The search for a fisherman swept into the ocean near Kaloli Point Saturday afternoon continued Monday.
The search for a fisherman swept into the ocean near Kaloli Point Saturday afternoon continued Monday.
The 51-year-old man was last seen at 2:30 p.m. Saturday “floating about 50 yards offshore after being swept off the cliff into the ocean by high surf conditions,” said a press release from the Hawaii Fire Department.
Rescue personnel were alerted at 2:33 p.m. Saturday and were on scene by 2:37 p.m. The “search (was) suspended due to lack of visibility,” with the last of the 16 personnel involve back in quarters at 6:08 p.m.
It was resumed Sunday, this time using 10 personnel.
The HFD Chopper-1, along with a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, performed an aerial search. The HFD helicopter covered an area about four miles north and south, and about a half-mile offshore of where the man was last seen.
HFD rescue boat two performed a shoreline search and SCUBA dive operations north and south of the position.
HFD ground teams also searched the shoreline.
The Coast Guard cutter Kittiwake, based in Honolulu, also aided in the search.
In total the local units completed 10 sorties, searched 124 square miles and deployed a marker buoy.
Operations were halted at nightfall on Saturday and Sunday nights.
On Sunday the Coast Guard suspended its search.
“The suspension of an active search and rescue case is an incredibly difficult decisions to make,” said Lt. Kevin Edes, command center chief at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu in a press release. “We worked closely with the Hawaii County Fire Department and saturated the area in an attempt to locate the man but, pending further developments, we have decided to suspend the active search. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.”