Trending Now - FBI Official Kash Patel Embarks on Exclusive Snorkeling Trip in Hawaii

WHO:

Rolling Stone Politics - Kash Patel, FBI director

TMZ - Kash Patel, FBI chief

WHAT:

The Boston Globe - The FBI did not disclose that Patel had returned to Hawaii for two days after his initial stopover on the island.

The Boston Globe - The snorkeling session was described as a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona, which entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines.

The Boston Globe - The FBI stated that Patel's visit to Pearl Harbor was part of his public national security engagements last August with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, and the Department of War.

The Boston Globe - Flight tracking data shows the FBI director's jet remained on the island for two nights during his stay before flying on to Las Vegas.

AP - The snorkeling session happened one day after Patel stopped in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

AP - The visit sparked controversy after the AP revealed that Patel had gifted that country’s police and spy bosses inoperable 3D-printed replica pistols that were illegal to possess under local gun laws.

AP - Emails obtained through a public records request revealed that military officials coordinated logistics and personnel for the “VIP Snorkel” during Kash Patel's trip.

AP - The snorkeling session occurred one day after Patel opened the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

AP - The FBI stated that the Pearl Harbor visit was part of Patel’s public national security engagements with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, and the Department of War.

AP - Participants in Patel’s snorkeling session were instructed “not to touch/come into contact with” the sunken ship and were briefed on the historic significance of the memorial.

AP - The Navy described Patel’s outing as “not an anomaly.”

AP - The snorkeling session happened one day after Patel stopped in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

The Boston Globe - Emails show that the FBI did not disclose that Patel had returned to Hawaii for two days after his initial stopover on the island.

The Boston Globe - The snorkeling session was coordinated by military officials and described as a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona, which entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines.

The Boston Globe - Flight tracking data shows the FBI director's jet remained on the island for two nights during his stay before flying on to Las Vegas.

AP - Emails obtained through a public records request revealed that military officials coordinated logistics and personnel for the “VIP snorkel” during Kash Patel's trip.

AP - The snorkeling session occurred one day after Patel opened the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

AP - The FBI stated that the Pearl Harbor visit was part of Patel’s public national security engagements with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, and the Department of War.

Rolling Stone Politics - Kash Patel went on a "VIP snorkel" adventure around Pearl Harbor wreckage.

TMZ - The FBI stated that Patel's trip to Hawaii was a work trip and not a vacation.

WHERE:

Rolling Stone Politics - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

TMZ - Hawaii

WHEN:

Rolling Stone Politics - The visit occurred in August of the previous year.

TMZ - The trip was described as taking place last year.

WHY:

The Boston Globe - Critics have raised concerns about Patel's use of government resources, highlighting a pattern of blending professional responsibilities with leisure activities.

TMZ - It is unclear why Patel needed to go snorkeling, as it was suggested that he was not checking on the FBI office underwater.

HOW:

AP - Government emails obtained by the AP through a public records request show military officials coordinated logistics and personnel for the “VIP Snorkel.”

The Boston Globe - A Navy spokesperson confirmed the snorkeling outing but stated they could not track down who initiated it.

AP - Participants in Patel’s snorkeling session were instructed “not to touch/come into contact with” the sunken ship and were briefed on the historic significance of the memorial.

Rolling Stone Politics - The snorkeling trip took place in an area that is off-limits, even to family members of victims of the Pearl Harbor attack.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:26 UTC)

The FBI has confirmed that Director Patel's visit to Pearl Harbor included a snorkeling session around the USS Arizona, a site that honors over 900 sailors and Marines. This event took place shortly after Patel opened the FBI's first standalone office in New Zealand, and it has drawn scrutiny due to his controversial gift of inoperable 3D-printed replica pistols to local officials. Flight tracking data indicates that Patel's jet remained in Hawaii for two nights before heading to Las Vegas, with military officials coordinating the logistics for the snorkeling event.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 15:40 UTC)

Emails obtained through a public records request have revealed that military officials coordinated logistics and personnel for a snorkeling event during Kash Patel's recent trip. This snorkeling session took place just one day after Patel inaugurated the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand, with participants receiving instructions to avoid contact with a sunken ship that holds historic significance. The Navy has stated that Patel’s outing was “not an anomaly” and was part of his public national security engagements with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, and the Department of War.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 11:40 UTC)

Emails obtained by The Boston Globe reveal that the FBI did not disclose that Patel returned to Hawaii for two days after his initial stopover, during which he participated in a snorkeling session described as a "VIP snorkel" around the USS Arizona. This outing, coordinated by military officials, has drawn criticism regarding Patel's use of government resources, as it appears to blend professional responsibilities with leisure activities. A Navy spokesperson confirmed the snorkeling event but could not identify who initiated it, while the FBI stated that Patel's visit to Pearl Harbor was part of his public national security engagements last August with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, and the Department of War.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 09:51 UTC)

Emails obtained through a public records request have revealed that military officials coordinated logistics and personnel for a "VIP snorkel" during Kash Patel's trip, which took place just one day after he opened the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand. The FBI indicated that Patel's visit to Pearl Harbor was part of his public national security engagements with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, and the Department of War. Participants in the snorkeling session were instructed not to touch or come into contact with the sunken ship and were briefed on the historic significance of the memorial.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 23:20 UTC)

Kash Patel, the FBI director, recently made headlines for a snorkeling adventure around the wreckage of Pearl Harbor, which the FBI has described as a work trip rather than a vacation. This visit occurred in August of the previous year, and it raised questions since the snorkeling took place in an area that is off-limits, even to the families of Pearl Harbor victims. While the exact purpose of Patel's trip remains unclear, it has sparked interest and scrutiny regarding the nature of his activities in Hawaii.