Kayaker Rescued by Coast Guard Off Kohala Coast

The United States Coast Guard says it has successfully rescued a kayaker who was in distress while sailing between Maui and the Big Island.

A 38-year-old man, not named by the Coast Guard, used a cell phone to call Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command at approximately 6:29 p.m. Tuesday night, saying that vog had caused him to lose sight of the Big Island and veer off course.

Less than an hour after the call, an HC-130 airplane crew dropped a radio and life jacket down to the kayaker while waiting for the Coast Guard Cutter Kiska to arrive to the scene, about 19 miles northeast of Kohala. The cutter arrived at 11:31 p.m. Tuesday to retrieve the kayaker and transported him to Hilo.

Hawai’i County Police dispatchers played an important role in locating the man, working with the Coast Guard to triangulate the signal from the kayaker’s cell phone to determine his whereabouts.