Search for second missing Kona fisherman continues after kayak found Sunday

A shoe believed to belong to a fisherman who went missing off Kona Coast waters last weekend was found Tuesday, several miles south of where he was last seen.

But aside from the Croc, which was found floating in waters near Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau, no other evidence has been found of 42-year-old Jared Willeford, according to an official with the U.S. Coast Guard.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, he had launched his yellow kayak from Keauhou. Two hours later, his watercraft was found unmanned.

Willeford is the second fisherman from Kona to go missing this month. On April 10, the Coast Guard began its search for Earl Kekuanaoa “Oa” Hind after he was reported missing off of South Point. That search officially ended on April 15, with no signs of Hind, who also is 42, or his 21-foot boat, “Makalapua Onalani”.

The disappearances of Willeford and Hind have friends and family boggled. Willeford’s close friend Christopher Thomason said both men had “top-notch” water capabilities.

“We’re starting to joke that there’s a sea monster eating our Kona boys,” Thomason said.

Willeford is a fighter and a skilled waterman, according to Thomason. In August 2021, Willeford was attacked by what appeared to be a great white shark while surfing in Kona at Banyans, off of Ali‘i Drive. He suffered a hand injury but made a full recovery.

For years, Willeford has been hooking large game from his kayak, including ahi and swordfish. Thomason said it was common for his friend to be out overnight in his kayak.

“If he hooks something early, he fights for 10 to 12 hours, sometimes pulling the fish from the mouth of a shark,” Thomason said. “He’s constantly battling sharks out there.”

Thomason searched off of Kahalu‘u Beach Park on his standup paddleboard on Sunday after Willeford was reported missing.

“I had great visuals,” Thomason said. “I found a tiny coconut, driftwood and dolphins. But not Jared.”

Thomason paddled out around a mile and a half from the beach park and searched for an hour and a half. He searched till after sunset.

The Coast Guard has searched more than 2,000 square miles looking for Willeford. The plan is to continue the search into Wednesday.

Additionally, Hawai‘i Island police have renewed their request for information on Hind.