Conceived and organized in 1977, then incorporated as a non-profit, tax exempt organization, under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service, in November of 1983, the Sandwich Island Shipwreck Museum has served the people of Hawaii on maritime matters in a unique and interesting way. The origins of the museum are discussed in Shipwrecks of Hawai'i.
In early1987, the members purchased an old wooden fishing boat, the Likipuu Too. Staff members and volunteers repaired the vessel well enough to make two voyages, from our base at the Waialua Bay Club, to the rugged North Shore of West Maui. Using a proton magnetometer and basic dive gear, our researchers located the highly disturbed remains of a missionary packet Kuwela, which was lost in a storm on January 15, 1840. After recovering the anchor, the team returned to Oahu for some needed repairs. Fixing the old boat well enough for a second mission, to the same locale, the marine team went in search of the large Chinese Junk that was chronicled by His Hawaiian Majesty, Kalakaua. This maritime search along the cliffs of Kahakaloa, provided hints that the ship in question might have been a Spanish Galleon. Returning to home-port ahead of the first winter storm, with the ship's seams loosening and the bilges filling, Colonel Tom chose to run the old research vessel ashore to save the engine and equipment, rather than lose the entire rig to sinking.
Soon, a 40-foot navy launch was purchased and refurbished into a new research vessel. Launched on September 17, 1988, the Pilialoha has served the Museum well. Her first inter-island voyage was to Ni'ihau and Kaula Rock, in May of 1990. Bloodying the boat with big fish, staff members revealed shipwrecks on the Southern coast of Kauai, as well as the Forbidden Island. Later voyages, in the early 90s, to Molokai's old landings served to mark areas for deeper investigation. Specialized, low-tech gear helped locate more cultural remains on Maui, Lanai and Kaho'olawe.

Contracting to serve the Smithsonian Institution in 1995, the Pilialoha was pulled out of the water so as to fit more specialized equipment. A custom-fit prop wash deflecting device was added to the swim-step at the stern of the vessel, enabling the propeller wash to be deflected downwards, thus moving a great amount of sand.The Haaheo-O-Hawai'i project is discussed in length in the Marine Archaeology link to this web-site. Briefly, museum members and volunteers have assisted the Smithsonian for four, going on five, seasons, in the archaeological excavation of a king's vessel which sank in Hanalei in 1824.
Captain Rick has served as a consultant to the University of Hawaii's Marine Option Program. Speaking at symposiums on the European Influences in Ancient Hawaii, and other interesting subjects, he also helped direct the first magnetometer search of Kealakekua Bay, on the island of Hawai'i, which is mentioned in the back of Shipwrecks of Hawai'i. The follow up search is detailed in the Marine Archaeology page. A recent shoreline survey of Lanai, with Marine Option Staff members revealed two stranded inter-island steamships that had previously gone unnoticed.
Today, the Sandwich Island Shipwreck Museum serves the State of Hawaii with our consulting service, maritime archives and the publication of historical books and articles.

Sandwich Island Shipwreck Museum

E-Mail Us!

Membership Application Form

Deckhand $25
Midshipman $50
Watch Officer $100
Patron $500

Just send your yearly tax-deductible donation to;

P.O. Box 727, Haleiwa, Hawaii, 96712.



Members of the museum include, but are not limited to ;

Some Maritime Museums in and about the Pacific are at;

Australia
Greenwich
Hawaii Maritime Center
Los Angeles
New Zealand
Nova Scotia
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Tasmania
U.S. Navy
Vancouver, B.C.

Personal consultation can be made available through
E-mail to Captain Rick himself.

© 2007. Pilialoha Publishing. All rights reserved.