Home Care In Kaneohe, HI

A large Navy aircraft overshot the runway at a U.S. Marine base in Hawaii on Monday, landing in the water.

Nine Navy personnel were inside the plane that landed in Kaneohe Bay just before 2 p.m., according to base spokesperson Hailey Harms. All nine people returned to shore safely and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the incident was under investigation.

Harms said the aircraft "did overshoot their landing" on the base's runaway, about 10 miles from Honolulu.

The crew inside were part of a Washington based squadron VP-4 "Skinny Dragons" stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state, according to the Marine Corps.

"First responders and emergency crews acted immediately to conduct an initial assessment and employed a temporary floating barrier, which is used to protect the environment," Marine Corps spokesperson Mohammad N. Issa said in a statement.

More about the plane that landed in Kaneohe Bay

Harms said the plane was an 8A, which operates with a smaller crew and has a wingspan of about 124 feet, according to the Navy’s website.

The Boeing P8A Poseidon's primary purpose is reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. It is manufactured by Boeing and shares many parts with the 737 commercial jet.

The aircraft is "equipped with state of the art radars, sensors and a new air-to-air refuel capability," the site says.

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Diane Dircks of Illinois told The Associated Press that she and her family had just returned to a dock after rainy weather cut their pontoon boat trip short when her daughter saw the plane in the water.

Shortly after, they heard sirens, and the family used a pair of binoculars to look at the plane and the rescue boats arriving.

“It was unbelievable,” she said.

The U.S. Navy said Monday that it has removed nearly all of the fuel from a large surveillance plane that overshot a Hawaii runway and landed in an environmentally sensitive bay, but it doesn't have a timetable for when it will get the aircraft out of the water. The surveillance plane was flying in rainy weather when it landed one week earlier in Kaneohe Bay along the northeastern coast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox said there was an estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel on board the P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

"The team extracted all the fuel that they could get out of those tanks. This process was completed successfully without any fuel being released into the bay," Lenox said at a news conference. Removing the fuel will reduce the risks for the rest of the salvage operation, he said.

There were no injuries to the nine people who were on board when the plane landed Nov. 20 in shallow water just offshore of Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The base is about 10 miles from Honolulu. Marine Corps spokesperson Gunnery Sgt. Orlando Perez told the Associated Press after the landing that he did not have information about what caused the P-8A to go off the runway.

Cmdr. Mark Anderson, who is leading the Navy's mobile diving and salvage unit working at the site, said the plane was sitting on a mixture of coral and sand. The left engine is resting on coral. The plane rises a little with the tide, so the full weight of the plane is not on the coral, he said.

Kaneohe Bay is home to coral reefs, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond and a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks.

There may have been some minor damage to the coral but there didn't appear to be "massive chunks missing," Anderson said. Still, the focus currently is on stabilizing the plane and developing a plan to move it, he said.

State environmental officials expect to conduct a damage assessment once the plane is removed.

The Navy is studying two options for moving the aircraft, explained Lenox.

The first is to float it and get it within range of a crane on the runway. Then it would be lifted onto the runway and set down on its landing gear, which is still in good condition. The second option is to float it on top of cylinders and roll it up onto the runway.

Lenox said the Navy has three priorities while it does this work: safety of the salvage crew, protecting the environment and preserving the capability of the aircraft.

The Navy now has three temporary floating barriers around the P-8A aircraft at its resting spot to prevent any potential fuel spill or other contaminants from polluting the ocean.

The Navy hasn't had indications or reports that any fuel leaked from the plane, Lenox said. The Navy also tested the removed fuel and found that no water had seeped into it, which indicated the plane's fuel system was still intact.

In addition to the floating barriers, the Navy has placed material around the plane to help absorb any potential pollutants and provide early warning of petroleum spills. The Navy has also kept a skimmer on standby so it can remove any pollutants quickly.

On Thursday, sailors retrieved the data recorder and conducted a hydrographic survey to assess the plane's structural integrity.

The Navy has come under intense scrutiny in Hawaii for its environmental stewardship and transparency after jet fuel leaked from a World War II-era fuel storage facility into Pearl Harbor's drinking water in 2021. Some 6,000 Navy personnel, their dependents and civilians complained of physical ailments after the spill. After mounting pressure, the Navy agreed to drain the tanks, an operation that is currently underway.

