HONOLULU — Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department responders rescued a 52-year-old man after his kayak capsized offshore of Waialua, Wednesday.
The kayaker was escorted to shore by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and HFD first responders after a rogue wave capsized his kayak approximately one mile offshore of Waialua Beach.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center received a mayday call at 4:20 a.m. over VHF-FM radio channel 16 from the kayaker. They launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu. Honolulu Fire Department was notified and responded with a rescue helicopter and boat crew.
The Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene at 5:17 a.m. located the man in distress and deployed their rescue swimmer. The rescue swimmer and HFD responders escorted the man to shore by swimming alongside the kayak. He was reportedly in good condition and uninjured.
“The Coast Guard strongly encourages mariners to have proper safety equipment before heading out onto the water,” said Lt.j.g Christa Funk, command duty officer at Sector Honolulu Command Center. “That includes life jackets, flares, an emergency position-indicating radio beacon and a VHF radio as this mariner used. Emergencies happen when you least expect them even to the most experienced mariner, so it’s important to be prepared. This equipment can be the difference between life and death.”
