Downstream of 'six-ton bridge' over Kawainui Stream in Pepeekeo Monday (July 11). Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Lava tube/cave area where the group of four were searching for prawns when the flash flood occurred.

By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Search operations were suspended Tuesday evening for Ernesto Combes of Nanawale Estates, who was swept away in Kawainui Stream Sunday (July 10) by a flash flood.

Improved river conditions Tuesday (July 12) allowed three scuba divers and search teams to be airlifted to ponds downstream of the point where Combes was washed away. In a pond about 100 yards downstream divers found four prawn spears belonging to Combes and the others in the group which had been searching for prawns in a lava tube area upstream of ‘six-ton bridge’ when the flood occured.

Ground teams searched the stream banks and also searched in the brush farther away from the stream. The Fire Department suspended the search operations at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday (July 12).