Winds could have steered missing mariner off course

Friends of a Molokai fisherman who made a distress call four days ago remain hopeful about his rescue despite rough seas churning around the islands.

Ron Ingrahm, 67, made a mayday call over VHF radio at 8:03 a.m. Thursday, reporting his small boat was taking on water and was in danger of sinking about 46 miles west of Kailua-Kona, according to the Coast Guard. He reported he was near the Alenuihaha Channel — the channel between Maui and Hawaii island — before communications were lost.

The Coast Guard said Ingrahm is believed to be the sole person aboard the 25-foot sailboat, Malia, which left Kaunakakai Harbor, Molokai, for Manele Bay, Lanai.

Northerly winds could have pushed him south of his intended route.

On Saturday, the National Weather Service said a small craft advisory was in effect for the islands until 6 p.m. Monday and will likely be extended. The weather service said seas could reach 15 feet in the Alenuihaha Channel, with winds of up to 28 mph along with higher gusts through Monday evening.

Ingrahm’s friend Dedric Manaba, a commercial fisherman from Molokai, said he believes Ingrahm is still alive and hopes the Coast Guard continues searching.

"He’s a strong 67-year-old man," said Manaba, adding Ingrahm had a kayak on his boat. "He’s been a fisherman his whole life. I’m just hoping he’s OK.

"I like to think that he’s still floating and somebody can find him," he said.

On Saturday, the Coast Guard searched with an HC-130 Hercules airplane and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and planned to continue searching Sunday. Severe weather, however, forced a Coast Guard Cutter that was dispatched Thursday to turn around a day later.

On Thursday, the Coast Guard released a recording of Ingrahm’s mayday call — before he was identified — seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the caller.

"It was his voice," said Kenneth Corder, Ingrahm’s friend and a commercial fisherman on Molokai. He said Ingrahm won the boat in a poker game several years ago and used it to catch fish that he sold on Lanai.

He said he was mystified by some elements of the incident because Ingrahm, who used to fish off Hawaii island, wouldn’t have taken his small boat into Alenuihaha Channel, knowing the channel’s conditions can be extremely rough.

According to Corder, Ingrahm left Molokai about 10 days ago and should have been returning from Lanai in time to celebrate Thanksgiving on Molokai, where he lived on his boat.

He suspects Ingrahm was caught by rough weather north of Lanai, leaving him stranded on a beach along Lanai’s north shore. He believes the Coast Guard should be looking farther north.

"I’m praying for a miracle," Corder said.

Corder, who has known Ingrahm for about two years, described him as a loner who had traveled a lot in the past, including to the Philippines. He didn’t know whether Ingrahm had family in Hawaii.

"He’s a very nice guy," Corder said. "He had stories and stories."

Manaba, Ingrahm’s other friend, said the strong northerly winds might have blown Ingrahm toward Hawaii island. He recalled Ingrahm telling of a similar experience when strong winds blew him hundreds of miles off course and required him to tack back to shore.