Big Island, state and U.S. Coast Guard personnel on Friday failed to turn up any sign of a 66-year-old fisherman whose unmanned kayak was found Thursday morning floating in waters about 50 yards offshore of Kawaihae Harbor in South Kohala.
Big Island, state and U.S. Coast Guard personnel on Friday failed to turn up any sign of a 66-year-old fisherman whose unmanned kayak was found Thursday morning floating in waters about 50 yards offshore of Kawaihae Harbor in South Kohala.
The man, whose name and place of residence has yet to be released, was apparently fishing from his green kayak off the Kawaihae coast when he was last seen about 10 a.m. by boaters in the area, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. His unmanned kayak was found around 11 a.m. Thursday floating about 50 yards offshore and about 300 yards north of the mouth of the harbor.
The Hawaii Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement searched all-day Friday, but found no sign of the man.
The missing kayaker is described as 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. He was last seen wearing black shorts and a fishing shirt.
HFD will resume search efforts at first light on Saturday, said West Hawaii Battalion Chief Ty Medeiros.
The Coast Guard is asking mariners in the area of the Kawaihae and the northwest side of Hawaii Island to keep an eye out for the man and to report any sightings to the Coast Guard over VHF marine radio channel 16 or contact the Sector Honolulu Command Center at 842-2600.
