Man found off Hamakua Coast ID’d

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A man found off the Hamakua Coast Wednesday morning was identified as Hiroshi Hamasaki, a 49-year-old visitor from Osaka, Japan.

According to a police news release, Hamasaki was found floating face down approximately 50 yards from shore in Waipio Valley at 9:23 a.m. Wednesday. Friends of Hamasaki and bystanders helped bring his body to shore and performed CPR until first responders arrived.

The victim was transported to Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua and pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m.

An autopsy conducted Friday morning found drowning as a preliminary cause of Hamasaki’s death.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Police Department at 935-3311 or 961-2385.