Search Launched for Missing Kayaker on Maui

Kamaole, Jan. 25, 2012. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

*** An UPDATED POST along with photos is now available at the following DIRECT LINK.

An air and land search was launched this afternoon for an individual reported missing on Maui.

A neighbor contacted authorities at around 12:19 p.m. today saying the individual failed to show up from kayaking.

An empty kayak was found yesterday in about 60 feet of water  off of the Whale Sanctuary in Kihei.

The vessel was recovered by crews from the Seascape II and turned over to fire department personnel at around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

At the time there was no report of a missing person or missing kayak.

Today, the neighbor confirmed the recovered kayak belonged to the missing person.

The land and air search is being conducted by Ladder-14 from Wailea, Rescue-10 from Kahului, and the Fire Department’s Air-1 helicopter.