Hawaii County Fire Department rescue personnel have recovered what they believe to be the body of a missing 13-year-old boy who went cliff diving on Sunday near Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area.
Four days into a search for the boy — who was reportedly from Waikoloa and did not know how to swim — searchers located the body deep within a cavern system just yards from where he jumped into the water near the south end of Hapuna Beach. The Hawaii Police Department has not yet identified the boy.
Three friends of the family, who declined to be interviewed, located an odor around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday while doing a search of a jagged shoreline that was riddled with cracks, underwater tunnels and caves. A rescue boat, helicopter and ground search personnel converged on the area while police and law enforcement officers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources moved swimmers off the south end of the beach and cordoned off the area.
“We made entry through a cavern about 40 feet out from where the body was. We had to go in through a tunnel system,” said Capt. Patrick Parish, acting battalion chief. “The place he was found used to be a big cave where the front broke down.”
The boy was probably forced into the cavern by 3-foot wave faces on Sunday, Parish said. Rescue personnel had made initial searches of the area, but efforts were hampered by rough seas.
“Yesterday and today were really favorable water and wind conditions and we were able to cover a lot of that area,” Parish said.
Water was also clear enough on Wednesday that snorkelers were added to the seven scuba divers combing the bottom. The snorkelers searched the surface waters for signs of the boy, according to the Fire Department.
The U.S. Coast Guard called off active search late Monday, having reached the “extent of survivability,” or the point at which they believed the boy could no longer be alive if he were submerged in water. But the cutter Kiska from Hilo returned to play a support role and was on hand Wednesday as the county continued the search.
“We have the asset in the area; it’s more eyes on the water. Maybe we can help bring closure to the family,” said Coast Guard Lt. Scott Branner, just moments before county radios picked up the news that searchers had found something.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., the rescue boat transported the body to the Puako boat ramp.