44 thoughts on “Do You Trust Any Hawaii Tour After Ocean Stranding Lawsuit?”
Franklin M
Amazed at the brash comments by many who do not have all the facts. Why not wait for the court case to settle before you decide the company is 100% at fault? Ever been on a cruise? Ever heard of a jet leaving without every passenger?
Sure there was negligence. But it’s about the insane damages the couple is seeking as aforementioned earlier.
When a jet crashes and everyone is killed and the pilots are found guilty of negligence. Do the entire airline and all its employees get fired? Of course not. Rather than judging the entire company based on preliminary info, let’s all
take a breather and wait to see what is revealed in court. Yes, we all have opinions. But let’s not reach a conclusion we cannot validate legally.
Your attempt to equate airline passengers missing their flight to tourists left behind by their boat to tread water half a mile from shore is, frankly, very disturbing.
I’m not being critical, but I suspect the couple strayed way too far from the boat. I believe that not only is the couple to blame for not being responsible in staying within close proximity to the boat, especially when they claim they’re experienced at snorkeling in the open seas, but also that the cruise operators failed to properly do an accurate head count. Both sides are to blame but asking for $5,000,000 is an outrageous demand. We’re all responsible for our own actions!
I don’t care how many 5-star reviews any business gets, this is absolute gross negligence. It only takes one bad experience to ruin a reputation and/or put you out of business. Had the couple drowned, this lawsuit would be huge. These companies charge a great deal of money and are expected to provide a fun and safe experience. Lifeguarding is one of the most boring jobs there is, but it is critical to be alert and do your job. I hope there are fines involved in this as well as a large reward in the civil suit.
As a resident of Maui I can only say it is sad this happened. But the delay by the couple and going public only with an attorney, and before the court case is all a typical attorney approach to create negativity toward the accused company. In this case Sail Maui. This is an obvious money grab. No physical injuries and no way to prove 5 million in mental anguish.
This couple being good swimmers were far from the other snorkelers and things happened. To attempt to ruin a great company with this drummed-up mental anguish from a healthy young couple is deplorable.
The couple deserves maybe their whole trip to Maui to be paid or free sails in the future etc. But 5 million is an absurd and obvious liability insurance grab pushed by the attorney.
Truth be told, most visitors are amazing, but then there’s always that one or two that just won’t listen.
I have been on countless boat tours here on Kaua’i and there are always those ones that drift off or intentionally go where they are not supposed to go because they think they know better After They Have Been Warned.
I think they’re totally full of it and I hope our beautiful state doesn’t lose a great company like SAIL MAUI. I haven’t been on their tour but I’m going to go now after seeing all of their ratings. Their ratings are not bought or by accident. It takes years and years to build up a reputation like that. I hope those people learned their lesson. GO SAIL MAUI!
Aloha Jack 😉
Because I know the blood sweat and tears it takes to build a stellar reputation in our beautiful islands in the service-tourism industry. I also have witnessed cognitive dissonance with my own eyes more times than you can imagine. I am sick and tired of the lack of responsibility that we must start to take for ourselves that we have placed on others over the last 20-30 years of playing the victim. It’s not just this boat company or any tour or anything in particular. It’s happening everywhere with everything. There are some really great books out on Insurance scam and where it fits in our society, pretty sad. My very best to you.
Regardless of how “careless” passengers are, the crew has a duty to ensure their safety. They are supposed to monitor the snorkelers and do an accurate count. 2 counts came up short and one bot. That warrants re-counts and roll calls. You can’t just abandon people because they don’t stick to your standards.
90% of these tours are done with shoddy safety standards. I worked for one for years. Why people keep blaming the tourists for being tourists is the most american thing i can think of. The snorkel crew should be doing jail for negligence.
The captain and crew are fully responsible for the safety of their passengers. Period.
To call this a ‘mistake’ or a ‘screw up’ is inaccurate. This is negligence; they are being taken to task in court and in my estimate, wind up paying out a large settlement.
Their passengers could have died.
Unfortunately, even if Sail Maui is wiped out due to costs and adverse publicity, they’ll just declare bankruptcy, repaint the boats and start a new company.
We must start taking responsibility for ourselves. So strange these perspectives. Like living on another planet. So over the victim mode. It’s sickening.
For a mistake of this magnitude the company should be glad the couple isn’t seeking more!! I would think that the no. 1 consideration would be not to leave anybody behind. How difficult is counting the number of people in your care and then making sure everyone is accounted for?!!!
Stuff happens. If it had happened to me, I would not survive. Not a strong swimmer. :0( But, clearly a scary and unfortunate episode for all. Thankfully both survived. Death might warrant $5 million. Not sure being scared half to death is worth that much – but definitely worth something. I have been injured in auto accidents twice in years past and never got a dime. Wrong attorney, I guess. :0(
PS: We did a snorkel tour in MX some years ago and everyone, even a 6 year old, swam off and left us near the boat. We had never snorkeled before. We just climbed back onto the boat and waited until everyone else had their fun and came back. What can I say? At least they left us near the boat. :0)
Amazed at the brash comments by many who do not have all the facts. Why not wait for the court case to settle before you decide the company is 100% at fault? Ever been on a cruise? Ever heard of a jet leaving without every passenger?
Sure there was negligence. But it’s about the insane damages the couple is seeking as aforementioned earlier.
