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Crews find body during search for missing man near Blowhole

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Visitors to Halona Blowhole Lookout were treated to a spectacular show as storm-generated surf pounded east-facing shores of the islands.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office on Tuesday identified the man who died after he was swept out to sea near Halona Blowhole Lookout on Monday as Tajhee Williams, 19, of Port Jervis, N.Y. 

Firefighters on personal watercraft recovered Williams’ body from the ocean about 7 a.m. Tuesday near the lookout, firefighters said. The body was taken to Maunalua Bay and turned over to the Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Williams was swept off the rocks by a wave near Halona Blowhole about 6:20 p.m. Monday. Firefighters searched unsuccessfully until sunset Monday using its helicopter, jet ski and rescue boat crews. 

The Coast Guard used a 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Honolulu, an MH-Dolphin helicopter from Barbers Point Air Station, the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Kittiwake to assist in the air, sea and land search. 

Two soldiers — Caleb Colins, 22, and Shylein Andrews, 21 — died near the area on July 25. 

The two men were on the rocks taking pictures at Halona Cove when a wave swept Andrews into the ocean. Collins tried to help and was also swept into the ocean, officials said. A third man was also swept into the water, but he was able to climb back out. 

On Sept. 8, Seaman Andrew Villolovos, 21, was killed after being washed into the ocean while hiking at a shoreline formation call “Rock Bridge,” just outside Hanauma Bay.

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