Hawaiʻi Island police have launched a missing person investigation and search efforts are underway for 42-year-old fisherman Earl Kekuanaoa Hind of Kona. Hind and his vessel were last seen about noon April 9 offshore near the Miloliʻi area. (Photo Courtesy: Hawaiʻi Police Department)
Update at noon April 11: Search efforts continue and Hawaiʻi Island police initiated a missing person investigation for a local fisherman who is last known to have launched his vessel April 7 from a spot in the South Point area of Kaʻū.
Hawaiʻi Police Department is asking the public if anyone has information that can help find 42-year-old Earl Kekuanaoa Hind of Kona or might have seen him.
Meanwhile, personnel with U.S. Coast Guard, Hawaiʻi Fire Department and Hawaiʻi Fire Department and Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources continue a search that started the afternoon of April 10 for the Big Island fisherman.
Hind is 6 feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, Hawaiian, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
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His vessel “Makalapua Onalani” is a 21-foot Force with a 2-foot extension, white hull, light blue cabin and powered by twin outboard motors.
Police report Hind usually fishes around the South Point area. He and his vessel were seen at about noon April 9 offshore near the Miloliʻi area, heading in a northerly direction.
Hind and his vessel’s current whereabouts are unknown. His truck and boat trailer were located parked near the South Point boat ramp area.
Aerial search efforts are being conducted by Hawaiʻi Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard. Additional shoreline searches also are underway.
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Anyone with information about Hind’s whereabouts is asked to call Hawaiʻi Police Department via its non-emergency number at 808-935-3311. They can also contact Detective Donovan Kohara at 808-960-3118 or via email at Donovan.Kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.
If Hind or his vessel is located at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard requests those with that information to contact U.S. Coast Guard Command Center Lt. Cmdr. Raphael Sandowitz at 808-842-2600.
Original post at 4 a.m. April 11: The U.S. Coast Guard is searching offshore of the Big Island for a recreational fishing boat with one person aboard, the federal agency said.
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the search for a missing fisherman and his boat off the coast of the Big Island. (Photo Courtesy: U.S. Coast Guard)
Hawaiʻi Fire Department dispatchers reported at 2:17 p.m. Thursday to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu that a 23-foot recreational fishing vessel named Makalapua Ona Lani was overdue with 42-year-old Earl Hind aboard.
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The boat has a white hull, blue trim and twin outboard engines.
Hind was scheduled to return Wednesday morning from a fishing trip in the vicinity of South Point. His family members confirmed that his truck and trailer are still at the boat ramp.
Sector Honolulu watchstanders coordinated the launch of a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and diverted the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak to aid in the search.
Hawaiʻi Fire Department and Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources also are involved in the search.
Anyone with information about this case should contact the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu Command at 808-842-2600.
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