HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and partner agencies are searching for a diver in the water offshore Kauai Thursday.
Missing is Bryson Higashi, 44, who was last seen at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Hanalei area.
Higashi is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. Higashi’s truck was discovered near Hanalei Bay after being left unattended for a full day.
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders received a notification at 7:36 p.m. Wednesday from Kauai Fire Department personnel of a possible person in the water near Hanalei Bay.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and coordinated the diversion of a Coast Guard Station Kauai 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. The Coast Guard Cutter William Hart (WPC 1134) crew also diverted for the search.
The current on-scene weather conditions consist of 15 mph winds, 2- to 4-foot seas with occasional showers and reduced visibility.
Involved in the search are:
- Coast Guard Sector Honolulu
- Coast Guard Station Kauai
- Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
- Coast Guard Cutter William Hart (WPC 1134)
- Kauai Fire Department
- Kauai Police Department
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
Anyone with information that may assist in search efforts should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu command center at 1(800) 552-6458.
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