Restoring Vida Mia- Part One

In the heart of Waikiki's crystal blue waters, the Vida Mia glides a modest 5 knots, a living testament to maritime artistry. Her 1920's silhouette is a beacon of elegance. As Hawaii's only operational classic yacht, she offers more than just mere boat tours. To call this cruise "an activity" does the ol' girl no justice. Vida Mia is an experience, weaving together a rich tapestry of history, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the enduring aloha spirit.

Join us in this blog series, to discover how we are preserving her legacy, training new craftsman and memorializing the experience for all of our guests - past, present and future - ensuring the Vida Mia remains... the jewel of the Pacific.

Every two years, the Vida Mia goes through a rigorous USCG structural exam to ensure our historic yacht remains a safe and seaworthy vessel, ready to carry passengers on an unforgettable tour through the beautiful crystal blue waters of Waikiki. This year’s inspection marked a significant turning point for Vida Mia, as she went from Hawaii’s favorite boat tour, to a training platform for new USCG inspectors, blending operational excellence with education. Leading this effort was our Director of Maintenance and Restoration, Pat Parsons, whose expertise, meticulous preparation and collaborative spirit ensured Vida Mia not only passed with flying colors, but also set a high standard for teamwork and maritime safety.

The foundation of a memorable tour is a safe vessel and a confident, well-trained crew. The USCG structural examination lays the cornerstone for maritime safety, designed to verify that a vessel meets stringent federal standards for structural integrity. For Vida Mia, this process is both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase our commitment to excellence for private yacht charters in Waikiki. Inspectors meticulously examine critical components like the keel, stringers and frames. They also review crew training records and emergency procedures to ensure compliance with USCG regulations.  This year the stakes were even higher - Vida Mia was selected as a training vessel for new USCG inspectors, allowing them to gain practical experience under real world conditions. Because Vida Mia is a charter boat, with a year long book full of reservations, it was imperative that the boat have a reasonable scope of work so she could end the year hosting beloved guests from all over the world.

Pat Parson’s leadership was pivotal throughout this intensive process. Months in advance, Pat developed a comprehensive maintenance plan, identifying areas of Vida Mia that needed repairs or upgrades to meet USCG’s exacting standards for luxury yacht charters in Hawaii. From reinforcing structural elements to testing safety systems, Pat worked tirelessly with our crew and trusted partners at Maritime Preservation Trust ("MPT") and Pacific Diversified Finishes ("PDF"). Pat's ability to oversee these efforts and anticipate the inspector’s needs, while keeping the team aligned was nothing short of remarkable. This critical work ensures Vida Mia remains a top choice for visitors and locals looking for a unique way to experience Hawaii.

The inspection itself was a collaborative endeavor. USCG inspectors, both seasoned and new, arrived to the boatyard at Keehi Marine Center with checklists and a keen eye for detail. Oh and they also arrived with those tiny probes and rubber mallets - every wooden yacht owner’s worst nightmare.

For the trainees, Vida Mia offered a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to not only a working vessel, but one of the few classic yachts left in the country. Vida Mia is one of a handful of classic yachts available for public tours, and the only one here in Hawaii. Pat and the crew were on hand to guide them through Vida Mia’s layout, explain maintenance procedures and demonstrate compliance with the USCG regulations. 

The USCG relies on a set of outdated regulations for all of their wooden boat inspections - evidence that most of these great wooden vessels are now lost. The NVIC 7-95 hasn’t been updated since 1993 and it's hodgepodge of rules and regulations that incorporates material from several other sources. Inspecting Vida Mia is an archaeological dig. Let's just say we don't exactly have a full set of digitized repair records for the last 97 years. This means the team has to work backwards to figure out who did what, why they did it and when. The process wasn’t just about passing - it was about mutual respect and learning. Pat's calm demeanor and knowledge of the vessel helped create an open, productive environment, which allowed the inspectors to gain confidence while ensuring Vida Mia met every structural requirement necessary to go back into the crystal blue waters of Waikiki.

This year’s inspection highlighted the power of partnership. The instructors from MPT brought in unparalleled craftsmanship, having been trained from master shipwright Wayne Ettel. Nothing gets done without Wayne’s blessing and we had it. The USCG, with their commitment to safety and training, made the process a shared success. Pat’s leadership tied it all together, ensuring that every repair was completed on time, every report filed and documented...every question answered and every standard met. His work transformed a demanding regulatory process into an opportunity to showcase Vida Mia’s strength as a team and our dedication to the tourism and maritime industry here in Hawaii. 

The successful inspection is a testament to what we can achieve through hard work and collaboration with dedicated, like-minded, individuals that are passionate about historic preservation. The team recognizes that Vida Mia is more than just a vessel for hosting guests, it's the foundation that allows us to create and cherish unforgettable moments on the water with our families, friends and loved ones. We strive to create moments that our guests will cherish for years to come. Vida Mia emerged not only compliant, but stronger than she has been in the last few decades, ready to host guests from all over the world on unforgettable coffee cruises, sunset cruises and private charters.

Here is to Vida Mia, Pat Parsons and the partnerships that keep us cruising into our 100th celebration, delivering boat tours and unforgettable experiences for tourists on Oahu, the outer islands...and beyond.

Update:

After six months of meticulous restoration work, the storied Vida Mia is thrilled to announce her return to Waikiki. More radiant than ever, her recent refit has easily extended her life for generations to come. Lovingly rebuilt by hand by some of the finest craftsman in the country, the crew took the summer off of the water to serve under one of the most unique apprenticeship programs in the world...the first of its kind on a fully operational USCG certified commuter yacht. Every detail has been guided by a commitment to preserving her nautical legacy as a beacon of the aloha spirit and the power of community and small business here on the island. The craftsman now proudly serve as captain and crew.

We extend our deepest apologies and heartfelt gratitude to our devoted guests for your unwavering patience and support during this critical time in Vida Mia's history. Few understand the level of precision and detail required to restore a yacht like Vida Mia. Your kind words have helped keep us motivated and were treasured during long days and nights and throughout the countless hours that our very small team has poured into this project. We look forward to sailing with you in just a few short weeks.

We could not do this without the support of our local community, our guests and the treasured shipwrights from the Maritime Preservation Trust. A very special aloha to their founder, Mr. Wayne Ettel and his wife Diana Ettel, for the countless hours they have spent guiding our team.

Restoring Vida Mia is a blog series designed to pass on the knowledge of the art of wooden boat building, the craftsmanship that may soon be lost. We are grateful to the Maritime Preservation Trust for their unwavering dedication to education and training.