The Kauai Police Department on Tuesday identified two bodies recovered off Kauai last week as those of fishermen reported missing off Haleiwa on July 3.
They were identified as Derek Keone Tomas, 30, of Pearl City and Jenson Toshio Wah Bunn Loo, 30, of Mililani.
The Kauai Medical Examiner’s Office determined that accidental drowning was the cause of death.
Three fishermen left Haleiwa Boat Harbor on the morning of July 3 on a 20-foot vessel. They were reported missing that night after they didn’t return as scheduled.
The third fisherman, Clint Oshima, 36, of Honolulu, was still missing Tuesday.
On July 4 the Coast Guard spotted the overturned vessel, the Iwa, about 25 miles from Haleiwa Harbor. The Coast Guard searched for the fishermen, scouring more than 27,600 square miles before suspending the effort Thursday night.
On Friday the Kauai Fire Department recovered a body located by a fisherman 2 to 3 miles off Anahola. Also, the department’s helicopter spotted the Iwa overturned in the area, and a second body was recovered off Wailua.
The helicopter searched again Saturday for Oshima. The search was suspended that evening with no sign of him.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday that the vessel registration number of the overturned vessel matched that of the missing vessel. The Iwa had been recently sold to one of the fishermen; however, transfer paperwork had yet to be filed with the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
The Iwa has run aground at Rock Quarry Beach in Kilauea, the DLNR said in a news release. Plans were underway Tuesday to remove the vessel from the beach.