The U.S. Coast Guard is scouring the waters off Kailua-Kona for a possible missing person after an unmanned rental jet ski was located this morning a couple miles offshore.
The U.S. Coast Guard is scouring the waters off Kailua-Kona for a possible missing person after an unmanned rental jet ski was located this morning a couple miles offshore.
Petty Officer Eric Chandler said the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter is performing the search despite no one being reported missing at this time. The finding of an unmanned vessel normally spurs a search to ensure no one had fallen off.
The blue WaveRunner was located about 9 a.m. by a local commercial vessel and returned to Kona Jet Ski’s Jet Ski Island, he said.
The watercraft was confirmed to belong to the local rental company, which suspects an attempted theft may have occurred, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Hawaii Fire Department and Hawaii Police Department personnel are also assisting.
Anyone with information on the case should call the Sector Honolulu Command Center at 842-2600.