Forty years ago today, December 9, 1978, at about 2:30 in the afternoon, a group of scientists from the University of Hawaii, University of California, and NOAA set sail from Honolulu on board a chartered ship, the 90-foot MS Holoholo. They were on a research expedition heading for the Big Island, where they were to continue work on issues surrounding ocean thermal energy conversion. There were ten people on board, including the ship’s owner, a licensed research ship master, a hydraulic mechanic, and seven scientists involved in the research project.
At approximately 1430 hr on 9 December 1978, the motor vessel Holoholo (Figure 14.1) – on charter to RCUH to support oceanographic research off Ke-ahole Point, Hawaii in conjunction with the OTEC site survey – departed Snug Harbor with 10 persons aboard: the owner (John Laney), the skipper (Michael J. Trens), one crew member (John Rusekas), and seven scientists — three from UH (Gary Niemeyer, 31; Robert R. Harvey, 39; and Michael H. Allen, 29), two from the NOAA-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle (Robert L. Charnell, 41; and Norman P. Laird, 42) and two from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory of the University of California (James C. Sandusky, 32; and Stephen R. Shannon, 35). All were part of the US Department of Energy-sponsored research program, and the UH scientists were working under a contract from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to Gary Neimeyer, an assistant professor of ocean engineering at UH.
The ship failed to make a scheduled rendezvous to pick up another scientist at Kawaihae Harbor, and a massive search was launched.
The search was officially ended on Christmas Eve, and the following message was sent to the scientific community.
“WITH DEEPEST REGRETS AND SORROW WE MUST INFORM YOU THAT DR. ROBERT HARVEY, DR. GARY NIEMEYER AND THEIR ASSISTANT, MICHAEL ALLEN, ALONG WITH 7 OTHER PERSONS, WERE LOST AT SEA DEC. 9, 1978 ON THE VESSEL HOLOHOLO. EXTENSIVE AIR/SEA SEARCH CONCLUDED WITHOUT RESULTS. INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY. DETAILS PROVIDED BY MAIL. THE SHOCK IS PROFOUND, AND WE KNOW YOU ALL SHARE THIS LOSS. THE EXAMPLE AND STANDARDS THESE MEN HAVE SET AS MEN AND AS SCIENTISTS WILL BE HONORED IN OUR FUTURE COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS.”
Signed Dennis Moore, Director of JIMAR, Youngsook Kim Harvey, Susan Niemeyer, Joyce Miller, Steve Poole, and Ted Murphy
The circumstances of the Holoholo’s disappearance were, and remain a mystery even after these 40 years. The case marks a very sad moment in the life of the University of Hawaii.
Although there was not sufficient evidence to know just what had happened to the Holoholo, there was a leading scenario. Apparently concerns had been voiced about safety issues on the Holoholo, but a decision was made to proceed with the trip because the ship was said to be the only one available within the project’s budget.
As is true for many oceanographic research expeditions, cruise preparations for the December 1978 Holoholo charter lasted right up until the final minutes prior to sailing. Because the Holoholo was not designed as a research vessel, several structural modifications had been made to facilitate the research demands. One, in particular, turned out to be extremely noteworthy; the removal of a deck coaming and hatch cover and placement by a temporary plywood hatch cover and removal of piping that would eventually compromise the water-tight bulkhead.
From a National Transportation Safety Board report:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the operation of the MV HOLOHOLO in an unseaworthy condition as directed by the owner and accepted by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii. Contributing to the vessel’s unseaworthiness were a 2-ft by 4-ft opening in the after main deck and a large opening in the aftermost deckhouse bulkhead that would allow rapid internal flooding, unsealed below-deck bulkhead penetrations that would allow progressive flooding, inadequate freeing ports that would allow shipped water to be trapped on deck, and the insufficient number of qualified operating personnel to provide a 24-hour navigation watch.
Here are the names of those who disappeared along with the Holoholo.
John Laney (owner)
Michael J. Trens (skipper)
James Ruseckas (crewman)
Gary Niemeyer (UH)
Robert R. Harvey (UH)
Michael H. Allen (UH)
Robert L. Charnell (NOAA)
Norman P. Laird (NOAA)
James C. Sandusky (UC)
Stephen R. Shannon(UC)
See:
The Holoholo Mystery: An Unsolved UH Sea Tragedy with a Lasting Impact.
Wikipedia entry, “MV Holoholo.”
National Transportation Safety Board report and safety recommendations.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “Garden honors 3 UH scientists lost at sea”
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I remember this event very well. I was employed by attorney David Schutter at the time and his office was intimately involved in claims arising out of the loss. The late Kim Harvey was also a close personal friend and the eulogy she wrote for her late husband was one of the most moving. extraordinary pieces of prose I had ever heard. She was also a distinguished author and anthropologist. Sadly she passed years ago as did her son. Her daughter Sarah survives her. Wonderful , accomplished family. RIP
Thank you for remembering.
Years after this tragedy (’82?) I was on the way to help with oceanographic research off the Big Island. It wasn’t until we were crossing the ‘Alenuihaha – heaving side to side – that I remembered the story. The crew told me that our ship – the Kenekeoki – was Holoholo’s sister ship. I made sure I got to stand on the bridge for the whole crossing. Eerie.
I decided to look up this tragic event because I was reading through the best places to live in retirement and Hawaii was on the list, and I began to reflex on James (Jim) Sandusky and remembering how excited he was as he told me that he was going to Hawaii to do oceanographic research.
Ian, I am Gary Niemeyer’s half brother and happened on your article this week in a visit to Kauai. On behalf of his extended family we are so appreciative that those lost in the Holoholo’s final voyage are still remembered after so many years.
Parke, Gary was at my house the morning he left on that fateful day, dropping off his parakeet (I think his name was Capt Nemo if I recall) that I would look after while he was away. They were all good and close friends of mine. (I was a grad student in marine Botany). I gave Gary a large bag of grapefruits from a tree in my yard to take on the trip. Tbh, he wasn’t all that keen on going for a variety of reasons, perhaps premonition, and we talked about it for a bit. It is a moment in time that I still mourn all these decades later, and just want you to know that there is someone else out here who remembers him with tremendous fondness and love. He was a bright, bright star. Blessings to you.