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Coast Guard and Hawaii County Fire Department personnel conducted an extensive search on Saturday for a 51-year-old man who was swept out to sea while fishing near Kaloli Point in Puna.
Responding to a 2:20 p.m. call for assistance, the Coast Guard dispatched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and the crew of the USCGC Kittiwake, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat based in Honolulu.
Honolulu Fire Department dispatched a helicopter, rescue boat and dive team.
Conditions were rough, with 25 mph winds and 10-foot surf.
The man was last seen wearing a blue shirt and gray and green shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600.
Also Saturday, the Coast Guard was investigating an unmanned yellow kayak found off Olowalu, Maui.
The kayak was discovered by an off-duty Coast Guard reservist around 2:09 p.m.
The Coast Guard issued an alert for mariners to look out for anything of interest and dispatched a response boat crew to search the area.
There were no reported signs of distress or missing persons in the area.
The Coast Guard reminded vessel owners to properly secure small craft. It also offers free “If Found” decals to be placed conspicuously on watercraft with information on the owner.
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