Returning to the States from Bahamas.

[Ferroever]

I'm British. Plan on flying into SD on the visa waiver program, then sailing out on a private yacht, to Japan, with a stop in Hawaii to re-provision.
I am unclear about the immigration rules.
I understand that if arriving in the US by private yacht you need to get a full-on visa. However, you can leave the US on the visa waiver program, as long as you exit the US within 90 days.
My question is, would my arrival in Hawaii be deemed as a new entry into the US or can it be done on the visa waiver?
If going direct from SD to HI, is it seen as having left the US?
I need this information urgently as have got the chance for this Pacific crossing, would love to do it, but do not want to have problems regarding immigration once we arrive in HI, albeit our stop is going to be a short one, of a few days, at most.-----------

[mbuckely]

I have a boat in the Bahamas that I want to bring back to Annapolis at the end of the month. I'm trying to do this correctly. Secured my decal and am in the process of completing my SVRS application. Now I need to schedule a face to face and the problem for me is that the closest office is 2 1/2 hours away (I live in New Jersey)For a 15 minute meeting!

I'll suck it up in order to avoid any entry issues for my boat or crew but is there any way around this part of the application?