Missing fisherman’s path and fate remain a mystery

Coast Guard and city fire rescue workers continued their search Monday night for a 53-year-old Wailupe resident who had apparently launched his 19-foot boat out of Hawaii Kai to go fishing.

The Coast Guard deployed a C-130 airplane and 87-foot cutter Ahi to search Monday night, and city fire officials were expected to resume their search today for Kon Wai Young, who was reported missing Saturday night.

A Honolulu Fire Department helicopter searched the northeastern coast of Oahu Monday.

The Coast Guard deployed its 110-foot cutter Kiska, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a C-130 airplane, with its search in the past few days including the waters from Barbers Point to Bellows Beach.

The Coast Guard has also searched areas based on current and wind drift, officials said.

Fire spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said Young usually went trolling in waters off Makapuu in the Kaiwi Channel between Oahu and Molokai, and the searchers have covered the area.

But Seelig said Young did not have a precise plan of where he was going.

"There’s no telling what happened or where he is," Seelig said.

Kon Wai Young worked in human resources at Fort Shafter and lived with his mother in Aina Haina, said his oldest brother, Kon Pung Young.

Young said the family has run out of ideas on where to look for his brother and is uncertain where he might have gone fishing. "He does not discuss where he goes," Young said.

Aina Haina neighbor Barnaby "Barney" Robinson said Kon Wai Young could do mechanical repairs and fixed the boat after buying it about three years ago. Robinson said Young, who has a boat with a green deck and white exterior, had been fishing recreationally for about two years and occasionally shared his catch with him.

He said Young usually returned home before dark.

Hawaii News Now video: Coast Guard, HFD call search for missing fisherman a ‘real challenge’