No vessel in distress after flares sighted off Kona

KAILUA-KONA — U.S. Coast Guard searches prompted Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after reports of flares sighted in waters off the Kona Coast failed to turn up any sign of distress.

Shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, people in the Kailua-Kona area began reporting seeing what appeared to be emergency flares shot off from a vessel in the water off the Kona Coast. Reports ranged from a single white flare to four to six red flares being shot up in succession.

U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir said Thursday that aircraft searches after the reports came in Tuesday night as well as at first light on Wednesday failed to find any sign of a vessel in distress. The Coast Guard also did not receive a distress call or signal.