Conflicting reports surround the possible sighting of a large vessel in waters off Milolii in Ka’u.
Conflicting reports surround the possible sighting of a large vessel in waters off Milolii in Ka’u.
The U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Command Center in Honolulu confirmed Wednesday that it had investigated a reported March 20 sighting of an 80-foot fishing vessel floating in waters off Milolii, said Charles Turner, a civilian search and rescue specialist with the center.
Despite an aerial survey conducted shortly after the Coast Guard received the report from someone on shore, the Coast Guard found no sign of the vessel, he said. He also confirmed no large vessel is being towed from the area to Honolulu.
West Hawaii Today contacted the Coast Guard Wednesday after receiving information that an 80-foot Japanese vessel had been found adrift off Milolii and was being towed to Honolulu.
Angie Bowman, with the Milolii Beach Community Association, was also contacted Wednesday and said she had not seen a vessel of that size off the area. She said she also spoke with a fisherman in the area after being contacted by the newspaper and that he reported no such sighting.