A kayak-and-dive outing to Mokauea ended in tragedy Friday night when the body of a missing diver in his 30s was recovered in waters off Sand Island in Kalihi. The man was reported overdue in the late afternoon, triggering a wide-area land, sea and air search. A U.S. Coast Guard crew eventually found him about two miles offshore, brought him back to shore by boat, and the Honolulu Police Department opened an unattended death investigation.
How the search unfolded
According to Hawaii News Now, the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Ocean Safety were first called around 5:45 p.m. for an overdue diver near the Mokauea Fishing Village. Crews quickly expanded the search zone from Sand Island to Barber's Point and out to about four miles offshore.
State Airport Rescue Firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard joined the operation, while HFD’s Air 1 helicopter scanned the shoreline. Around 6:30 p.m., Air 1 spotted an unmanned kayak along the rocks, but officials later confirmed it did not belong to the missing diver. At about 9:10 p.m., a Coast Guard helicopter located the diver roughly two miles offshore, and he was brought to shore by boat.
Local risks and safety rules
Sand Island and the tight channel around tiny Mokauea are popular with kayakers and divers, but regulars know the area can turn on you fast because of shifting currents, steady boat traffic and sudden changes in weather. Per the State Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, divers and snorkelers must display a dive flag and follow spacing rules so vessels can spot them, and officials say carrying reliable communications or filing a float plan can significantly shorten rescue response times.
The U.S. Coast Guard routinely flies helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft out of Air Station Barbers Point to handle offshore search-and-rescue missions throughout the islands, a role that was on full display during Friday’s operation.
Investigation and next steps
The Honolulu Police Department has opened an unattended death investigation into the incident, and the medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death, according to Hawaii News Now. Authorities have not yet released the diver’s identity, pending notification of his family.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Honolulu Police Department at (808) 529-3111 or the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center at (808) 842-2600.
Officials say the recovery is a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions in and around Sand Island can change. Paddlers, snorkelers and divers are urged to check the marine forecast, carry signaling and communication devices, and let someone on shore know their plans before heading out.
