USS Hilo ( AGP - 2 ) USS " Hilo " ( AGP - 2 ) was a acquired by the United States Navy for service in World War II . This tender was responsible for providing logistics to torpedo boats in remote areas . " Hilo " — originally the yacht " Caroline " — was built in 1931 by Bath Iron Works , Bath , Maine , and was purchased by the Navy as " Moana " from William B . Leeds on 28 November 1941 . Converted to Navy use at Craig Shipbuilding Co . , Long Beach , California , she commissioned as USS " Hilo " ( PG - 58 ) on 11 June 1942 , Lieutenant Commander F . A . Munroe in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . One of the first ships to be used as a motor torpedo boat tender , " Hilo " departed Long Beach , California , to load supplies at San Diego , California on 19 June and sailed for Pearl Harbor on 28 June . The ship arrived Pearl Harbor on 5 July 1942 , and was immediately sent to Palmyra Island to tend a torpedo boat squadron there . " Hilo " remained in the vicinity fueling and providing supplies to the boats then under training until returning to Pearl Harbor again on 4 October . She was soon underway , however , steaming by way of Palmyra Island to Canton Island , where she arrived on 29 October . There she took on passengers and proceeded to Funafuti , arriving on 2 November . Tending torpedo boats . The ship remained at Funafuti until 25 November , tending torpedo boats and engaging in rescue operations as American forces prepared for the coming assault on the Gilberts and Marshalls . " Hilo " and other units from Funafuti rescued the gallant Rickenbacker party after their 21 - day ordeal in rubber boats on 12 November . She next sailed for Noumea , New Caledonia , arriving on 2 December , and from there escorted four PT boats to Cairns , Queensland , where she moored on 11 December . Setting up her base in New Guinea . " Hilo " was then sent to set up the first torpedo boat base in New Guinea , at Milne Bay , arriving on 17 December . Commencing operations soon after their arrival , " Hilo " s boats contributed to the hard - fought Buna - Gona campaign in New Guinea as allied forces began their return to the Philippines . The boats fired at Japanese ashore , destroyed barges loaded with men and supplies , and even fought submarines in support of the troops ashore . On 13 January 1943 , her designation was changed to AGP - 2 . In February 1943 , " Hilo " explored the coast for a suitable advance PT boat base , and by the 28th had established one at Kana Kope . The torpedo boats stationed there with " Hilo " soon had a chance to fight , as Japanese efforts to reinforce their Lae and Salamaua garrisons led to the Battle of the Bismarck Sea from 2 – 4 March . The tender remained at Kana Kope until late April , when she began to move up the New Guinea coast to various anchorages . As " Hilo " s torpedo boats continued to take part in the successful New Guinea campaign , " Hilo " herself underwent many air raids and endured extremes of climate and disease before being relieved on 20 October . The tender sailed to Sydney , Australia , arriving on 13 November , and sailed again on 9 February 1944 for Milne Bay . Moving her base to New Britain . " Hilo " again took up her tending duties in the New Guinea area and was transferred to Talasea , New Britain on 26 March . She remained there until 4 June tending two squadrons of torpedo boats , after which she shifted her operations to Mios Woendi and became a command ship for torpedo boat operations in the U . S . 7th Fleet her tender equipment removed . The ship remained there until 6 November . Supporting PT - boat operations in the Philippines . With the invasion of the Philippines underway , " Hilo " sailed to Leyte Gulf , arriving on 12 November . During the next months the ships in the Gulf were under almost constant air attack . " Hilo " was nearly hit on 26 November as " kamikaze " attacked San Juanico Strait s ; one " kamikaze " crashed some ahead of the tender . " Hilo " s gunners scored several kills during this period . Commander , Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons , 7th Fleet , shifted his flag to " Gyrene " on 16 January , and for the next nine months " Hilo " was occupied with passenger voyages to various islands , including Mios Woendi and the Palaus . She departed Samar on 26 October 1945 for the United States via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor . Post - war decommissioning . She arrived on 1 December , decommissioned on 3 March 1946 and was sold by the War Shipping Administration to Pillsbury & Martingnoni , San Francisco , California . Awards . " Hilo " received four battle star s for service in World War II .