Coast Guard locates stray kayak

KAILUA-KONA — The Coast Guard is requesting public assistance to find the owner of a two-person kayak located roughly 2 miles west of the Captain James Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay.

The kayak was discovered Wednesday by the operator of the Makana Lani. A report was relayed from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to watchstanders at Sector Honolulu Command Center at 10:37 a.m., according to a Coast Guard release.

Watchstanders issued an emergency broadcast notice to mariners and sent out a helicopter to search the area. As of late Wednesday afternoon, there were no reports of signs of distress or missing people in the immediate area.

The kayak is orange and red in color, and the words ‘Tropic II’ are scrawled on each of its sides. The paddles look to be in the stored position.

Coast Guard officials ask anyone with information as to the owner of the kayak to contact its Sector Honolulu Command Center at 842-2600.