A Hawaii County Fire Department search for two missing female kayakers, ages 8 and 29, ended successfully with their rescue Saturday afternoon.
Responding to the 12:17 p.m. call, fire rescue personnel learned their kayak was last seen roughly 200 yards offshore of mile marker 9 on the Akoni Pule Highway on the Kohala Coast. Approximately 20 to 35 mph northeast winds, with more than 45 mph gusts, as well as heavy white caps on the turbulent ocean, pushed the kayak out into the open sea, according to the department.
Chopper two immediately performed a search up to 10 miles offshore of the kayak’s last known location. Chopper one also arrived on scene and located the kayak, as well as its occupants, near the wind line, approximately 3 miles, just south of the area it was seen. A fire rescue specialist entered the water and placed the two kayakers into the billy pugh net. They were then flown to shore, where “both females reported no injuries (and were) just relieved to be found in extreme wind conditions,” the department stated.