Coast Guard seeks help identifying adrift life ring off Na Pali Coast

For the third time this month, the Coast Guard is seeking the public’s help in identifying the owner of adrift lifesaving or recreational gear.

At about 11 a.m. today, Kauai firefighters notified the Coast Guard about an orange life ring that was found adrift some 500 yards off the Na Pali Coast on Kauai.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast notice to mariners.

A Coast Guard crew launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point to search the area off Kauai and was still searching Saturday evening. Local firefighters were also assisting in the operation, the Coast Guard said.

There were no reports of anyone missing or in distress at the time.

Anyone with information that may help identify the ring’s owner is asked to call Coast Guard Sector Honolulu at 842-2600.

The Coast Guard urged the public to notify the Coast Guard of any lost survival or recreational gear to assist responders in determining actual distress situations. Commercial operators should also mark all life rings with the vessel name, the Coast Guard said.

Earlier this month, the Coast Guard launched two searches after gear was found adrift.

On Feb. 12, the Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to search for the owner of dive gear found about a mile offshore of Hookipa Beach Park on Maui. The gear consisted of an orange dive boat, a dive flag and a wooden spear gun. The Maui Fire Department and county lifeguards assisted in that case.

On Feb. 5, a Coast Guard helicopter crew was joined by a boat crew from Marine Corps Base Hawaii Waterfront Operations to search for the owner of a blue-and-white surfboard found adrift off Kaneohe Bay.