Archive image: U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimble Petersen, an aviation survival technician assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point in Kapolei, Hawaii, is lowered from a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter during a training exercise in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii Nov. 12, 2025.
Coast Guard rescue swimmers train to operate in high seas, heavy surf, and extreme weather conditions, ensuring they can respond during hurricanes, storms, and ship disasters.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler (Ty) Robertson.
HONOLULU — A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point MH-65E Dolphin aircrew with other USCG crews and partner agencies search for a missing man in the water off Maui. Friday, May 8, 2026.
The missing swimmer is J.W., 75 years-old man, who was last seen snorkeling in the vicinity of Black Rock near Kaʻanapali Beach. He is approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a report at 6:38 p.m. from Maui Fire Department personnel, who also requested assistance with the search and rescue mission.
Watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and coordinated the launch of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) crew from Coast Guard Station Maui and an MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. The crew of fast response Cutter USCGC Oliver Berry (WPC 1124) is slated to join the search, Saturday.
Involved in the search:
- Maui Ocean Safety Bureau
Anyone with information that may assist in search efforts should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Sector Honolulu command center at 1-800-552-6458.
–USCG–
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