Search for teen halted after more than 3 days

An exhaustive 3 1/2-day search concluded Tuesday for 18-year-old Farrington High School senior Dayne Ortiz, who disappeared after his kayak overturned off a Mokuleia beach at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

About 200 to 250 family, friends and Ortiz’s football teammates joined in a ceremony at the beach, concluding with a prayer circle, after the search ended, fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.

No new evidence had been found since Sunday.

"They understood and thanked us for our efforts," Seelig said. "While hard for them to accept the loss, they appreciate the service we’ve devoted to them."

The Honolulu Fire Department continued the hunt Tuesday with scuba divers, free divers, a helicopter, a rescue company and rescue watercraft, using a thorough patterned search. The Ocean Safety Division also sent out two rescue watercraft. The final day of the search began at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and ended nearly 12 hours later.