HONOLULU — The Coast Guard is searching for a missing male kayaker near Makaleha Beach Park, Oahu, Saturday.
Missing is 18-year-old Dayne Ortiz.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center received a call from the Honolulu Fire Department stating that they were responding to a report of a missing kayaker in the vicinity of Makaleha Beach Park.
Ortiz’s kayak had overturned at approximately 6 p.m. His brother attempted to swim out to assist in righting the kayak but was unable to reach him and returned to shore.
The fire department began their search at 6:25 p.m., with a rescue helicopter, a rescue boat and a shore party. They requested Coast Guard support after finding an unmanned kayak that had washed ashore.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point launched to search and arrived on scene at 7:36 p.m.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported here, launched at 8:48 p.m., to aid in the search.
Ortiz was reported to be wearing black swim trunks but was not wearing a life jacket.
The Coast Guard is asking anyone with information to call the Coast Guard over VHF marine radio channel 16 or to contact the Sector Honolulu Command Center at (808) 842-2600.
