Kash Patel joined ‘VIP snorkel’ at Pearl Harbor during official visit to Hawaii: report

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel is reportedly facing another new controversy.

Citing government emails, the Associated Press reported that Patel participated in a “VIP snorkel” excursion at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor while on an official visit to Hawaii.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 12: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel looks on during a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. The hearing was held to examine the FY2027 budget requests by the federal law enforcement agencies. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The media outlet said the undisclosed stop happened last summer, noting that the activity was not on his public schedule or highlighted in FBI news releases at the time.

“The FBI took pains to note the director was not on vacation, highlighting his walking tour of the bureau’s Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement,” the AP reported on Thursday.

“The FBI did not disclose the snorkeling session or that Patel had returned to Hawaii for two days after his initial stopover on the island,” per the outlet.

For the most part, snorkeling and diving are generally prohibited around the USS Arizona, the sunken battleship that serves as a military cemetery for more than 900 sailors and Marines killed during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

The memorial is considered one of the nation’s most sacred military sites and is typically accessible only by boat.

The latest controversy adds to a growing list of criticisms surrounding Patel during his tenure as FBI director.

In recent months, Patel has faced allegations involving excessive drinking, misuse of government aircraft, and erratic leadership behavior — claims he has strongly denied.

Patel also has come under scrutiny over reports that he used FBI aircraft for trips tied to personal travel and sporting events, including a controversial appearance at the Winter Olympics where videos showed him celebrating with the U.S. men’s hockey team. Critics argued the trip blurred the line between official duties and personal activities.

Earlier this year, The Atlantic published a report citing unnamed sources who alleged Patel alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences. Patel called the allegations “unequivocally, categorically false.”

Despite the criticism, Patel has defended his leadership and travel schedule, saying his trips have included official law enforcement and national security work. The FBI has also highlighted declining crime rates and several high-profile arrests under his leadership.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.