WASHINGTON (AP) — When FBI Director Kash Patel visited Hawaii last summer, the bureau emphasized his official duties, including a tour of the Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement. However, newly obtained government emails reveal that Patel later participated in a "VIP snorkel" around the USS Arizona, a sunken battleship entombing over 900 sailors and Marines at Pearl Harbor. The excursion, coordinated by the military, was not disclosed in FBI news releases.
Scrutiny Over Patel's Travel
The snorkeling outing comes amid broader criticism of Patel's use of the FBI plane and global travel that blends professional responsibilities with leisure. Critics argue it reflects a pattern of distractions. Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection, stated, "It fits a pattern of Director Patel getting tangled up in unseemly distractions — this time at a site commemorating the second deadliest attack in U.S. history — instead of staying laser-focused on keeping Americans safe."
Restricted Access to USS Arizona
Snorkeling and diving are generally prohibited around the USS Arizona, a military cemetery and hallowed site since the 1941 Japanese attack. Only marine archaeologists, National Park Service crews, and those interring remains of survivors are typically allowed. However, since at least the Obama administration, the Navy and Park Service have quietly permitted a handful of dignitaries, including military and government officials, to swim at the site. The Navy and Park Service declined to provide details on those permitted.
Former FBI directors have visited Pearl Harbor on official business, but none since at least 1993 have snorkeled at the memorial, according to a former government diver who spoke anonymously. The diver noted that such access is unusual due to physical risks and security challenges.
Details of the Excursion
Patel's snorkeling occurred in August during a two-day stop in Hawaii on his return from official visits to Australia and New Zealand. The FBI did not answer questions about the session but stated that regional commanders hosted Patel at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, as is common for U.S. government officials on official travel. A Navy spokesperson, Capt. Jodie Cornell, confirmed the outing but said the service could not determine who initiated it. Participants were instructed not to touch the sunken ship and were briefed on the memorial's significance as a tomb.
Government emails obtained by the AP show military officials coordinated logistics for the "VIP Snorkel." The National Park Service said it was not involved and declined to comment. The Navy described the outing as "not an anomaly" but declined to provide examples of similar excursions.
Reactions from Veterans and Families
Hack Albertson, a Marine veteran who dives on the Arizona annually for the Paralyzed Veterans of America, criticized the outing: "It's like having a bachelor party at a church. It's hallowed ground." However, some family members of Pearl Harbor survivors expressed no objections. Deidre Kelley, national president of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, wrote, "I have not heard of anyone who would object to these visits as they are very rare."
Patel's History with Pearl Harbor
Patel had visited Pearl Harbor years earlier while serving as chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. Miller recalled snorkeling over the Arizona during an official visit, calling it a "somber and meaningful event" and a "historical tour," not recreational. He noted Patel was not present for that excursion.
Unanswered Questions
Beyond snorkeling, it remains unclear what Patel did during his second Hawaii stop. Flight tracking data shows the FBI's Gulfstream G550 remained on the island for two nights before flying to Las Vegas, Patel's hometown. The snorkeling occurred a day after Patel opened the FBI's first standalone office in New Zealand, a trip that sparked controversy over gifted 3D-printed replica pistols illegal under local law.