Lenox said he is aware of the distrust in the community toward the Navy and is striving to be transparent. He said the state of Hawaii's on-scene commander observed the defueling of the plane and requested that the Navy install a third temporary protective barrier around the plane. The Navy complied.

The Navy uses P-8A planes to search for submarines and to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance. Manufactured by Boeing, the plane is a military version of the 737 passenger jet and shares many of the same parts. It is roughly the same size as the Airbus A320 passenger jet that, piloted by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, made an emergency landing on the Hudson River in New York in 2009. Some noted similarities between the earliest images of the Navy plane in Kaneohe Bay and those of the "Miracle on the Hudson."

The Navy plane is assigned to the Skinny Dragons of Patrol Squadron 4 stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. Patrol squadrons were once based at Kaneohe Bay but now deploy to Hawaii on a rotating basis.

The base is one of several major military installations on Oahu. Peter Forman, an aircraft expert, told Hawaii News Now after the overshot landing that the runway at the base sitting on Kaeohe Bay is shorter and winds and bad weather could have played a role in the mishap, too.

"The pilot probably didn't put the plane down exactly where he wanted to on the runway," Forman told the outlet. "It's probably a combination of all those factors put together."

The Navy has flown out another P-8A from Washington state to carry out patrol duties in place of the incapacitated jet. It is flying out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, on the other side of Oahu.

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (AP) — The U.S. Navy said Monday that it has removed nearly all of the fuel from a large plane that overshot a Hawaii runway and landed in an environmentally sensitive bay, but it doesn’t have a timetable for when it will get the aircraft out of the water.

Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox said there was an estimated 2,000 gallons (7,500 liters) of fuel on board the P-8A.

“The team extracted all the fuel that they could get out of those tanks. This process was completed successfully without any fuel being released into the bay,” Lenox said at a news conference. Removing the fuel will reduce the risks for the rest of the salvage operation, he said.

There were no injuries to the nine people who were on board when the plane landed Nov. 20 in shallow water just offshore of Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Honolulu.

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Cmdr. Mark Anderson, who is leading the Navy’s mobile diving and salvage unit working at the site, said the plane was sitting on a mixture of coral and sand. The left engine is resting on coral. The plane rises a little with the tide, so the full weight of the plane is not on the coral, he said.

Kaneohe Bay is home to coral reefs, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond and a breeding ground for hammerhead sharks.

There may have been some minor damage to the coral but there didn’t appear to be “massive chunks missing,” Anderson said. Still, the focus currently is on stabilizing the plane and developing a plan to move it, he said.

State environmental officials expect to conduct a damage assessment once the plane is removed.

The Navy is studying two options for moving the aircraft, explained Lenox.

The first is to float it and get it within range of a crane on the runway. Then it would be lifted onto the runway and set down on its landing gear, which is still in good condition. The second option is to float it on top of cylinders and roll it up onto the runway.

Lenox said the Navy has three priorities while it does this work: safety of the salvage crew, protecting the environment and preserving the capability of the aircraft.

The Navy now has three temporary floating barriers around the P-8A aircraft at its resting spot to prevent any potential fuel spill or other contaminants from polluting the ocean.

The Navy hasn’t had indications or reports that any fuel leaked from the plane, Lenox said. The Navy also tested the removed fuel and found that no water had seeped into it, which indicated the plane’s fuel system was still intact.

In addition to the floating barriers, the Navy has placed material around the plane to help absorb any potential pollutants and provide early warning of petroleum spills. The Navy has also kept a skimmer on standby so it can remove any pollutants quickly.

On Thursday, sailors retrieved the data recorder and conducted a hydrographic survey to assess the plane’s structural integrity.

The Navy has come under intense scrutiny in Hawaii for its environmental stewardship and transparency after jet fuel leaked from a World War II-era fuel storage facility into Pearl Harbor’s drinking water in 2021. Some 6,000 Navy personnel, their dependents and civilians complained of physical ailments after the spill. After mounting pressure, the Navy agreed to drain the tanks, an operation that is currently underway.

Lenox said he is aware of the distrust in the community toward the Navy and is striving to be transparent. He said the state of Hawaii’s on-scene commander observed the defueling of the plane and requested that the Navy install a third temporary protective barrier around the plane. The Navy complied.

The Navy uses P-8A planes to search for submarines and to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance. Manufactured by Boeing, the plane is a military version of the 737 passenger jet.

