Kansas Man Allegedly Stabbed Hawaii Boat Captain While On Snorkeling Tour

Authorities in Hawaii say a tourist has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a charter boat captain while on a snorkeling tour.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department said Kona patrol officers responded to the Honokōhau Harbor at around 3:21 p.m. Thursday to meet a fishing vessel returning with both a stabbing victim and suspect on board. They arrived to find the boat captain, 62-year-old Stanley Lurbiecki, had been attacked with a filet knife by one of his passengers during a three-hour snorkeling tour.

Other passengers on board intervened in the attack and restrained the suspect, 21-year-old Avery Nissen of Overland Park, Kan.

Lurbiecki sustained a stab wound to the lower abdomen along with “numerous” cuts to the head and hands. He was transported to Kona Community Hospital in stable condition.

The vessel was just about 30 minutes away from returning to the harbor when the attack occurred.

“I wrestled the knife out of him and he continued to frantically stab away at me,” Lurbiecki told Big Island Now from the hospital. “I made it into the harbor and backed the boat up, and the paramedics met me there and further stopped the bleeding. I’d lost almost half my blood.”

Nissen, who was on the snorkeling tour with his mother and sibling, reportedly tried to jump overboard after his mother tried to restrain him, but was pulled back onto the boat. Nissen’s sibling helped Lurbiecki stem the bleeding until he could receive medical attention.

Police said the motive for the attack is unknown.

“This is like the most random, wildest, craziest thing you’ll ever hear of,” Lurbiecki told Big Island Now.

Nissen was arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault. His total bail was set at $1,570,000.