gather at the stone when a chiefess was in labor.
Cultural practitioner Ke‘eaumoku Kapu and his wife Uilani observed the salvage operation.
“To Hawaiians, Hauola stone carries the same kind of significance that Plymouth Rock had to America’s first settlers. 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.”
Ten days after the boat grounded, DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation informed its owner, Vernon Ray Lindsey of Wailuku, that it would take control of the boat. The agency hired a contractor to move it to a safe location. Lindsey was told to stay away from the boat because it was near the Hauola stone. DOBOR later learned that Lindsey had hired a contractor who had refloated the vessel, and it was brought to its current location near Hauola.
DLNR contacted Kapu for advice on protecting the stone during the salvage operation. Kapu said he appreciated the agency’s care for Hauola.
“We’re just her to monitor and support the salvage plan,” Kapu said. “Today the salvage crew successfully pulled the boat parallel to the seawall. This afternoon the salvage crew from D&D Towing is cutting the cabin from the boat.”
Crews plan to lift the remaining vessel onto shore and remove it on Thursday.