About The Boating Center
We provide safety equipment including lifejackets, first aid kits, visual distress signals, sound signaling devices, paddles, fire extinguishers, and radios for all vessels.
Booking Contact
Booking a vessel requires permission and access to the HIMB Intranet.
For assitsance contact:
[email protected]
Research Dedicated Vessels
Access to the reefs in Kāne‘ohe Bay is just a short boat ride away. If you are interested in collaborating with a faculty sponsor, we are here to help make your future projects successful.
Boats #1, 2, 3, and 4
Boats #1, 2, 3, and 4: 17‘ Boston Whalers with 40 hp outboard engines - These are our work horses and can hold up to 7 passengers. The boats are equipped with 1 to 2 bench seats and tiller steering.
The Lo‘e
17’ Whaler with a single 60 hp Yamaha engine. This boat can hold up to 7 passengers and has a center console.
The Outrage
22 Boston Whaler Outrage with twin Yamaha 90 hp outboards.
The Guardian
22′Boston Whaler Guardian with twin Yamaha 115 hp outboards.
The Moku
22’ Whaler equipped with twin 115 hp Yamaha engines. This boat can hold up to 10 passengers and has ample open deck space as well as a center console for helm steering.
The Guardian 2.0
A 25‘ Whaler equipped with twin 140 HP Suzuki engines, this boat can hold up to 12 passengers and has recently been refurbished and repowerd with center console helm steering.
Service Dedicated Vessels
In addition to conducting research, we have vessels that perform a variety of essential tasks at HIMB.
Honu Kai
Equipped with twin diesel engines and a dashmount helm steering, we rely on this vessel for moving large equipment on and off Moku o Lo‘e.
Shuttle Boat
Our small shuttle boat relies on tiller steering, and holds up to 6 passengers. It is equipped with a single 40 hp Honda engine and a custom T-Top.
Ka Noelo Kai
The HIMB Education Programs dedicated learning vessel Ka Noelo Kai, which roughly translates as ‘seeking knowledge of the sea’, is a 49-passenger catamaran used as a learning platform for students as they explore and investigate coral reef ecosystems of Kāneʻohe Bay. It also functions to transport student and community visitors to Moku o Lo‘e for educational programming. Acquired in 2017 through the generous support of the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, Ka Noelo Kai has facilitated access for thousands of visitors to HIMB and Kāneʻohe Bay.
Requirements
All HIMB operators are required to successfully complete an approved State of Hawaiʻi NASBLA boating and safety course. See the State of Hawaiʻi, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation website for details and a list of approved courses. Hawaiʻi State Mandatory Boating Certification. HIMB currently recommends the BoatUS web-based course (www.boatus.org) as it contains Hawai‘i State-specific information and is free of charge.
An on-water skills checkout is required prior to authorization to operate HIMB vessels. This checkout includes an overview of the reservation and checkout procedures at HIMB, a review of USCG required equipment, docking and handling skills, ATONS and natural navigation in Kāne‘ohe Bay, anchoring, and crew overboard (COB) procedures. The duration of the checkout varies depending on prior experience.
Training Opportunities
HIMB offers formal boat training opportunities in conjunction with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and US Department of Interior (DOI) several times each year.
These certifications are often required when operating from NOAA and DOI resources in the Hawaiian Islands and the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary.
We currently co-teach the DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC), which provides students with training required to operate Marine Option Program (MOP)-owned watercraft. Training includes requirements for safe operation of motorboats, navigation, emergency procedures, rescue, self-rescue, and basic seamanship.
Space is very limited in these classes and is given on an as-needed basis. Please contact the Marine Safety Officer if your research requires these certifications.
Related links:
Inquiries and Booking
Booking a vessel requires permission and access to the HIMB Intranet. Your faculty sponsor should be able to help coordinate with us.
Please contact us to learn current rates, which are hourly for smaller fleet boats (17’ Boston Whalers, the Lo‘e, the Outrage, and the Guardian) and per day for the Guardian 2.0. Fuel charges also apply.
Booking Contact
For assitsance contact:
[email protected]