Ala Wai ‘Pirate Ship’ Sinks, Taxpayers Bear the Cost

A derelict pirate ship in Honolulu's Ala Wai Harbor is scrapped, leaving taxpayers to cover the costs. Explore the ongoing issue of abandoned vessels and the...

Editorial Desk

September 27, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Honolulu, United States — A derelict ship known as the ‘Treasure Seeker’ has been crushed and disposed of at a state landfill after being impounded by the state last month, with the costs borne by taxpayers.

The 72-foot vessel, once a salmon boat and later a pirate-themed party boat, was illegally moored in the Ala Wai boat harbor. It became the latest in a list of over 375 wrecks and ghost ships that have been grounded, sunk, or abandoned in state waters since 2002.

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Despite efforts to recover costs from the legal owners, it is likely that taxpayers, including other boat owners, will end up covering the expenses for scrapping the vessel. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) estimates that it has spent millions on removing abandoned boats, with little success in recouping these costs.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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