On the morning of August 9, 2025, the 60-foot passenger vessel Discovery was forced aground near Kewalo Basin Harbor after battling powerful waves.

The boat was violently tossed by towering surf, nearly capsizing before settling in shallow waters about two feet deep.

Two skilled crew members were aboard around 8 a.m., navigating peak swells and low tide conditions.

The operator reported that two large waves struck the stern, causing a loss of propulsion and steering. No mechanical issues have been confirmed, and the cause remains under investigation.

Fuel, oil, and batteries were quickly removed to prevent pollution, with plans to tow the boat at high tide Sunday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses described the Discovery being lifted and pushed like a massive surfboard—a striking sight for a vessel its size—before drifting against a concrete seawall.

Atlantis Adventures, the boat’s owner, confirmed the crew escaped unharmed. The company is coordinating with officials to safely remove and inspect the boat before it returns to service.

The Discovery is Coast Guard certified, regularly inspected, and its captains are trained to ferry passengers to the Waikiki submarine dive site.

A local water photographer noted the south shore was seeing some of the largest swells in three years and praised the captain’s efforts to avoid worse damage.