Aloha Lurline (2019)

Lurline (IMO 9814600) off the south coast of O‘ahu. 17 January 2020.

Matson’s new Kanaloa Class ship, Lurline, arrived in Honolulu Harbor for the first time on Friday, 17 January 2020. Foss Maritime tugs Pi‘ilani and Freedom assisted the ship to Pier 52.

Lurline was built at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California. At 870 feet in length, she is the largest ConRo vessel built in the United States to date. 

After leaving the shipyard, she called at Oakland, California and Long Beach, California before sailing to Hawai‘i.

Lurline approaching Honolulu Harbor. Vehicles will be loaded and unloaded via the ramp at her stern. 17 January 2020.

Lurline in Honolulu Harbor, prior to turning in the basin by Aloha Tower. 17 January 2020.

Lurline tied up at Pier 52, Honolulu Harbor. 17 January 2020.

The name Lurline is an important one in Matson’s company history.

The first Lurline was a 150-foot brigantine built of Douglas fir (“Oregon pine” in accounts of the time) in 1887 by Captain Matthew Turner’s shipyard in Benicia, California.

With Captain William Matson as her master, she sailed from San Francisco, California on Friday, 17 June 1887 and arrived at Hilo for the first time on Friday, 1 July.

The description of the ship’s arrival in the 12 July issue of The Hawaiian Gazette was a little more colorful, stating that “she had all the appearance of a bridal yacht, as her hull was painted white, and her sails were fresh and new, and a considerable amount of bunting flying.”

She sailed from Hilo on Monday, 18 July and arrived at San Francisco on Sunday, 7 August. She carried nine passengers and a full load of sugar from Wainaku (Hilo) Sugar Mill.

The current Lurline is the sixth Matson ship to bear the historic name.

Mahalo nui loa to Captain Whit Olson III. Special thanks to Captain Kamaile Kahoekapu.