HONOLULU — The Coast Guard suspended its search at 2 p.m. Saturday for a man in the water who went missing off the coast of Kauai.
Kauai Fire Department and Kauai Ocean Safety personnel discovered human remains in the waters off Kahili Beach around 11:30 a.m. The Kauai Police Department is conducting an investigation; positive identification is pending.
Missing is Matthew Kai’mana Packard-Asai, 19, who was last seen fishing on the rocks near the northern point of Kahili Beach.
In total, Coast Guard crews searched 905 square miles for over 75 combined hours.
“With the discovery of the remains, the joint first responder effort and an exhaustive review of all pertinent information the Coast Guard has made the decision to suspend our active search for Matthew” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Sena, search and rescue mission coordinator, Sector Honolulu. “Our hearts are with Matthew’s family and the community during this challenging time.”
Search efforts began after Coast Guard Station Kauai personnel received a radio call at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday 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:
- Coast Guard Sector Honolulu
- Coast Guard Station Kauai
- Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point
- Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry (WPC 1124)
- Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Kauai Fire Department
- Kauai Police Department
- Kauai Ocean Safety
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
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