The plane is assigned to Patrol Squadron 4 stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington state. Patrol squadrons were once based at Kaneohe Bay but now deploy to Hawaii on a rotating basis.

The Navy has flown out another P-8A from Washington state to carry out patrol duties in place of the incapacitated jet. It is flying out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, on the other side of Oahu.

KANEOHE, Hawaii — On Friday, Gov. Josh Green, together with community representatives, celebrated the blessing and opening of Ka Malu Koolau kauhale, or tiny home village, in Kaneohe. It is the second kauhale opening under Green’s administration.

What You Need To Know

Area kupuna helped guide the selection of the name, Ka Malu Koolau, that “honors the protection and safety of the Koolau for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors in Windward Oahu,” according to a news release.

“Homelessness should not be accepted as normal in our society,” said Gov. Green in the release. “We are seeing that Hawaii’s communities are opening their eyes to those suffering around them and are coming together to support the kauhale effort. Some individuals have even come forward asking that we help their own loved ones and friends. I am glad to have them join me in saying, ‘yes in my backyard.’ Housing is healthcare, and this is truly the path forward for our state.”

Ka Malu Koolau will provide a safe and stable home for the houseless in the community with restroom facilities, shower trailers, laundry facility and daily meals. It will be able to provide shelter for about 34 people at a time and includes 24/7 security, an intake/management staff and peer support. Office space is also available for onsite care coordination.

“Kauhale like this will serve unique community needs across the state,” said John Mizuno, statewide homeless coordinator for the Office of the Governor. "What we found for Ka Malu Koolau, is that the community shared similar concerns for their homeless neighbors living on the streets and in encampments in the mountains. We all want safe places for ourselves and our families. Ka Malu Koolau is the state’s solution to providing compassionate care to those most in need throughout Windward, Oahu.”

Windward resident and community advocate Mahealani Cypher said, “All of us can attest to having witnessed this growth in the number of homeless people. “It is gratifying that this kauhale will serve our local homeless people first, because – in our view – that is where our need is the greatest.

“Homeless people here in our community are the brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, maybe even parents of island families. Our shared kuleana is to help those in need from our own community,” said Cypher.

The state’s lead development partner, HomeAid Hawaii, planned and constructed Ka Malu Koolau reducing the cost by approximately $700,000 through pro bono labor and donated materials and supplies. The total cost of development is valued at $1.3 million.

Project Vision Hawaii is the state’s operating partner for Ka Malu Koolau providing daily meals, case management services, 24/7 staff and security. PVH will also be the coordinating unit among government entities, organizations, churches and others to meet the needs of the kauhale community.

Kauhale are communal living spaces that share bathrooms and kitchens. It functions like a tiny home village with “village” as a key element in which people take care of the space as a community and take care of each other. According to the governor’s office, kauhale are sustainably affordable – over time, people will depend on their community for support rather than on professional services.

Gov. Green aims to decrease statewide homelessness by 50% in his first term in office by incorporating kauhale, according to the release.

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HONOLULU — In this Year of the Dragon, you may not be a pig, monkey or rat – considered the top three luckiest Chinese zodiac signs in 2024 – but you can still soar into 2024 and celebrate at Oahu’s largest Lunar New Year event coming up on Feb. 3, Night in Chinatown Festival and Lunar New Year Parade.

The family-friendly Night in Chinatown Festival is 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at Aala Park. All ages are invited to enjoy a variety of Lunar New Year arts and crafts, free bouncy houses (closes at 6 p.m.), keiki activities, food trucks, lion dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, live entertainment on three different stages, plus a special appearance by a 150-foot dragon. There will also be a free Keiki Fun Zone at Aala Park and on Beretania Street between Maunakea and Aala streets.

Chinatown 808, the nonprofit organization comprising volunteers, is hosting the event in partnership with presenting sponsor American Savings Bank, which is sponsoring the Keiki Fun Zone.

“This year’s event is special to us as we ring in the Year of the Dragon,” said President of Chinatown 808 Leonard Kam, in a news release. “In many cultures, the dragon represents honor, prosperity and intelligence, and we are excited to bring these cultures and values forward through our festival and parade where we have the opportunity to showcase cultural arts, activities and dances with the entire community.”

