Kansas man charged with attempted murder after Kona boat stabbing

A Kona snorkel tour turned into an attempted murder case when police said a 21-year-old visitor from Kansas stabbed the captain aboard a fishing vessel and left passengers scrambling to restrain him as the boat headed back to Honokohau Harbor.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department said officers were called to the harbor at 3:21 p.m. Thursday after the vessel returned from sea with both the victim and the suspect still onboard. Police identified the suspect as Avery Nissen of Overland Park, Kansas, and said the attack happened during a three-hour snorkel tour off the Kona coast.

The victim, a 62-year-old captain, was stabbed with a filet knife and suffered a wound to the lower abdomen, along with multiple cuts to his head and hands. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital and was listed in stable condition. One local account identified him as Stanley Lurbiecki, and Hawaii Nautical owner Mark Towill said Lurbiecki was stable and recovering.

Nissen was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault. His total bail was set at $1.57 million, and his initial court appearance was scheduled for Monday, April 20, in Kona District Court. Police said the motive was still unknown and asked anyone with information, including photos or video from the trip, to contact Detective Bradley Llanes.

Beyond the criminal case, the stabbing lands in the middle of one of the island’s most visible visitor businesses: ocean excursions. Hawaii Nautical, the operator tied to the tour, offers snorkel cruises, sunset sails and day sails from several harbors on Hawaiʻi Island, including Honokohau Harbor. That makes the case more than a courtroom matter. It raises questions about onboard screening, crew response, emergency planning and whether visitors feel as comfortable booking open-ocean trips after a highly public attack.

The timing also matters economically. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority said visitor spending in the first nine months of 2025 reached $16.17 billion statewide, up 4.9% from the same period in 2024. For a county that leans heavily on tourism, even a rare violent incident aboard a popular excursion can ripple through reservations, insurance costs and the perception of safety that tour operators spend years building.