This SA article only has about half of the complete Assoc Press story. It's worth searching out, there's a lot of interesting info: "The two women met in late 2016, and within a week of knowing each other decided to take the trip together. Fuiava had never sailed a day in her life ... On their first day at sea, May 3, the two U.S. women described running into a fearsome storm that tossed their vessel with 60 mph (97 kph) winds and 30-foot (9-meter) seas for three days, but meteorologists say there was no severe weather anywhere along their route during that time ... the National Weather Service in Honolulu said no organized storm systems were in or near Hawaii on May 3 or in the days afterward. Archived NASA satellite images confirm there were no tropical storms around Hawaii that day."

So now they are saying that one of the ladies had a previous vessel run aground. Sheesh maybe she should stay on land

The first thing I thought of was "BS" publicity stunt and I think I'm right:
They had a EPIRB satellite distress beacon...

A spokesman for the Coast Guard told the AP on Monday that a review of the incident and subsequent interviews with the survivors revealed that they had the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) on board, but they never turned it on.
“We asked why during this course of time did they not activate the EPIRB. She had stated they never felt like they were truly in distress, like in a 24-hour period they were going to die,” said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle.

How about "a fearsome storm that tossed their vessel with 60 mph (97 kph) winds and 30-foot (9-meter) seas for three days" ? 

over the top dramatizing interviews - so much energy for two people lost for months