HONOLULU – Crewmembers from Station Kauai and Air Station Barbers Point are searching for a missing swimmer off the coast of Hanakapiai Beach, Kauai, Thursday.

Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators at Sector Honolulu received a call from members of the Kauai Fire Department requesting assistance in locating a male tourist, last seen wearing dark-colored swim shorts and goggles Thursday afternoon.

Station Kauai crewmembers launched a 47-foot Motor Life Boat at approximately 9:16 p.m. and arrived on scene at 11:54 p.m. A Barbers Point aircrew launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter at approximately 9:32 p.m. and arrived on scene at 10:29 p.m. and began conducting their search.  

The Dolphin and MLB crew are searching a more than 20 square-mile area off Hanakapiai Beach.

Also assisting in the search are members of Kauai Fire Department, Ocean Safety and the Kauai Police Department.

The Coast Guard urges anyone with information to call Sector Honolulu at 808-842-2600.

For more information contact Coast Guard public affairs at 808-535-3230. 

SANTA RITA, Guam – A missing canoeist was found alive and in good condition after a four-day multiagency search, approximately 350 miles southwest of Guam, Thursday. 

The mariner was found on Federaci Island in the Ulithi Atoll by fishermen from Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia. He was transferred to the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Washington and is scheduled to return to his home on Fais Island.

Sector Guam watchstanders were notified Monday that the canoeist had not returned from a fishing trip as scheduled on Saturday. 

An HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii and a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion long-range search aircraft from Okinawa, Japan were launched on Monday to assist in the search. The crew of the cutter Washington was also sent out to search.

Citizens from FSM assisted in the search, providing use of local fishing vessels. Local mariners began a search for the canoeist two days earlier.

“This is an excellent example of multi-agency coordination and search effort,” said Lt. Gregg Maye, Sector Guam command center supervisor.  “The Coast Guard is thankful for the continued support of its military and civilian partners, whose assistance was essential in the success of this mission.”

Coast Guard, Navy and FSM assets saturated the 11,536 square-mile search area for four days before the canoeist was found.

For more information contact Sector Guam’s public affairs officer Lt. j.g. Wade Thomson at 671-355-4866.