The Captain Cook station of Hawaii Fire Department responded to a call of two males swept into the ocean at Kealakekua Bay. Initial reports were that a group of hikers had stopped to rest in the area when waves swept two young men into the ocean Wednesday afternoon.
A private boat picked up a 14-year-old male and brought him to the Kealakekua Bay boat landing. The Fire Department’s medic treated the young man and transported him to Kona Community Hospital. A 15-year-old male was still missing in the area by the light house in a remote location. Hawaii Fire Department helicopters Chopper1 and Chopper 2 searched the ocean at the young man’s last known location directly fronting the Ka’awaloa Lighthouse and surrounding areas.
An aircrew piloting an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point was launched at 6 p.m. The Coast Guard Cutter Ahi was launched from Honolulu at 6:30 p.m.
Rescue Boat 7 and 3 scuba divers did surface and underwater comprehensive grid searching. Rescue divers found two tee shirts and a blue rope. Rescue Boat 7 also did extensive surface searching in Kealakekua Bay, and did not locate the young man. The Hawaii Fire Department search was suspended due to darkenss and poor visibility. However, the Coast Guard was able to search through the evening.
Hawaii County Fire Dispatch said the search is still underway Thursday morning.
