Imagery Available: Coast Guard seeks public’s help finding owner of adrift bodyboard, cooler near Olowalu Beach, Maui

 Imagery Available: Coast Guard seeks public’s help finding owner of adrift bodyboard, cooler near Olowalu Beach, Maui

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard is seeking the public’s help identifying the owner of a bodyboard with an attached cooler found adrift approximately six miles off Olowalu Beach, Maui, Friday.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast alerting mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout for signs of distress.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Maui launched to search the area. There are currently no reports of missing persons in the area.

Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the bodyboard and cooler is asked to contact Sector Honolulu at 808-842-2600.

At 11:58 p.m., watchstanders from the Sector Honolulu command center received a call from a good Samaritan stating they recovered an adrift bodyboard with an attached cooler. The bodyboard is blue and yellow and the cooler is blue with a white top and also has line attached.

It is recommended owner's of watersports equipment write their name and phone number on their gear. The Coast Guard offers free "If Found" decals to be placed in a visible location on small, human-powered watercraft through the Operation Paddle Smart program. The information on the sticker can allow response entities to quickly identify the vessel's owner and aid search and rescue planners in determining the best course of action.

The stickers can be obtained for free at local harbormasters, through the Coast Guard Auxiliary, from Honolulu Sail and Power Squadron offices and at select marine retail and supply stores.

-USCG-