Rescue personnel will resume the search today for a man who was swept into the ocean Monday on Kauai’s North Shore by a powerful wave.
The man was walking with three friends on a remote stretch of shoreline near South Kalihiwai Point when a rogue wave swept two of them into the sea at about 11:30 a.m., the Kauai Fire Department said in a news release. The second man, 47, was able to swim to shore.
Crews from the Fire Department, the county Ocean Safety Bureau and the Coast Guard responded. They searched for the missing man in rough waves but were unable to find him. His name has not been released, but he is believed to be a visitor, the news release said.
The 47-year-old man was airlifted to Kalihiwai Beach and taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital with injuries reported to be non-life-threatening.
A high-surf advisory for north- and west-facing shores of all islands was to remain in effect until 6 a.m. today. Surf was to build to 18 to 24 feet at Kauai and Niihau overnight, the National Weather Service said.
Monday’s incident happened within a few hundred feet of where visitors Adam Griffiths and Brian Baker died after they were knocked into the ocean by high surf Jan. 18.
Griffiths and Baker, both of San Francisco, were hiking with friends along a rocky area when Baker, 47, was swept into the ocean. Griffiths, 46, tried to rescue him but was also struck by a rogue wave.
Rescuers recovered the body of Griffiths the next day. Baker’s body was never found.
Eight people have drowned on Kauai this year.
Scott Akina, 55, of Kilauea was reported as Kauai’s eighth drowning victim. Family members reported Akina missing on the night of Feb. 26 after he didn’t return home from his swim at Ninini Beach that afternoon.
Rescuers conducted a four-day search for Akina. They suspended their search Saturday.
