CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hok Get, rescued in April from a burned-out tanker, completed her 120-day quarantine at the Kauai Humane Society and returned to Oahu yesterday. Held by Becky Rhoades of the Humane Society, Hok Get was the center of attention at the airport.
Tanker dog The tale of the ship captain's dog left adrift and then rescued from an empty, burned-out tanker came to a close yesterday when Hok Get's guardian took custody of the dog at Honolulu Airport.
makes way to
new home
Hok Get arrives on Oahu and is
claimed by her owner’s friendBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com"Welcome home, Hok Get," new owner Michael Kuo declared upon the dog's arrival from Kauai, where it spent the last 115 days in quarantine.
Kuo and his wife, Helen, made several trips to Kauai during Hok Get's quarantine to ease the transition.
"It will be an adjustment, like it always is. I think she'll do just fine. She did great with us," said Becky Rhoades, Kauai Humane Society director, to whom Hok Get had grown attached.
Kuo intends to enroll Hok Get, a 2-year-old mixed terrier, in obedience training.
Even before Hok Get's fate was known, Chung Chin-po, the dog's owner, asked Kuo to take care of the dog. Kuo, who had grown up with Chung in Taiwan, agreed, and made good on his promise yesterday.
Hok Get was left behind on the Indonesian tanker Insiko 1907 on April 2 when Chung and the ship's 10 surviving crewmen were rescued 220 miles south of the Big Island. A fire in the engine room on March 13 killed one crewman and left the ship disabled.
Word of Hok Get's fate became known only after the crew arrived in Hawaii. The Hawaiian Humane Society collected $50,000 in donations from around the world to fund two failed rescue attempts.
Some $30,000 came from the Humane Society of the United States.
"We just felt it was worth it," said Martha Armstrong, the organization's senior vice president of companion animals and equine protection. "That's what people give us money for, is to help animals."
Regina Kawananakoa donated $5,000 and spent an extra $15,000 for a private jet to look for the Insiko after the Coast Guard called off its search.
"This is closure for me and really the day I've been waiting for," Kawananakoa said.
The Hawaii Taiwan Association donated $3,000.
"Hok Get is a treasure of our society. We are inspired by her," said Spring Tsai, coordinator of overseas Taiwanese affairs.
The Coast Guard resumed its efforts when the Insiko became a safety hazard as it drifted toward Johnston Island. Hok Get was rescued on April 26 by the crew of a tugboat hired to tow the Insiko to Honolulu Harbor.
Hok Get's rescue has drawn a lot of interest in Taiwan. Kuo believes it will help educate Taiwanese to help the country deal with its large population of stray dogs.
Officials from the Hawaiian Humane Society and the Kauai Humane Society have been working with Taiwanese officials for the past six years with animal control and protection.
