HFD Calls Off Search for Amber Savant

After four days of searching, the Hawai’i County Fire Department has called off its search for 33-year-old Amber Savant, a Kona woman who went missing while free diving Sunday in the Kapoho Bay area.

A day earlier, the United States Coast Guard called off its search of the missing woman, stating that it would provide support to HFD should further evidence of Savant arise.

Savant was last seen on Sunday afternoon about 150 yards near the outer reef break. She was reportedly separated from the group she was in the water with by a rip current that pulled her into deeper waters.

During the search, crews located items reportedly belonging to Savant, including a spear gun, fins, gloves, snorkel, mask, weight belt with knife, and five pounds of dive weights. The items were located from Kapoho Bay, according to the USCG, but an exact location or how they were found was not immediately available.

HFD conducted aerial searches with a HFD helicopter. The search area spanned from Oars Beach to South Point and half a mile off-shore. In addition, shoreline searches were conducted using a HFD rescue boat and divers. Areas to the north and south of Savant’s last seen position were searched with an expanding grid pattern. Jet skis along with free divers, also searched within the Kapoho Bay area.