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Search efforts end for missing fisherman Wailani

By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

The search for missing fisherman Mitchell Wailani ended Tuesday evening (July 12) after another full day of searching by the Hawaii County Fire Department with no results.

Wailani left Hilo Tuesday (July 5) on a fishing trip and had not been in contact with friends or family since Thursday (July 7). Wailani was reported overdue at 4 p.m. Saturday prompting a search with the Fire Department’s Chopper One, which spotted the 24 foot boat aground late Saturday evening in the area of Papaikou below Koae Road.

Today Chopper One performed an expanded aerial search four miles North of the grounded boat, four miles South to Hilo Bay and up to two miles offshore. Divers from a rescue boat searched North and South of the boat and up to 200 yards offshore without finding anything.

The search was called off but could be restarted if evidence of the missing boater is found. In total the Coast Guard and Fire Department searched 3,206 square miles from Hilo Bay to the Alenuihaha Channel.

Anyone with information about Wailani’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu office at (808) 842-2600.

2 Responses to “Search efforts end for missing fisherman Wailani”

  1. milolii fisherman says:

    Aloha Uncle Mitchell. Thanks for all the good memories and fishing stories. Now when im on the ocean i will always be fishing with you. Your memory lives on in the lives of us fishermen who knew and loved you so much. Now you can fish all day and night with uncle nahinu!! Just leave us some redfish too!

    • Alfiche says:

      My mothers name is Wailani, from Kona. My brother died several years ago and we put his ashes in the water where we all grew up.

      Well said prayer cousin, just leave some redfish..and tako!

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