Emails show Kash Patel took ‘VIP snorkel’ session at Pearl Harbor memorial during Hawaii trip

WASHINGTON, DC: FBI Director Kash Patel is facing renewed scrutiny after newly revealed government emails showed that his Hawaii trip last summer included a rare "VIP snorkel" excursion around the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor.

The outing, coordinated by the military, was not included in the FBI’s public announcements about Patel’s visit at the time. Instead, official releases focused on Patel touring the FBI’s Honolulu field office and meeting with local law enforcement officials.

Kash Patel’s ‘VIP snorkel’ outing was not mentioned in FBI releases

The FBI had previously stated that Patel’s Hawaii visit was official business and “not a vacation.”

Public statements highlighted his work-related meetings and walking tour of bureau facilities.

However, the snorkeling excursion and Patel’s return to Hawaii for an additional two days after his initial stop were left out of those releases.

The USS Arizona remains one of the most historically sensitive locations in the US. 

The battleship sank during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and now serves as a military cemetery for more than 900 sailors and Marines whose remains still rest inside the wreckage.

Because of the site’s significance, snorkeling and diving around the memorial are generally prohibited except under limited circumstances.

According to the report, marine archaeologists and National Park Service crews occasionally dive at the site to monitor the wreck. Some dives have also been conducted to inter the remains of Arizona survivors who wished to be buried alongside former shipmates.

The emails revealed that Patel’s outing had been specially coordinated through military channels, according to a report by the Associated Press. 

Critics question access to one of America’s most sacred memorials

The revelation immediately raised questions about why Patel was granted such unusual access to the memorial site.

Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection — a network of former federal prosecutors and agents advocating for Justice Department independence, sharply criticized the situation.

“It fits a pattern of Director Patel getting tangled up in unseemly distractions — this time at a site commemorating the second deadliest attack in US history — instead of staying laser-focused on keeping Americans safe,” Young said.

According to individuals familiar with past FBI leadership travel, former directors dating back to at least 1993 had visited Pearl Harbor on official business but had not participated in snorkeling excursions at the USS Arizona memorial.

A former government diver who spoke anonymously to AP reportedly described the access as unusual, especially for someone not directly connected to the memorial itself.

The diver said such swims carry physical, logistical, and security concerns, which is one reason access is typically limited.

At the same time, the report noted that certain dignitaries and officials have quietly been allowed to participate in swims around the site since at least the Obama administration, though the Navy and National Park Service declined to identify who had previously received permission.

Kash Patel’s travel habits continue drawing attention

The controversy arises amid broader scrutiny surrounding Patel’s leadership and travel practices during his time running the FBI.

Questions surrounding his use of government aircraft and travel have repeatedly surfaced over the past year, with critics accusing him of blurring the line between official duties and leisure activities.

One earlier controversy erupted after footage showed Patel celebrating with members of the US men’s hockey team in a locker room following their gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics in Milan.

Patel defended that trip this week, insisting it had been “purposely planned” in connection with a cybercrime investigation involving Italian authorities.