Police identify body found on coast

Hawaii Island police have identified a body found on Dec. 5 along the Kalapana coastline in Puna.

The victim was identified by dental records as 61-year-old Michael Clay Hughes, who had no permanent address.

On Dec. 5, officers responded to the Kalapana Gardens area after a hiker discovered a decomposing body in a remote location along the coastline. Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene, but due to darkness and limited accessibility to the area, patrol officers secured the scene until the following morning.

Detectives returned the next morning and recovered the body with assistance from the Fire Department’s helicopter. During a daylight check of the scene, approximately 15 yards inland of the body, investigators recovered items with the victim’s name.

An autopsy has been completed and no foul play is suspected.

The exact cause of death has been deferred pending the results of toxicology tests.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Wendall Carter of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2383 or via email at Wendall.Carter@hawaiicounty.gov.