The Coast Guard cited the owner of a boat that they rescued, after discovering expired flares on the 19-foot Boston Whaler.

Four people were on board the boat, which suffered an engine failure 12 miles northeast of Kaneohe Bay Monday afternoon.

One of the people on the boat was able to call for help on a cell phone and the Coast Guard sent a 45-foot vessel to tow them back to shore.

The Coast Guard boat arrived on scene at 5:15 p.m. and towed the vessel to Kaneohe Bay, where another vessel helped bring it to Heeia Kea Pier.

In a news release, the Coast Guard advised all mariners to make sure they have the necessary safety equipment on board and that it is in working condition.

“This includes flares, lifejackets and a working VHF radio,” the Coast Guard release said. “Cell phones are often unreliable off-shore and only provide one-on-one communication versus one-to-many with a VHF radio.”