HONOLULU (KHON2) — A chapter in Hawaii’s maritime history is coming to a close.
Shipwright LLC have started removing the 146-year-old Falls of Clyde.
The iron-hulled ship has been docked in Honolulu Harbor for decades. But after years of disrepair and failed restoration attempts, the state is officially moving forward with plans to remove and dispose of the vessel safely. It looks like they may be dropping off some of the equipment
A string of preservation efforts followed — including an attempt to return her to Scotland — but each fell short due to funding, logistics, or legal hurdles.
In 2023, the Falls of Clyde was officially removed from the National Register of Historic Places, stripping her of protected status.
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The vessel was purchased by William Matson in the late 19th century and was mainly used to bring goods and people back and forth between Hawaiʻi and California.
It was sold and then converted to an oil tanker in 1907 before repeatedly changing hands until it was brought back to Honolulu in 1963 as a floating museum.
But by 2019, the ship’s condition had deteriorated so significantly that the Department of Transportation revoked its permits, citing serious structural and environmental concerns.
Several proposals to restore the vessel — including one that aimed to return her to Scotland — were ultimately unsuccessful.
Now, the state has awarded a $4.9 million contract for her removal. Starting today, crews will begin clearing debris, sealing access points, and preparing the vessel for her final journey.
By late November, she’ll be towed more than 12 miles offshore and sunk in deep water — a process known as scuttling — under strict oversight by the Coast Guard and EPA.
So while her story ends far from shore, her legacy as a symbol of Hawai‘i’s maritime past will live on.