Humpback Whale Capsizes, Damages Kayak in Kona

A 60-year-man sustained a minor injury early this afternoon after a whale capsized his kayak offshore from a Kailua-Kona resort.

Fire department personnel approaching the scene on a rescue boat shortly before 2:30 p.m. saw the kayaker waving a paddle.

Before the boat arrived a Captain Zodiac tour vessel approached the man, who was about 100 yards offshore the Kanaloa at Kona resort, and helped him aboard.

The tour boat then transferred the kayaker to a private vessel and retrieved the kayak and brought it to shore.

Witnesses at the resort said they saw a humpback whale flip the kayak over, the fire department said in a statement.

The 20-foot, single-outrigger kayak was damaged in the incident, the department said.

The kayaker received a scratch on his arm from the broken edge of the kayak but did not require medical attention.

Both of the fire department’s helicopters responded to the incident.