Tim Collins This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. U-Daily News - Spywitness

   u.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413 - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/30/2004   Last Visited: 8/5/2004

   "We've all heard stories of folks left out there off large boats that carry 90 people," said Tim Collins, owner of the smaller Aloha Blue Charters in Maui.

2. 2. Untitled Document

   www.alohabluecharters.com/hsb. - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/2/2005   Last Visited: 11/19/2007

   Former Maui resident Tim Collins was running a successful real estate business in Minnesota. He knew he wanted to return to Maui one day, but at this time a year ago, he knew he had to return to Maui.
   
   "I was talking to my brother Mark on the phone," Collins recalls. "He was fishing off the coast of Hana and telling me what a beautiful day it was -- 85 degrees, warm and sunny. Meanwhile, I was staring out my window at trees with no leaves, a frozen lake and a thermometer that read negative-20 degrees. All of a sudden, all I could think about was getting back to Maui and starting a charter boat company."
   
   Collins called his other brother, Mike, who owns Maui Boat Brokers and Hawaii Boats and Yachts magazine, and asked him to find a suitable vessel. As fate would have it, Mike had a listing for a slip in Maalaea Harbor and knew of a power catamaran for sale on Kauai that would be perfect for that slip. The deals came together smoothly, and last June, Collins was back on Maui, launching Aloha Blue Charters with the handsome 40-foot Hokua.
   
   While Aloha Blue is a new venture, Collins is no stranger to the sea. He crewed for Mark's commercial fishing operation in Hana more than 20 years ago and has nurtured a passion for water activities ever since.
   
   Aloha Blue offers daily tours aboard Hokua, which fittingly translates as the "crest of high waves." Powered by eco-friendly jet drives, she can zip along at up to 25 knots (29 mph), making her one of the fastest boats in Maui waters. She also is equipped with hot showers, two spacious restrooms and a "swim step" that allows safe, easy access to and from the ocean.
   ...
   Collins calls them "entertainment snorkels" and points out with obvious pride: "We have the exclusive rights to them on Maui, meaning they won't be found on any other boat sailing from Maui. We'll play any music our guests want to hear, from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Aerosmith to Mozart and the Dixie Chicks. They can bring their own CDs, and we'll gladly play those as well."
   
   Aloha Blue's private charters are available for special occasions of all kinds, including weddings, honeymoons, birthdays, anniversaries, and graduation and office parties. You can rent a "bare boat" provisioned only with ice and bring your own food and drinks. Or Collins can help you cater a feast -- everything from glazed ham and roast turkey with all the fixings to lasagna and a seafood smorgasbord.
   ...
   "Hokua is your boat for the time reserved," Collins says. "We're not bound by any preset itinerary."
   
   If your schedule permits, Collins recommends a sunset trip the day before a full moon. "That's when the moon rises over Haleakala just as the sun is setting behind Lanai," he says. "You can enjoy moonrise and sunset at the same time and return to the harbor with the lights of Maui sparkling all around you."
   
   Many of Aloha Blue's guests are landlubbers who've never dipped their toes in the ocean before. "Out there, they're awestruck, giddy," Collins says.