He dreamed of sailing the Pacific, but his sloop never left the Kona Coast before running aground

Jamie Kerr’s lifelong dream was to sail around the South Pacific.

But just five weeks after launching from Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor along the Kona Coast, and endless days trying to repair its old engine at sea, his 25-foot-sloop named “Hula Baby” crashing into rocks at Kohanaiki Beach Park near the surf spot Pine Trees.

It happened on June 18. The boat was seized three days later by the Hawaiʻi Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

Kerr said the state destroyed his boat, which was also his home, and his possessions. Now, the 44-year-old said he is homeless, with no ID and money. All he has is the clothes on his back and a backpack.

“They left me with literally nothing,” Kerr said Wednesday.

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation confirmed by email that its staff made contact with Kerr on June 18, after the boat grounded. The state agency said Kerr didn’t have a Hawai‘i boating license or insurance.

“Kerr was informed that he had 24 hours to remove the vessel,” the state agency stated. “Once the 24 hours passed and Mr. Kerr still failed to remove the vessel, the state stepped in and took control of the vessel.”

Kerr moved to the Big Island from California two years ago because he likes to travel. He bought Hula Baby six months ago and spent thousands more over the past three months to get the sloop seaworthy.

“I put everything I had into the boat,” Kerr said.

Kerr said he’s been around boats and water all his life, spending time on the water in Northern California with his dad, and in the Great Lakes. He has sailed coastal lakes and rivers solo all his adult life, but this was the first time he set sail by himself on the open water.

When he left the harbor five weeks ago, Kerr said the boat was seaworthy, but he experienced a series of problems that led to the grounding.

These problems started almost immediately after launching. He encountered 8-foot breakers. Before he could turn around, the 30-foot mast broke off and fell into the water.

“I dove into the water to retrieve the mast and was able to tow the mast back in,” Kerr said.

He was allowed to make repairs at the fuel dock at Honokōhau Harbor, but after three days, he was told he had to leave.

Kerr took the sloop down to Kailua Bay, where he said he got a lot of harassment from local boaters. While there, his engine cut out, causing him to drift.

A crew from the touring company Body Glove helped Kerr by allowing him to use one of its mooring balls in the bay so he could work on his engine.

Michael Bell, the general manager at Body Glove, said Kerr “didn’t know how to tie off and the boat broke free.” The Body Glove crew towed Kerr to another mooring ball.

“He didn’t have a sail or anchor,” Bell said. “He ended up taking apart his engine, which he didn’t know how to do.”

Bell described the incident as a disaster, adding: “The only reason we let him onto the mooring was because we thought he would die if we didn’t.”

Kerr was at the mooring ball for about a week and a half when the Department of Boating and Ocean Recreation stepped in. Bell said the state was mad because he didn’t get permission to tie off at the mooring.

“They said I had 72 hours to get off the mooring ball or they would impound my boat,” Kerr said.

Kerr left Kailua Bay and headed north to Kawaihae Harbor where he planned to get his motor fixed. Then, his plan was to head to O‘ahu for boat parts and some work.

But Kerr didn’t get far in rough waters with high winds. He did not even make it past Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.

On June 17, Kerr said he was up all night as his engine, once again, cut out.

The next day, high surf and strong winds pushed his vessel toward the rocky shoreline. Without a working engine, he could do nothing to stop the boat.

“The bow got blown onto the rocks and it fell over sideways,” Kerr said. “I was wearing a life jacket at that point. I got off, and the lifeguards were already there.”

When the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation told him on June 20, two days after he grounded, that he had 24 hours to remove the boat, Kerr said he was already making efforts to get it off the rocks.

“I babysat it for three days and waited for the high tide to float it out,” Kerr said.

When the state came to seize the boat the next day, Kerr said he already had straps and winches in use to get the vessel upright. At that time, he said the only problem with the boat was a broken rudder and the engine not working.

Kerr claimed the severe damage to the hull occurred when the contractor, who was hired by the state to dispose of the vessel, removed the boat from the rocky shore.

According to the state statutes, all vessels grounded on state submerged lands, shorelines, or coral reefs shall be removed immediately by the owner or operator at the owner’s or operator’s expense.

The statute also said “vessels grounded on a sand beach, sandbar or mudflat and not in imminent danger of breaking up shall be removed within 72 hours, unless otherwise agreed to by the department.”

Kerr said he was onsite the entire time and that his vessel was on the rocks.

“I was out there watching the boat constantly,” Kerr said. “I was making sure nothing was harmed in the area, and constantly checking the reef.”

Kerr said he is exploring his options about filing a complaint with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources which oversees the boating division. He hopes to get a lawyer.

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation did not respond immediately to additional questions about Kerr’s accusations.