Stranded fishing vessel awaits retrieval

Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

A commercial fishing vessel ran aground off Diamond Head early yesterday morning, forcing five people aboard to swim ashore to safety, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said.

A contractor has been hired to get the Kolea, a 50-foot longline fishing vessel, off the reef about 800 yards from the shoreline. The Coast Guard says it is continuing its investigation.

The Coast Guard unsuccessfully attempted to retrieve the vessel early last night and said they planned to try again at high tide at about midnight.