USS California (SP-249)

USS Hauoli (SP-249) In port, circa 1918-1919. This patrol vessel served as USS California (SP-249) from December 1917 until February 1918, when she was renamed Hauoli
History
United States
Name	Hauoli California USS California (24 December 1917) USS Hauoli (18 February 1918) California
Namesake	Hauoli is a Hawaiian word meaning "delight." State of California
Owner	Francis Marion Smith Clara B. Stocker U.S. Navy Denton Shore Lumber Co.
Builder	Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company, Brooklyn, New York
Launched	Summer 1903
Completed	1903
Acquired	(Navy) 18 August 1917
Commissioned	(Navy) 24 December 1917
Decommissioned	(Navy) 8 October 1919
Renamed	(Navy) USS Hauoli (SP-249) on 18 February 1918
Stricken	(Navy) 16 September 1919
Identification	ON 96694, signal KSNM
Fate	Sold on 7 September 1920; fate unknown
General characteristics
Type	Yacht
Tonnage	299 GRT
Displacement	285 (Navy, 1918)
Length	211 ft (64.3 m) LOA 166 ft (50.6 m) waterline
Beam	22 ft 2 in (6.8 m)
Draft	8 ft 8 in (2.6 m)
Installed power	steam, 4 Almy water tube boilers
Propulsion	4 cyl., triple expansion steam engine
Speed	19 knots (22 mph; 35 km/h)
Endurance	750 nautical miles (860 mi; 1,390 km)
Complement	As original yacht: 14 Navy: 60
Armament	2 6-pounder guns, 2 machine guns

USS California (SP-249) was a yacht acquired by the United States Navy during World War I and outfitted as an armed section patrol vessel patrolling New York waterways. Later, renamed the original name of Hauoli, it was assigned to Thomas A. Edison conducting underwater listening experiments related to antisubmarine warfare.

The yacht was a second Hauoli built in 1903, replacing one of the same name built in 1902, for mining magnate Francis Marion "Borax" Smith. This second Hauoli was notable for speed, described as perhaps the fastest single screw yacht of its class in the world. In 1912 the yacht was sold to Clara Baldwin Stocker, an heiress residing in Los Angeles, who renamed the yacht California. She had to await the opening of the Panama Canal to bring the yacht to her residence. It was noted as the first pleasure vessel to transit the canal.^{[citation needed]} The yacht was home ported in Los Angeles. At some point, either prior to or upon the Navy's acquisition, the yacht was brought back to New York. After naval service, the yacht was sold to a company in Tampa, Florida.