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Press Release | Jan. 29, 2026

Coast Guard, partners search for missing man off Kauai

Coast Guard Oceania District External Affairs - (808) 265-7748

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and partner agencies are searching for a missing man in the water off Kauai Wednesday.  

Missing is Matthew Kai’mana Packard-Asai, 19, who was last seen fishing on the rocks near the northern point of Kahili Beach. He is approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall with black hair and wearing a black hat, black shorts and black shirt. 

Coast Guard Station Kauai personnel received a radio call at 12:25 p.m. from friends of Packard-Asai stating that they saw the surf sweep him away.  

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and coordinated the launch of a Station Kauai 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry (WPC 1124). 

Involved in the search are:    

  • Coast Guard Sector Honolulu  
  • Coast Guard Station Kauai 
  • Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point  
  • Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry (WPC 1124)  
  • Kauai Fire Department 
  • Kauai Police Department  
  • Kauai Ocean Safety  

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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-USCG-