A multi-agency hunt pressed on Friday for a 19-year-old Kapa‘a resident who was swept off the rocks while fishing near the northern point of Kahili Beach in Kīlauea. Crews managed to rescue a second fisherman and treated that person for a leg laceration, but the missing man, later identified as Matthew Kai’mana Packard-Asai, was still unaccounted for. Authorities said search crews would work through sundown and pick up again at first light.
County Update: Crews To Resume At First Light
County officials said first responders would remain on scene and continue scanning the waters until sundown, then resume operations at first light on January 31. According to Kaua‘i County, personnel from the Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department, American Medical Response, the U.S. Coast Guard, Kaua‘i Search and Rescue, the Salvation Army and state officials are all involved in the response. The county said additional updates will be released as information becomes available.
Coast Guard Outlines Scope Of The Search
The U.S. Coast Guard said crews have covered roughly 726 square miles over more than 51 combined hours, coordinating helicopters, small boats and the cutter Oliver Berry to sweep the search area. The Coast Guard described the mission as a coordinated effort with local and state partners and urged anyone with information to contact Sector Honolulu or use VHF-FM channel 16. Read the service’s update for more details from the U.S. Coast Guard.
How The Incident Unfolded
Local reports say two people were swept into the surf while fishing on offshore rocks near the northern point of Kahili Beach, and friends told responders they saw the younger man pulled out by breaking waves. Responders were dispatched shortly after midday and were able to bring one person to shore, where that individual was found with a leg laceration and transferred to American Medical Response for care. Teams from police and search-and-rescue units used drones, shoreline searches and aerial sweeps through the night as operations continued, according to Kaua‘i Now.
How To Help And Safety Reminders
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu command center at 1-800-552-6458. Authorities reminded the public to avoid fishing from exposed rocks and to be especially cautious around the shoreline, which can have slippery surfaces and unpredictable surf. For operational updates and contact guidance, see the latest from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Previous Coverage And Next Steps
Hoodline first reported on the active search on Jan. 29, and the county’s Jan. 30 update provided the latest operational details and publicly identified the missing man. For background reporting, see earlier coverage of the search. Authorities said they will issue additional updates as the search continues.
