Wailuku in Maui County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)
Submarine Communications Buoy
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 12, 2026
1. Submarine Communications Buoy Marker
The VBAU 'Paravan' communication buoy seen in this exhibit was discovered washed up on Maui's North Shore in 2016. It most likely came from a relatively small diesel powered ballistic missile submarine, called a Golf Class submarine. They patrolled within 1,000 miles of Hawai'i because their missiles had a very short range. Undoubtedly Soviet submarines have come close to Pearl Harbor to study our submarines leaving base.
The buoy was towed behind Soviet submarines to allow them to communicate with their base without the whole submarine rising up to periscope depth. When not in use they were winched in to a small housing on the submarine's back.
The submarine is able to remain far below the ocean's surface when using this type of buoy for communications.
Communications buoy is sent by the submarine to the ocean surface to communicate with space satellites.
Space satellites receive communications by way of the buoy and relay messages to base.
Erected by Maui Ocean Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Cold
this page online
Location. 20° 47.533′ N, 156° 30.718′ W. Marker is in Wailuku, Hawaii, in Maui County. It can be reached from Maalaea Road near Hawaii Route 30. Located in The Aquarium of Hawaii. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku HI 96793, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Lahaina and West Maui. Globally, it is in North America, Polynesia, the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Guardian of Sea-Going People (a few steps from this marker); Master Navigators (within shouting distance of this marker); Scandinavian Migration to Hawaii (approx. 1.2 miles away); Ko Lalo Kuilani Aloha (approx. 1.9 miles away); On Foot...By Horse... ...Then Carriages and Cars (approx. 3.4 miles away); Welcome to the Lahaina Pali Trail (approx. 3.4 miles away); History of African Americans in Hawai'i (approx. 6.4 miles away);
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 12, 2026
2. Submarine Communications Buoy Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 12, 2026
3. Submarine Communications Buoy
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
