Body of Fisherman Recovered from Maalaea

File Photo of Maalaea Harbor by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The body of a Maui fisherman was recovered from waters off Maalaea Harbor early this morning, after he failed to return from picking sea cucumbers the night before, authorities said.

The man, identified as Gary Y. Ibara of Wailuku, was found unresponsive about 100 to 200 yards off shore of the south seawall by rescue crews who were called to the scene  early Saturday morning, August 18, 2012.

Police received a call at around 3:47 a.m., and rescue crews from the Maui Fire Department found the body of the missing man at around 5:30 a.m. in an area near the beach fronting residential homes in Maalaea, according to fire officials.

The man’s wife told authorities that her husband left their home at around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012, en route to the harbor to pick sea cucumbers off the seawall, and was scheduled to return at around 9:30 p.m.

After not returning at the scheduled time, and not calling, the wife of the victim went to the harbor in search for him, authorities said.  Maui Police Lt. Wayne Ibarra said the woman found her husband’s gear on near the rocks of the wall, and his slippers and pole net floating at the water’s edge.

Police said no foul play is suspected.

Crews responding to the scene included Maui Police, and the Maui Fire Department’s Rescue 10 and Engine 10 out of Kahului, two rescue jet ski’s, as well as Battalion Chief 2.