By Sally Apgar
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Hawaii Kai couple was among the 16 unidentified guests who were on board the USS Greeneville Friday afternoon when it smashed into a Japanese research and fishing boat.

Michael “Mickey” Nolan and his wife, Susan, were on board for a trip that was arranged with the help of retired U.S. Navy Adm. Richard Macke.

The Nolans and Macke could not be reached for comment.

The Navy has declined to release the list of guests in the interests of protecting their privacy. The Advertiser has made formal written requests for the list.

The Nolans were acquainted with Macke through their joint efforts to set up a celebrity golf tournament organized to benefit the USS Missouri Restoration Fund, according to retired Adm. Robert Kihune, vice chairman and president of the USS Missouri Memorial Association. The Nolans also have made contributions to the association.

Kihune said that Nolan was chairman of the committee that was setting up the tournament and that Macke was a volunteer on the same committee. The tournament, scheduled to be held last month, was cancelled and entry fees or sponsorship money was returned, said Kihune.

John Hall and Todd Thoman both of Houston, Tex. were also guests on board the Greeneville. Until last month, Hall and Thoman both worked for Dallas-based Fossil Bay Resources Ltd., a company that had paid $7,500 to enter the same charity golf tournament.

Hall and Thoman could not be reached for comment.

Kihune said “we honestly don’t know who the other guests on the Greeneville were.”

Hall and Thoman both appeared on NBC’s Today show to talk about their experience aboard the fast-attack nuclear submarine. Hall said he was at some of the submarine’s controls but was closely supervised and directed by Navy officers at the time of the accident.

Hall told NBC that as the sub surfaced it hit something and the whole ship “shuddered.” Hall said that at that moment Cmdr. Scott Waddle said “Jesus, what the hell was that.”

In a statement, the Missouri Association said that Hall and Thoman are not members or donors to the association. The statement said the association “is unaware of the names of any other civilians who were aboard” and that the association “has had no involvement in requesting or making arrangements for any civilians to have access to the USS Greeneville.”