HOST “Scan if Found” Sticker Program
The Hawaii Ocean Safety Team (HOST)* has developed a “Scan if Found” sticker which will help the US Coast Guard save lives and can help the general public recover lost gear.
Whenever marine recreational gear (e.g. dive floats, kayaks, dinghies, SUP boards, surfboards) is found adrift at sea, the Coast Guard launches a search and rescue (SAR) mission to locate the owner, who may be in trouble. This occurs several times per week throughout the year.
The “Scan if Found” sticker will help the Coast Guard identify the owner of recovered gear and determine if further action needs to be taken.
Once the sticker is applied to a piece of gear, the owner can register it for free by scanning the QR code with a mobile device. The owner will be asked to provide a name, contact information, and a description of the type of gear via a secure online form. Only the Coast Guard will have access to this information.
Members of the public can scan the QR code in order to report a found item.
The stickers are FREE and are currently available at the following locations on O‘ahu:
- POP Fishing and Marine (1133 N Nimitz Highway in Honolulu)
- West Marine (420 N Nimitz Highway in Honolulu)
- Surf N Sea (62-595 Kamehameha Highway in Hale‘iwa)
- Westside Dive & Tackle Kailua (26 Hoolai Street, Suite 900 in Kailua)
For more information, see Scan if Found Sticker Program on HOST’s website. Questions about the program should be directed to info@hosthawaii.org.
Update (17 February 2024): HOST “Scan If Found” Sticker Update
*HOST is a non-profit organization that serves as the Harbor Safety Committee for Hawai‘i. Its purpose is to enhance ocean safety by providing a forum for communication between government, industry, and the public to reach non-regulatory solutions.
