FL MORRIS / STAR-BULLETIN
From the fireboat Moku Ahi, rescued fisherman Roman
Masaki stepped into the Moku Hana, a Fire Department
work boat that took him to shore at Keehi Boat Harbor.

3 men rescued
after fishing boat
flips off Keehi

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

A Sunday fishing trip turned upside down when a wave picked up a 19-foot fishing vessel with three men on board and nose-dived it into the water near the Keehi boat channel.

"It happened so fast," said 48-year-old Richard Kajihiro of from Pearl City. "I just flew right out."

Kajihiro, along with Roman Masaki, 37, and boat owner Harry, 64, who did not want to give his last name, were trolling around the Keehi boat channel around 4:22 p.m. As they were returning from their fishing trip, a wave picked up the vessel near the main buoy of the channel and flipped it over.

Kajihiro said his leg was wrapped around the launching rope when he was underwater, but he managed to untangle himself.

Twelve firefighters responded to the accident after surfers notified police and fire personnel.

The three men were clinging to the side of the capsized boat for an hour until the fireboat and a 15-foot Boston whaler rescued them.

Fire Capt. Richard Soo said the men suffered minor abrasions to their calves, ankles and hands.

About $5,000 worth of fishing reels was on the boat when it overturned, said Kajihiro.

Harry contacted a private salvage company to recover the capsized boat.

Although the men had lost their catch of marlin, mahimahi and aku, they were relieved they escaped the accident unharmed.

"I'm fortunate and happy," said Masaki.