Coast Guard Responds to Kayaker in Distress

The United States Coast Guard is in the process of responding to a kayaker in distress off of the Kohala Coast Tuesday evening.

According to the Coast Guard, Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center received a cell phone call at 6:29 p.m. from a 38-year-old man who was on his way to the Big Island from Maui. The man reportedly lost sight of the island due to vog and drifted off course.

With the aid of the Hawai’i County Police Department, Watchstanders were able to triangulate the kayaker’s cell signal to determine his location.

Both the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Barbers Point diverted from training flights to the kayaker’s location.

At 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, the HC-130 Hercules crew arrived on the scene. At that point, crews dropped a radio to establish communication with the kayaker due to a depleted cell phone battery. Crews also dropped the man a lifejacket. On board the kayak, there was no other lifesaving equipment.

The Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, homeported in Hilo, is en route to assist.