At 4:30 p.m., the Lunar New Year Parade kicks off at the Hawaii State Capitol lawn making its way along Hotel Street through the Chinatown district. Lion dance groups and dragons, special appearances by festival queens and their courts, cultural organizations, kung fu martial artists and local dignitaries are all in the parade lineup.

American Savings Bank President and CEO Ann Teranishi said, “American Savings Bank is thrilled to bring back the Lunar New Year Festival and parade … These festivities are a unique celebration of Hawaii’s diverse cultural heritage, uniting residents and businesses across the state right outside our ASB campus.”

A partnership with the Hawaii Bicycling League offers something new this year – bikers can ride their bikes and check them in for free at the bike valet to enjoy the festivities.

Islandwide events

• Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St., Honolulu

Enjoy activities, food and entertainment at this Lunar New Year celebration, Feb. 2-3. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

• Hawaii Kai Towne Center, 333 Keahole St., Hawaii Kai

Get an early start on the Lunar New Year with a traditional lion dance and martial arts demonstration by Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association and a special appearance by the Miss Chinatown Hawaii court, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3.

• Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, 412 Lewers St., Waikiki

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a Gee Yung Dragon & Lion Dance performance and savor special menu dishes by Chef Erik Leong at Mahina & Sun’s and cocktails from Executive Bar Czar Christian Taibi, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-10.

• International Market Place, 2330 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki

Welcome the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 with lion dance performances (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on levels 1, 2 and 3), traditional Chinese calligraphy (1 to 3 p.m. on level 1, Mauka Court), and free stargazing with Stargazers of Hawaii Moon Viewing (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the Grand Lanai).

• Pearlridge Center, 98-1005 Moanalua Rd., Aiea

Ring in the Lunar New Year and welcome a Year of the Dragon full of growth, progress and abundance with in-store blessings throughout the center, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 10.

• Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a traditional lion dance by Au’s Shaolin Arts Society Lion Dance and martial arts demo in Center Court, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 10. On Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-noon, Master Chinese calligraphy artist Ina Chang will be in the Center Court on the lower level near Ross Dress for Less to write good luck fortunes for shoppers.

• Koko Marina Center, 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., Hawaii Kai

Oahu’s east side will also celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 starting 11:30 a.m. with a demonstration by Gee Yung Martial Arts and an appearance by the Narcissus Queen and her court at 12:30 p.m. A lion dance will also make its way around the center.

• South Shore Market & Ward Village, 1170 Auahi St., Honolulu

Get into the spirit of the Lunar New Year with lucky lion displays and festive red lanterns for photo ops, Feb. 10-24. Then starting at noon, Feb. 17, shoppers are invited to enjoy lion dance performances at the South Shore Market courtyard, after which the lion dance will proceed through the neighborhood performing blessings. Ward Village retailers and eateries will hand out complimentary lai see, red envelopes, while supplies last. Master Chinese calligraphy artist Ina Chang will also be onsite at South Shore Market (mauka side), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Hawaii Theatre Center, 1130 Bethel St., Honolulu

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the sounds of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra led by Conductor Dane Lam in “Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger: Year of the Dragon,” 4-6:30 p.m. Feb. 11, featuring a lineup of amazing soloists performing music from composers who offer a blend of Chinese and Western influences. Tickets.

• Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu

On Feb. 17, shoppers will enjoy over 20 lively lions spreading good luck center-wide, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. There’s also a lineup of performances starting at the Ewa Wing Stage at 1:30 and continuing at Centerstage with the Phoenix Dance Chamber at 3 p.m. and an amazing lion pole jumping and dragon dance at 5 p.m. Calligrapher Ina Chang will be at the Ewa Wing Stage 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 18 followed by performances hosted by the Narcissus Court at Centerstage at 1 p.m.

• Ka Makana Alii, 91-5431 Kapolei Pkwy., Kapolei

The public is invited to the Center Court on Feb. 18 where the Phoenix Dance Chamber will perform 11:30 a.m.-noon and Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association at noon to 12:45 p.m. Afterwards, a lion dance will share blessings center wide, 12:45 to 3 p.m. Back at Center Court from 2 to 5 p.m., meet master calligrapher Ina Chang to receive a New Year blessing made just for you.

See HI Out & About for Lunar New Year events on the neighbor islands.

Editor’s note: Event at Hawaii Theatre was added. (Feb. 10, 2024)