The Hawaii County Fire Department and Coast Guard suspended the search for missing boaters off Hawaii island.
The search was suspended at dusk Wednesday after three days. There were no signs of the missing boaters, said HCFD Battalion Chief Darwin Okinaka.
One of the boaters is believed to be Derek Liu, 52, of Honokaa, who was last seen by his family Saturday afternoon at home before he headed out to go fishing.
CrimeStoppers released a bulletin Friday on Liu, who is wanted for violating terms of his bail.
The other boater is possibly a woman.
A fisherman found a 12-foot inflatable boat about a mile off of Kohala Estates and towed it to the Kawaihae boat ramp. Campers had said they saw a man and a woman on a Zodiac-type dinghy Saturday, similar to the one found.
The Fire Department and Coast Guard launched a search Sunday. A fire rescue helicopter and divers scoured the ground and water, respectively, along the North Kohala coastline. The Coast Guard deployed its MH-65 helicopter and cutter Kittiwake to assist.
Okinaka said the boat and Liu’s Nissan pickup truck that was left at a Kawaihae campsite have been released to his family.
Molokai
Water safe despite E. coli
The Maui Department of Water Supply reported Thursday that E. coli bacteria was detected in the Ualapue Shaft on Molokai — although the water is safe to drink, it said.
The bacteria was detected Thursday in a water sample collected Wednesday. The department said the water in the Ualapue system is safe because it has been disinfected, and no E. coli was found in the distribution system.
Residents are encouraged to call the department’s 24-hour hotline at 270-7633 for any water-related problems or for more information. The EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline is 800-426-4791.
