HONOLULU – The Coast Guard suspended two separate searches at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday for two missing men offshore Kauai.
Missing are Kyle Barrett, 37, who was last seen at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday near the entrance to the Queen’s Bath trailhead, and Bryson Higashi, 44, who was last seen at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Hanalei area.
While these cases are not connected, search efforts were conducted in the same general vicinity.
In total, Coast Guard and partner agency crews searched 3,237 square nautical miles for over 127 combined hours for both individuals.
“Suspending a search is an incredibly difficult decision we make after carefully considering all available information,” said Cmdr. Andrew Williams, search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Kauai community and to the families and friends of both men.”
Search efforts began after Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders received reports on Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. for Barrett and 7:36 p.m. for Higashi from Kauai Fire Department dispatchers regarding possible missing persons in the water.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast for both individuals and coordinated the launch 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. Coast Guard Cutter William Hart (WPC 1134) also joined the search.
Involved in the search:
• 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
• Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau
• Kauai Search and Rescue
• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
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