NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Body of diver is identified

Maui police have identified the body of a diver found in waters off Kapalua as Christopher Kuwada, 43, of Waikapu.

Police, medics, firefighters, lifeguards and the Coast Guard responded to a report at noon Friday of a missing diver in the area of D.T. Fleming Beach Park.

Boaters aboard the Teralani III catamaran found a mask, snorkel and spear about half a mile offshore, but did not see a diver, so they called for emergency personnel.

The Air 1 helicopter found Kuwada floating face down about a mile offshore. Lifeguards using rescue watercraft brought the diver to shore, where he was pronounced dead. A preliminary investigation showed no signs of foul play.

Boys help save injured uncle

A California visitor who was rescued after injuring his back and head at Queen’s Bath on Kauai owes his life to his nephews and others, the Garden Island reports.

Andrew Jones of Sacramento, Calif., said he and his son were at the popular site just after 11 a.m. Aug. 4 when they saw a man they knew as Mike stumble while jumping off a 15-foot ledge into the water. The man scraped his back and knocked himself out.

"It was the quick thinking of his two nephews, ages 15 and 12, that was instrumental in the initial part of the rescue," Jones said. "The 15-year-old shouted ‘Get in the water!’ to his brother, while running to get the rescue tube that was posted nearby."

Other people brought the man to shore, hiked up the trail and called for help, said county spokeswoman Sarah Blane. The 51-year-old man has since been released from Wilcox Memorial Hospital.