Category: Dana Point

Ocean Institute Provides Camp for Ukrainian Refugees

DANA POINT, Calif.—Gregory Hardy, 8, once had a passion for shipwrecks, especially the Titanic. Now, he is worried more about the friends he left back in Ukraine as the conflict with Russia continues. His mother, Nadiia Hardy, hopes an upcoming camp for Ukrainian refugee children offered by the Ocean Institute at Dana Point, Calif., can…


Dana Point Moves Forward Short-Term Rental Restrictions

DANA POINT, Calif.—Residences and landlords who rent out their homes through Airbnb and other short-term rental websites face new regulations under a program the Dana Point Planning Commission approved earlier this month. A topic residents and officials describe as “heated” during a May 9 public hearing, the Commission voted 4–1, limiting private local vacation rentals….


Dana Point Delivers Big Time on Whale Heritage Designation

DANA POINT, Calif.—Five miles off the coast aboard the Manute’a (pronounced mah-noo-tay-ah), a 50-foot catamaran sailboat with a group of 49 passengers spot two cow-calf gray whales breaching the Pacific Ocean’s surface, flip upside down and swim on their backs. A round of applause erupts from the passengers. “Wow! How cool is that?” says Captain…


California’s New Boating Law Raises Costly Concerns Among Private Sector

Owners of commercial harbor craft—like tugboats, ferries, and private charter boats—are expressing concern over California’s new regulation that requires commercial vessels to have cleaner engines. The regulation, which takes effect in 2023, sets stricter requirements for the types of engines—newer, less-polluting engines—allowed near California’s coast. The regulation will be rolled out in phases, whereby in…


Bodies Found on Popular Beach in Dana Point

DANA POINT, Calif.—The bodies of a man and woman were found Friday morning on Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, prompting a death investigation, but sheriff’s investigators say they do not suspect foul play. As people walked towards the sand of Dana Point’s popular Salt Creek beach, puzzled looks appeared underneath their hats and sunglasses…


Dana Point Welcomes the Unveiling of Its Newest Statue: Surfing Icon Joyce Hoffman

DANA POINT, Calif.—Surfing icon and world champion Joyce Hoffman continued to make her mark on the sport with the unveiling of her statue on Jan. 27, showing her completing a “walking the nose” maneuver atop a longboard. Hoffman’s family and friends were joined by hundreds of people at the unveiling of her statue, which included…


Reward Offered to Solve Mystery of Violent Pelican Attacks

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—In response to more than 32 Brown pelicans being attacked somewhere along the coast of Orange County, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist with the costs of treating the birds, all who have been taken to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. In addition, the Animal Legal Defense…


PPE Equipment is Polluting Orange County’s Beaches

Orange County beaches are continuing to experience a “frustrating” amount of litter, with some waste brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental advocates say. During a study of the impact of the pandemic on beaches, the Southern California Surfrider Foundation found personal protective equipment (PPE) to be amongst common waste. “The COVID-19 pandemic led to an almost…


Dana Point Offers Visitors a Whale of an Attraction

DANA POINT, Calif.—Upon approach, the harbor in Dana Point, California—with seven miles of coastline and unique headlands jutting into the Pacific Ocean—presents visitors with a picturesque view. But lurking below, there’s much more than meets the eye. In 2019, Dana Point officially distinguished itself as the “Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World,” boasting…


Dana Point Artist Credits Faith for Adding Color to His Life

DANA POINT, Calif.—When Hyatt Moore reflects on the experiences that most profoundly shaped his life as an artist, he focuses on two main things. The first is his marriage. The second is the Lord, whom he says changed his life. “Those things changed the directions in my life, and all that had happened since then,”…