Aloha ‘Oe Old Girl
On Saturday, 11 October 2025, the Friends of Falls of Clyde received a notice from DOT Harbors that the Falls of Clyde was scheduled to be removed from Honolulu Harbor during the upcoming week. Due to this short notice, the group was only able to schedule a modest goodbye ceremony on Tuesday, 14 October 2025. It was held on the sidewalk between Piers 7 and 8.
Unfortunately, not a lot of people were there. That was probably due to the last minute nature of the arrangements and limited publicity.
Friends of Falls of Clyde president, Bruce McEwan, spoke about the history of the ship and the circumstances leading up to this sad day. He also noted that the ship has mana and that she will take it with her. Indeed.
Falls of Clyde at Pier 7, Honolulu Harbor. The towing bridle and lines for the tugs are visible along her port side. The mooring lines that ran from her port bow to the pylon at the street are gone. 14 October 2025.
Friends of Falls of Clyde president, Bruce McEwan, being interviewed by reporter Mahealani Richardson from Hawaii News Now. 14 October 2025.
The Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii played a number of tunes, including “Aloha ‘Oe.” Alas, no piobaireachd. 14 October 2025.
Falls of Clyde at Pier 7. 14 October 2025.
A hint that Falls of Clyde was going to be moved sometime between the evening of 14 October and the morning of 15 October 2025 was seeing on PortCall that the Star of Honolulu was scheduled to shift from her normal berth at Pier 8 to Pier 10. Hmm.
Maritime Hawai‘i eventually learned from a friend that the ship would be removed at 0500 on 15 October 2025 and sent out frantic emails and texts, hoping to ride along on one of the tugs to document her end. Sadly, that was not possible.
Fast forward 17 hours…
Falls of Clyde at Pier 7 with workers on the pier. 15 October 2025.
Falls of Clyde at Pier 7. 15 October 2025.
P&M Marine Services tugs Tiger 6 and Tiger 7 waiting by Pier 8. 15 October 2025.
Tiger 7 on the port side of Falls of Clyde. 15 October 2025.
Workers on shore at Pier 7 handling some of the forward lines. 15 October 2025.
Tiger 7 and Tiger 6 move Falls of Clyde away from Pier 7. 15 October 2025.
Tiger 7 with Falls of Clyde. 15 October 2025.
Tiger 7 and Tiger 6 with Falls of Clyde. 15 October 2025.
Tiger 7 (at bow) and Tiger 6 (at stern) with Falls of Clyde heading out to sea. 15 October 2025.
Tiger 6 (at stern) and Tiger 7 (at bow) with Falls of Clyde heading out to sea. 15 October 2025.
As terribly sad as the scene was, it was also strangely heartening to see her away from the pier and moving through the water once more…even if it was to her demise 25 miles offshore. As Cicely Fox Smith wrote in her poem, ”The Ould Has-Been”:
Oh, better the sea that so long she did use
Should take her and break her as good ships would choose…
Not many were present to see her go: a group from DOT Harbors, one Friends of Falls of Clyde board member, a few random passersby, and local news outlets.
What a terrible shame. No ‘oli. No lei. No last water salute. Given the part she played in Hawai‘i’s maritime history and her unique status as the only remaining example of a sailing oil tanker, she deserved a grand send off, not a hush-hush departure in the dark.
There were many people, in Hawai‘i and elsewhere, who wanted one last chance to see the ship in person. Maritime Hawai‘i wishes that they could have.
Goodbye, old friend.
Falls of Clyde under sail, rigged as a barque.
Pier 7 and the old Hawaii Maritime Center building at sunrise. 15 October 2025.
A personal message from Susan:
I have met and worked with many wonderful people who believed in the Falls of Clyde. First, the devoted volunteers who spent their spare time doing hard, hot, and dirty work on board the ship. Individuals from the maritime industry and maritime organizations who provided support and technical advice including: Hawaii Pilots Association, Matson (ship masters), Young Brothers, Foss, Leeward Marine, Clean Islands, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Maritime Museum of San Diego, South Street Seaport Museum, The Tall Ship Glenlee, and OHT (now Seaway 7). Other firms and organizations including: Coffman Engineers, Hagadone Printing, and the Honolulu Fire Department. Individuals including: Donald Bell, KW, Robert Jamieson, Vern Mesler, Lloyd Hihara, John Ewald, and David O’Neill (you tried your best). All of the online friends from around the world who cared about the fate of the ship. I am sure I am missing a bunch. I will add to this list as I remember. A special shout out to Paul Pollock, without whom the ship would have no power on board and no pumping system. Last, but not least, friend and mentor, Tarbrush (Chris Jannini)…you kept me sane. Mahalo nui loa to you all.
The 15th October 2025 was a very sad day for sailing ship enthusiasts, maritime historians and people generally who appreciate history around the world. The 147 year old historic former iron 4-masted ship Falls of Clyde was deliberately scuttled on that day by the Government of Hawaii, despite an offer to preserve the ship by a group from her original home city of Glasgow on the Clyde. It is almost inconcievable that this situation has been allowed to happen.
Shame on Governor Green for presiding over the scuttling of the 147 year old historic sailing ship Falls of Clyde.
I wrote to him numerous times during previous months asking the following:
“Why is the state of Hawaii spending millions of dollars to destroy a part of Hawaii’s (and the World’s) maritime history, instead of preserving it by facilitating Save the Falls of Clyde International being able to take over the vessel and remove it from Honolulu Harbour.”
This vital question was never answered. Hawaiian taxpayers should be mortified that the Hawaiian state spent $4.7 million to destroy a significant part of Hawaii’s history when there was a group prepared to take the ship on to preserve her. That latter option would have also fulfilled the administration’s objective of removing the ship from Honolulu Harbour, and indeed outside the State’s jurisdiction and responsibility, but at the same time saving a significant part of the world’s maritime heritage.
Who is responsible for this act of heritage vandalism against Hawaii and indeed the world?
Four people with a direct responsibility are:
1. The Governor of Hawaii Josh Green
2. The Director of the Hawaiian Dept of Transport Ed Sniffen
3. The Director of the Hawaiian Dept of Transport Harbors Division Dre Kalili.
4. President of contractors Shipwright LLC Clinch Ballew
They should carry the stain of their actions to their graves, and their descendents should feel shame of their connection to these people long after they are gone.
This Hawaiian Government will go down in infamy as the most stupid in history. Congratulations Hawaii, through your apathy, you have just paid for a vital part of your own heritage to be destroyed, and the heritage of many others of us around the world.
I sympathise with all those that endeavoured so long to save the Falls of Clyde. We cannot always win the fight, but notwithstanding the loss, it was a fight well worth doing. Thanks to all those that joined the fray because nobody can say that we allowed the ship to go without a battle. And we should never let her memory fade, nor the guilt of those responsible for her fate.