A small boat harbor has claimed three cars in just over a year, igniting a very puzzled response from the local mayor.
The Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, has a reputation for luring vehicles into its waters – but authorities say the common theme is ‘operator error’.
In the past year, two unsuspecting motorists launched into the marina while following GPS directions.
But the latest incident appears to be just a coincidence when a 33-year-old woman parked her vehicle on the boat ramp while experiencing car trouble on July 13.
As officers tried to help her, she drove the car into the water leaving it partially submerged while she escaped.
On July 13 around 8 p.m., a 33-year-old woman parked her vehicle on the boat ramp while experiencing car trouble then drove into the water
Three vehicles have driven into the water at the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor (pictured) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in just over a year
The incidents have baffled the mayor who has been shocked as each one occurs.
‘The first time I heard it, the thought in my head was, “you got to be joking”,’ said Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth.
‘The third was — are you serious? This is just another form of people not paying attention to what they’re doing.’
On April 29, 2023, a tourist driving a Chrysler Town & Country had been trying to find a Manta Ray Snorkel tour company and reportedly took a wrong turn while following their GPS directions.
Video captured crew members of a sailboat dive into the harbor and help the female driver of the van escape through the window before carrying her to shallower waters.
The other passenger, also a woman, and reportedly the sister of the driver, escaped out the window on the other side of the car.
On April 29, 2023, a tourist had been trying to find a Manta Ray Snorkel tour company and reportedly took a wrong turn while following their GPS directions
Though the passengers were making active attempts to escape the car, neither looked especially alarmed about what was going on.
A few weeks later on May 29, 2023, another woman was following GPS directions when she took a turn down the boat ramp, according to HawaiiNewsNow.
The driver said she was following directions and thought she was going through a big puddle when she crossed her 2020 Ford Edge into the water around 8 p.m.
Roth said he is working to get the GPS issued figured out because it is not the first time drivers have had these incidents.
‘It’s getting in touch with Google and all the GPS manufacturers that have their maps. Not just in this incident but tourists going into places that are off limits that they really shouldn’t be going to,’ Roth said.
On May 29, 2023, another woman was following GPS directions when she took a turn down the boat ramp
An official with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating & Ocean Recreation said the incidents are ‘operator error,’ and the boat ramp is ‘hard to miss.’
A spokesperson from Google told the local news outlet, ‘Safety is a top priority, and we’re actively investigating which navigation tools and routes were used in these incidents.’
‘While we have not yet identified any routes in Google Maps that lead into the harbor, we’ll work with local authorities to make updates if necessary to accurately route drivers.’