Photo courtesy vessel Sea Fox.
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard is seeking the public's help in identifying the owner of an unmanned, adrift kayak found in the vicinity of Hawaii Kai, Oahu, Saturday.
The two-person kayak is yellow with no markings, paddles or equipment onboard.
Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the kayak is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600.
Watchstanders at the Sector Honolulu Command Center received a report at 8:49 a.m. from the crew of small passenger vessel Sea Fox who located the kayak approximately one mile offshore Koko Kai Beach Park.
Sector Honolulu watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast notice to mariners and launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point to search the area.
There are currently no reported signs of distress or missing persons in the area.
"The Coast Guard encourages owners who lose their water craft to report it to the Coast Guard so that we can rule out distress, eliminate any unnecessary searches, and potentially reunite owners with their property" said Lt. Omar Astrero, a search and rescue coordinator at the Sector Honolulu command center.
The Coast Guard offers free "If Found" decals to be placed in a visible location on small, human-powered watercraft through the Operation Paddle Smart program. The information on the sticker can allow response entities to quickly identify the vessel's owner and aid search and rescue planners in determining the best course of action.
The stickers can be obtained for free at local harbormasters, through the Coast Guard Auxiliary, from Honolulu Sail and Power Squadron offices and at select marine retail and supply stores.