Owner of grounded yacht responds to online backlash

HONOLUA BAY, Maui — A luxury yacht owner is responding to a wave of online criticism after his vessel grounded near a Maui marine sanctuary on Monday, potentially causing extensive environmental damage to the area.

On Feb. 20, Jim Jones, the owner of Noelani Yacht Charters, mistakenly landed his 94-foot yacht, named the Nakoa, at Honolua Bay in northwest Maui.

The incident has caused a stir online, with countless numbers of social media users expressing outrage over the “irreparable damage” to the reef and sea life.

“Well of course, the rich doing what they do best — polluting the earth,” wrote one person under a Hawai‘i News Now Instagram story on the yacht.

“How about banning touring companies, who can’t respect the Hawaiian culture and ecosystem?” wrote another commenter.

In a Feb. 22 phone interview with The Garden Island, Jones expressed disappointment over the “bad press” and “incorrect information” being circulated online.

“We’ve turned off all our social media,” he said. “It’s all negative. Me being a local Hawaiian, I expected more support,” adding that people have been putting his home address and pictures of his kids online.

“You’re complaining about it, come down and help us out,” he said of the critics. He noted that a handful of local people have been helpful in trying to free the yacht from the reef.

Jones explained that he was spending the day on the yacht with his family when its mooring line severed.

“We go there all the time, at least once a month,” he said, calling the incident a “freak accident” that happened while he and his family were under deck.

“It was at night and the wind was blowing, just happened to be blowing in that direction. It blew it right in there,” said Jones. “We didn’t have much time to react.”

According to a Feb. 21 press release from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, it’s “likely to be another few days” before the yacht is freed.

“The yacht cannot be removed until all fuel, batteries and any other pollutants on board are removed,” the department said in the release, noting the process may involve a helicopter.

Additionally, Jones is responsible for providing “an acceptable salvage plan,” and will be responsible for all costs.

DLNR reported that “a sheen of diesel fuel was leaking from the boat’s hull and was visible in surrounding water.” The sheen is no longer visible, but the smell of fuel is still in the air, according to the release.

DLNR also said they completed an initial underwater assessment of the area and estimated that 30 coral and live rock have been damaged by the yacht. Divers will “need to return to do a more thorough assessment once the vessel is removed,” the department said.

“Based on those findings, the boat’s owner could face significant penalties as determined by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.”

Jones emphasized that his company is “very environmentally conscious” and is committed to working with the community to remove the yacht and restore the reef area.

“We’re not running away from this. We’re not leaving this here and letting everybody deal with it,” he said.

“We’re gonna be here until the end and, hopefully, it’s all gonna work out.”

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Emma Grunwald, reporter, can be reached 808-245-0441 or egrunwald@thegardenisland.com.