When a jet crashes and everyone is killed and the pilots are found guilty of negligence. Do the entire airline and all its employees get fired? Of course not. Rather than judging the entire company based on preliminary info, let’s all
take a breather and wait to see what is revealed in court. Yes, we all have opinions. But let’s not reach a conclusion we cannot validate legally.
Your attempt to equate airline passengers missing their flight to tourists left behind by their boat to tread water half a mile from shore is, frankly, very disturbing.
100%
5000 perfect ratings doens’t mean anything if you nearly killed 2 due to negligence. Wouldn’t touch this company with a 100 mile pole.
I’m not being critical, but I suspect the couple strayed way too far from the boat. I believe that not only is the couple to blame for not being responsible in staying within close proximity to the boat, especially when they claim they’re experienced at snorkeling in the open seas, but also that the cruise operators failed to properly do an accurate head count. Both sides are to blame but asking for $5,000,000 is an outrageous demand. We’re all responsible for our own actions!
Nope nope nope. If you went out with 44 bodies, you don’t leave until you come back with 44. This is zero percent on the tourists.
I don’t care how many 5-star reviews any business gets, this is absolute gross negligence. It only takes one bad experience to ruin a reputation and/or put you out of business. Had the couple drowned, this lawsuit would be huge. These companies charge a great deal of money and are expected to provide a fun and safe experience. Lifeguarding is one of the most boring jobs there is, but it is critical to be alert and do your job. I hope there are fines involved in this as well as a large reward in the civil suit.
As a resident of Maui I can only say it is sad this happened. But the delay by the couple and going public only with an attorney, and before the court case is all a typical attorney approach to create negativity toward the accused company. In this case Sail Maui. This is an obvious money grab. No physical injuries and no way to prove 5 million in mental anguish.
This couple being good swimmers were far from the other snorkelers and things happened. To attempt to ruin a great company with this drummed-up mental anguish from a healthy young couple is deplorable.
The couple deserves maybe their whole trip to Maui to be paid or free sails in the future etc. But 5 million is an absurd and obvious liability insurance grab pushed by the attorney.
The boat left without them. Left them in the middle of the ocean. They are lucky they did not drown. Sail Maui that day blew it, period…
Period! No Excuses!
They did exactly what they were supposed to. The digustingly gross negligence by the snorkle crew should end up with jail time.
another way to vet an activity is by shopping concierges at the local hotels
Aloha Fellas!
Mahalo for sharing this remarkable story!
Truth be told, most visitors are amazing, but then there’s always that one or two that just won’t listen.
I have been on countless boat tours here on Kaua’i and there are always those ones that drift off or intentionally go where they are not supposed to go because they think they know better After They Have Been Warned.
I think they’re totally full of it and I hope our beautiful state doesn’t lose a great company like SAIL MAUI. I haven’t been on their tour but I’m going to go now after seeing all of their ratings. Their ratings are not bought or by accident. It takes years and years to build up a reputation like that. I hope those people learned their lesson. GO SAIL MAUI!
how can U negative comment on these people without having been on this boat or know the details
Aloha Jack 😉
Because I know the blood sweat and tears it takes to build a stellar reputation in our beautiful islands in the service-tourism industry. I also have witnessed cognitive dissonance with my own eyes more times than you can imagine. I am sick and tired of the lack of responsibility that we must start to take for ourselves that we have placed on others over the last 20-30 years of playing the victim. It’s not just this boat company or any tour or anything in particular. It’s happening everywhere with everything. There are some really great books out on Insurance scam and where it fits in our society, pretty sad. My very best to you.
Regardless of how “careless” passengers are, the crew has a duty to ensure their safety. They are supposed to monitor the snorkelers and do an accurate count. 2 counts came up short and one bot. That warrants re-counts and roll calls. You can’t just abandon people because they don’t stick to your standards.
90% of these tours are done with shoddy safety standards. I worked for one for years. Why people keep blaming the tourists for being tourists is the most american thing i can think of. The snorkel crew should be doing jail for negligence.
The captain and crew are fully responsible for the safety of their passengers. Period.
To call this a ‘mistake’ or a ‘screw up’ is inaccurate. This is negligence; they are being taken to task in court and in my estimate, wind up paying out a large settlement.
Their passengers could have died.
Unfortunately, even if Sail Maui is wiped out due to costs and adverse publicity, they’ll just declare bankruptcy, repaint the boats and start a new company.
Aloha
We must start taking responsibility for ourselves. So strange these perspectives. Like living on another planet. So over the victim mode. It’s sickening.
Mahalo
If i’m on an airplane, i expect the pilot to get me there alive. Why would a boat trip be any different. They paid him.
For a mistake of this magnitude the company should be glad the couple isn’t seeking more!! I would think that the no. 1 consideration would be not to leave anybody behind. How difficult is counting the number of people in your care and then making sure everyone is accounted for?!!!
Stuff happens. If it had happened to me, I would not survive. Not a strong swimmer. :0( But, clearly a scary and unfortunate episode for all. Thankfully both survived. Death might warrant $5 million. Not sure being scared half to death is worth that much – but definitely worth something. I have been injured in auto accidents twice in years past and never got a dime. Wrong attorney, I guess. :0(
PS: We did a snorkel tour in MX some years ago and everyone, even a 6 year old, swam off and left us near the boat. We had never snorkeled before. We just climbed back onto the boat and waited until everyone else had their fun and came back. What can I say? At least they left us near the boat. :0)