Prior to this 54-foot L.O.A. catamaran, commercial pleasure craft were a mix of converted and adapted boats originally designed for other purposes. Renowned developer Chris Hemmeter’s intent was to create a boat that, in every way, complemented his groundbreaking Hyatt Regency Maui resort – one whose appearance and appointments closely matched the new resort’s luxury, quality and overall innovation. Without question KIELE V was the very first luxury-performance commercial catamaran in the world. Although she has been much imitated over the years, like the hotel itself, upon arriving in 1980 she was literally decades ahead of her nearest competitor.
Originally conceived as merely an amenity, almost since her arrival KIELE V has become an important profit-center for the resort, and a primary “must-do” activity for hotel guests, many of whom are annual returnees.
KIELE V excels in a variety of roles, from snorkel, day-sailor, to afternoon cocktail-cruiser, to private charter yacht to the hotel’s elite clientele. She recently celebrated her twenty-first year of continuous operation.
