The Coast Guard planned to continue an aerial and ocean search through Thursday night for a possible missing swimmer near Waimea Bay.
The Coast Guard searched all day Thursday using an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft, and both were expected to search through Thursday night. The Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island was also to continue searching through the night.
Coast Guard officials will make an assessment today on whether to continue its search, a spokeswoman said.
A Honolulu fire official said city rescue personnel suspended shoreline operations Thursday morning after a report to the Coast Guard could not be verified because there were no reports of missing swimmers or surfers. The Coast Guard report came at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday from a person on the beach who reported seeing the silhouette of a swimmer outside of the shorebreak disappear in the water near Jump Rock in Waimea Bay.
The National Weather Service said a very large northwest swell peaking Thursday will linger into today, resulting in hazardous surf conditions. A high-surf advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. today for west and north shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Hawaii island, and for north shores of Maui.
Parolee charged in Hilo shooting
Hawaii island authorities charged a 43-year-old parolee Thursday in connection with an early-morning shooting of a man in the Honolii lookout area of Hilo shortly before 4:35 a.m. Jan. 31.
John Perez of Hilo was arrested Tuesday and charged Thursday with attempted second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, and ownership and possession of a prohibited firearm. His bail was set at $350,000.
He remains at the Hilo police cellblock pending his initial court appearance today in Hilo.
Perez was paroled Dec. 18. He was serving a life sentence for the Aug. 27, 1991, beating and strangulation death of Juliana “Trish” Laysa, a 23-year-old prostitute whose body was found two days later in a cane field above Alae Cemetery in Hilo.
Another suspect in the Honolii lookout shooting, Scottie I.K. Yanagawa, 29, of Hilo, was killed in a Feb. 9 shootout with police in the Hilo Walmart parking lot.
Chicago man swept into ocean
Rescue crews were searching Thursday for a 28-year-old Chicago man in waters off Queen’s Bath on Kauai after a large breaking wave swept him out to sea while he was taking photos along the rocks.
According to a news release from the Kauai Fire Department, the man was visiting the tide pool in Princeville at about 10 a.m. with his wife and friends.
Fire rescue crews responded using a personal watercraft and Air One rescue helicopter to search for the visitor. Kauai police and the Coast Guard’s HH-65 helicopter were also assisting.
