The Coast Guard continued searching Wednesday for a 56-year-old man from Illinois who disappeared while snorkeling Tuesday near Molokini islet off south Maui.
Paul Blackburn was snorkeling with his son and was last seen at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Coast Guard said.
He was wearing a white rash guard and board shorts, but not a life jacket.
The Coast Guard cutter Ahi and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point were scheduled to search through Wednesday night.
A 45-foot Coast Guard response boat from Maui, a Maui County fire helicopter and fire boat, and county Ocean Safety and Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission personnel also took part in the effort.
The crew of the sailboat Gauguin notified the Coast Guard of the missing man at 5:51 p.m. Tuesday. The Coast Guard began searching with a helicopter crew until sunset, then switched to a cutter after dark.
The Coast Guard is asking mariners in the area to keep an eye out for the man, and to report any sightings to the Coast Guard over VHF marine radio channel 16 or by calling Sector Honolulu Command Center at 842-2600.
Rescue crews work east, west sides of isle
Rescue crews Oahu helped two hikers in separate incidents on Oahu Wednesday.
The first incident happened at 3:15 p.m. in Hawaii Kai. Fire Capt. Gary Lum said a female visitor injured her ankle when she fell while hiking at Koko Crater Botanical Garden. A rescue crew used a battalion chief’s sport utility vehicle to take the woman to Emergency Medical Services paramedics at 4:09 p.m.
The second call, at 3:30 p.m., was for a hiker in distress above Waianae Intermediate School.
The hiker, a man about 20 years old, was with another man about the same age when he suffered an anxiety attack and was unable to continue, Lum said.
Rescue personnel escorted him out. Lum said the hikers had begun their trek at 85-140 Ala Walua St.
Police seek help in finding homeless man
Hawaii County police are asking for helping in finding an 18-year-old homeless man wanted on a warrant.
Tyler Taylor was indicted by a grand jury on robbery charges in connection with a Feb. 6 incident at Kolekole Beach Park.
Taylor is described as 5 feet 6 and 150 pounds, with short black hair. He is known to frequent the Puna District.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.
