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‘Protocol was not followed’: Dive company promises review of operations after losing divers

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‘Protocol was not followed’: Dive company promises review of operations after losing divers


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Kailua-based dive company with hundreds of five-star reviews is vowing to do better after an incident last week prompted questions and community backlash.

It’s video of five scuba divers clinging to each other in waters off Hawaii Kai Wednesday that has Aaron’s Dive Shop reviewing its protocols.

The company told HNN the trouble began with a last minute change in the dive site made by the captain and dive leader.

“I was shocked, honestly,” said Aaron Nicolas, a former employee. “I can tell you at least when I was working for Aaron’s, professionalism was not our issue. We had a very good track record.”

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Nicolas worked for the company for two years, leading dives in the same area. He believes Wednesday’s group switched to the more difficult route.

“It’s a shallow dive about 30 to 40 feet and you would just go to this Buddha statue and come back,” explained Nicolas.

“The other one is roughly 90 feet so if you’re not as proficient they generally don’t take you out there. It can get really currently out there.”

The group reported being adrift for two hours before a passing sailboat called the coast guard for help.

On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Aaron’s Dive Shop only reported the incident after the sailboat put the call out on the emergency channel.

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Federal law requires that when someone goes missing an operator needs to notify the nearest authorities without delay.

But a boat captain at Kewalo Basin says it’s sometimes a difficult call when divers are involved.

“That captain may not have known how long those people were under the water,” said Zack Tidd. “I mean, you don’t want to call if it’s for nothing so you want to make sure a rescue is really needed.”

The Kailua based company in a full statement to Aaron’s Dive Shop said:

We are grateful that all divers returned safely and without injury following last week’s incident. We extend our thanks to the good Samaritans who assisted in locating the missing divers. Statements from both the captain and dive leader indicate a last minute decision was made to change the dive site; however, our documented protocol was not followed in executing this change. The dive leader took responsible steps to maintain safety, including having proper surface marker buoys and keeping the group together while separated from the boat. We are currently reviewing what occurred and our current protocols with our dive and boat staff to prevent similar incidents in the future. We have also submitted an incident report to our certifying agency in an effort to get outside critique and recommendations to improve our protocols and training. Aaron’s Dive Shop is proud of our excellent safety record, and we remain fully committed to upholding our high standards through consistent training and rigorous oversight.

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Comet Lemmon and Milky Way spotted over Hawaii | Space photo of the day for Dec. 12, 2025

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Comet Lemmon and Milky Way spotted over Hawaii | Space photo of the day for Dec. 12, 2025


Comet C/2025 A6, better known as Comet Lemmon, was one of the latest icy visitors to swing through our neighborhood of the solar system, leaving astronomers and casual skywatchers equally delighted. For observers in Hawaii, the glow of the Milky Way didn’t dim the streak of light made by this comet passing through.

What is it?

Where is it?

This image was taken atop the volcanic peak Mauna Kea, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Comet Lemmon could be seen with the naked eye as it streaked across the sky. (Image credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURAImage processing: M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab) & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab))

Why is it amazing?



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Hawaii senator introduces bill to reunite, protect immigrant families

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Hawaii senator introduces bill to reunite, protect immigrant families


WASHINGTON, D.C. (HawaiiNewsNow) – U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) reintroduced a piece of legislation on Thursday to strengthen protections for immigrant families and address long-standing problems in the family immigration system.

The Reuniting Families Act aims to reduce visa backlogs, boost efficiency across the immigration process, and ensure a fairer, more humane process for immigrant families.

“Immigrant families currently experience unnecessary obstacles and delays due to our country’s broken immigration system, keeping families separated for potentially long periods of time,” Hirono said. “By reducing family-based immigration backlogs and making common sense updates to how we treat families, the Reuniting Families Act will help take the first step in the right direction to keeping families together as they navigate our immigration system.”

According to the senators behind this bill, nearly four million people with approved visa applications are currently trapped in a massive immigration backlog, with many waiting more than a decade to reunite with their loved ones.

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“As Donald Trump’s inhumane mass deportation campaign rips apart families and communities across the country, it’s paramount we address the unnecessary barriers in our immigration system that have created backlogs and kept families apart for years,” Duckworth said. “Our legislation would implement commonsense reforms to help end family-based backlogs, which keep too many with approved green card applications stuck in bureaucratic limbo, and help get more families where they belong—together.”

The Reuniting Families Act would shorten delays by recapturing unused visas, rolling them into future years, expanding who qualifies as a family member to include permanent partners, and increasing both the total number of available family preference visas and per-country limits.

The bill would also put a time limit on visa processing, so no applicant has to wait more than 10 years for a visa if they have an approved application.

Click here to read the full bill.

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Rouhliadeff scores 16, Hawaii beats D-II Hawaii Hilo 98-46

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Rouhliadeff scores 16, Hawaii beats D-II Hawaii Hilo 98-46


HONOLULU (AP) — Henry Rouhliadeff scored 16 points to lead six Hawaii players in double figures and the Rainbow Warriors beat Division-II Hawaii Hilo 98-46 on Wednesday night.

Rouhliadeff made 6 of 9 from the field and finished with nine rebounds and five assists. Dre Bullock scored 12 points for Hawaii (9-2) and Hunter Erickson, Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, Gytis Nemeiksa and Isaac Finlinson added 11 points apiece.

Jamal Entezami led Hawaii Hilo with 11 points and Jessiya Villa scored 10.

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Hawaii shot 51% overall and made 13 3-pointers. The Rainbow Warriors, who went into the game averaging 13.4 assists per game, had a season-high 25 assists on 35 made field goals.

The 52-point margin of victory was Hawaii’s largest since a 106-49 win over Redlands on Jan. 28, 1972, and the third largest in program history. The Rainbow Warriors beat BYU Hawaii by 67 (106-49) in the 1962-63 season.

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