Five men are safe after a whale-watching trip ended with their 27-foot recreational ship sinking off Maui, the Maui News reported.

The men managed to swim about 100 yards to shore at Olowalu on Sunday.

One of the men aboard the Seawren III, Ron Callaway, said no one saw a hole in the ship, and said there's no explanation as to why it sank.

Ship owner Chester Dilley said he and others sailed out of Lahaina on Sunday for a day of whale watching, and they were returning from the back side of Lāna'i when they noticed water streaming over the deck planks.

Dilley said they swam for shore when the water came in faster than they could bail.