Swimmer dies from apparent drowning at Kehena Beach

KAILUA-KONA — A man is dead after an apparent drowning at Kehena Beach over the weekend.

At 2:20 p.m. Sunday, Hawaii Fire Department responded to the Pahoa beach to a report of a male swimmer in distress. When they arrived on scene, crews discovered the man was lost in the surf in the waters off Kehena Beach and unable to make it back to shore.

Initially, fire crews were unable to see the victim. But HFD personnel, Pohoiki lifeguards and Chopper 1 continued searching and eventually found the swimmer.

“He was recovered from the turbulent and rocky shoreline area without any signs of life,” fire officials said.

The victim was airlifted to an awaiting ambulance and EMS personnel determined he was dead on arrivial.

The scene was released to Hawaii Police Department.

The last reported drowning at Kehena Beach occurred five months ago. On Nov. 17, 2018, HFD personnel responded to the beach around 5 p.m. and found a man, approximately in his 30s, at the water’s edge with bystanders performing CPR. Despite life-saving efforts by six HFD personnel for 25-30 minutes and further resuscitation efforts after he was extricated up the rocky pathway, the man could not be revived.