Audio Available: Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department rescue kayaker off Kaena Point, Oahu

News Release

July 24, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific Contact: 14th District Public Affairs Office: (808) 535-3230 After Hours: (808) 341-9849

Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department rescue kayaker off Kaena Point, Oahu

 

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HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and crews from the Honolulu Fire Department rescued a man after his kayak began taking on water a half mile off Kaena Point, Oahu, Monday.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point located the kayaker at 8:36 a.m. Shortly after, the Dolphin crew vectored in HFD Jet Ski crews to recover the man and his kayak. HFD brought him safely to shore.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center received a distress call from the kayaker at 7:34 a.m., via VHF-radio channel 16 stating he was in distress. Upon learning he was equipped with a personal locator beacon, Sector Honolulu watchstanders directed the man to activate the PLB to reduce response time and eliminate the need for the Dolphin crew to search for him by homing in on the beacon.

"We can't stress enough the importance of having proper equipment and being prepared when out to sea", said Petty Officer 1st Class Ashley Labarr, a watchstander at Sector Honolulu. “This kayaker is a model example of being prepared. Having the radio and PLB with him made communications and locating him significantly faster and easier. Who knows how this case would have played out if he had neither. By using the beacon on the PLB we were able to locate him almost immediately upon arriving in the area, less than an hour after his distress call.”

On-scene forecasted weather was east southeast winds at 5-7 mph with seas less than 1-foot, overcast skies with occasional showers.

There were no injuries reported. There is no imagery for this case.

-USCG-