Fanning Island

I don't have much to say about Fanning Island because our ship skipped this stop in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The first two years due to medical emergencies that had us turned around back to Hawaii (although I suspect the code red the ship was under in 2024 would have prevented us from stopping anyway). In 2026 we were cancelled due to a rip tide in the entrance to the atoll. Sadly, this island is often missed. I read cruise ships make it in about 25% of the time. So far I'm batting 0% but maybe 2027 is the year :).

People do often ask about bringing donations. It seems that Holland did consider this a humanitarian stop and at some point and may have been encouraging donations. However; the ship has not officially promoted bringing donations for fanning island any of the times I have visited. To the best of my understanding, historically Fanning Island was included in the Hawaii itinerary to meet the rules of the PVSA/Jones act. 

However; someone from our 2024 roll call did promote donations and the ship did help us find homes for all the gifts once we skipped Fanning. We ended up taking them to a little hut on Fakarava (which is also a small atoll). The ship arranged for someone to pick up things at the dock there.

Here is a link to the organization that collected for Fanning years ago, but this information is old. It’s the best I can find. They do note that they are not part of Holland American-

https://pcmabout.wordpress.com/visit-fanning-island/

Some of you maybe particularly interested in the wish list for supplies put out by this organization.  I am not affiliated at all with these folks, and have no idea if this list is current, but I choose to bring the medical supplies listed to donate when I visit places off the beaten track -

https://pcmabout.wordpress.com/wish-list/

I'm sure anything you bring will be appreciated.  In 2024 we had SOOOO many. People brought entire backpacks full (I'm looking at you Mary Jane).  2025 we did not have as much participation, but I'm sure that anything brought was appreciated. 

In 2026 we actually got close enough to see this atoll before being turned away due to a nasty rip current in the atoll entrance. These documents were shared with passengers the night before arrival-