South Kona man dies from apparent drowning while picking ‘opihi

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a possible drowning of a man from Kealakekua who had reportedly been picking ʻopihi along the Kona Coast.

At 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive man, later identified as 64-year-old John Kauhaihao of Kealakekua, who had been brought ashore by a privately-owned vessel.

According to a friend who was with Kauhaihao earlier that day, he was last seen picking ʻopihi along the Hōkūlia shoreline. When Kauhaihao could not be located, his friend requested assistance from others, who used a boat to search the shoreline, according to a press release from Hawai‘i Island police.

During the search, Kauhaihao was found underwater 30 feet from the rocky shoreline, near the area where he was last seen.

Kauhaihao was retrieved from the water and transported to Keauhou Bay via the boat. Hawai‘i Fire Department and Hawai‘i Police Department personnel responded, and Kauhaihao was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. No foul play is suspected at this time.

Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Joel Furuto at 808-935-3311 or via email at joel.furuto@hawaiipolice.gov.