By JEFF HANSEL Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The search for a missing spear fisherman was suspended Thursday morning after an intensive 29-hour search.
At about 5 a.m. Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard in Honolulu launched the search along Hilo Harbor after receiving a report from the Hawaii Fire Department that someone diving along the breakwall went missing.
Coast Guard and Fire Department helicopters, air crews from Air Station Barbers Point and Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island took part in the search, said Petty Officer Amanda Lavasseur.
She said the missing individual was classified as a fisherman in reports.
“It was a diver, but they were spearfishing,” she said.
The Coast Guard suspended the search at 11 a.m. Thursday.
In a statement, Capt. Michael Long, commander of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said making the decision to suspend a search never gets easier.
“We extend our thanks to our partners in the Hawaii County Fire Department for their support and time on this search,” he said.
Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hayashida indicated Thursday morning that rough waters and windy conditions were making the search difficult. He said decisions would be made during the day about how the search should progress.
“We’re focusing primarily in that breakwall area,” he said.
The gender, age, home community and identity of the missing person were not known, Lavasseur said.
Hawaii County police said no missing person reports were received.
Email Jeff Hansel at
jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
