Search underway for father-son hikers off Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Emergency crews are searching for two people who may have been swept off the Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail in East Oahu.

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The Honolulu Fire Department said it received a 911 call at about 10:21 a.m. from hikers who discovered unattended belongings around 9 a.m. in an area known as “Rock Bridge.”

“There is a drop off, but you are near the water, and it can be pretty treacherous if you’re not aware of your surroundings,” said Capt. Keopele Gowan, Honolulu Fire Department.

Fire officials said they believe the two missing are father-and-son visitors who are staying in Waikiki.

“Their plan was to leave early this morning to begin a hike. No plans of any kind of swimming,” Capt. Gowan said. “We are still discovering what may have happened. Worst-case scenario, we are locating two missing people that might have ended up in the water.”

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A multiagency search along the East Oahu coastline had crews searching by land, sea and air until 5:30 p.m. when inclement weather suspended operations.

The Honolulu Ocean Safety Department and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in what officials said were choppy ocean conditions.

“There is a lingering south swell, so there’s quite a bit of surge that comes up and down those cliffs that creates a lot of turbulence,” said David Loui, Honolulu Ocean Safety Division.

Loui described the area as “a very steep cliff with drops into very deep ocean water, so it makes it very choppy and rough for this side of the island, for sure.”

Read more Search underway for missing hikers off Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail

Fire officials say the search will resume Wednesday at first light.