My wife's an American Airlines Flight Attendant who usually works LAX to Narita. She passed this on to me and I thought folks here would enjoy the story from an American Airlines pilot:
"Hi Guys,
We had a really exciting drama unfold on our way home from HNL-LAX this afternoon on flt#162. Our pilots got word that a twin engine smallish plane from Santa Barbara to HNL was running out of fuel 200-400 miles out from HNL. The coast guard notified a vessel in the area and coordinated with the 2 pilots (no pax) on board to head for that and to ditch thereabouts. The captain sounded very calm and said she had padded the dash and decided to remove their headsets just prior to ditching so as not to get entangled upon escape. The radios were afire with suggestions and alohas and prayers from all of the airplanes within listening distance....as we were. It was really emotional and very dramatic. Everyone in the air was on pins and needles. I was in the cockpit at the end and we waited for word as to what had happened. The radio let us know that they were able to climb onto a life raft and were then taken to the larger vessel and then transported to Hilo. We don't know of injuries or any other details. They were alive and that was all that counted. Pretty exciting stuff. I see a huge movie deal and interviews on Larry King and Oprah etc.....don't you?
Thought you'd like to know."