Search Suspended for Missing Opihi Picker off Big Island

The Coast Guard suspended its search Sunday for a missing 40-year-old man off the coast of the Big Island near Honokaʻa.

The man had gone opihi harvesting with a friend when they were swept offshore by a wave on Thursday afternoon.

One of the men was rescued at the bottom of a 60-foot cliff after he managed to swim back to shore and make contact with friends who were searching for them when they failed to return by a set time. The search for the other man covered over 2,011 square miles.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Casey Connors extended condolences to friends and loved ones of the missing man, saying the search has been suspended pending further information.

The Hawaiʻi County Fire Department deployed ground crews to rescue the man from the shore-line while other Coast Guard and Hawaiʻi County Fire Department crews continued to search for the missing man throughout the weekend.

He was last seen wearing a red long-sleeve shirt with camouflage pants and a black backpack. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sector Honolulu Command Center at (808) 842-2600.

Maui Now.