Police are investigating a possible drowning that occurred near the public beach access at Hokulia in Kailua-Kona.
The victim has been positively identified as 17-year-old Yohan Choi from Kailua-Kona.
Shortly after 4:31 p.m. Monday, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a missing spear fisherman near the Hokulia public beach access. It was reported that four spear fishermen, including Choi, entered the ocean at 1:30 p.m., and when three of them exited the ocean three hours later, Choi couldn’t be found.
A search was conducted, and Choi was found unresponsive on the ocean floor. He was brought ashore, and CPR was initiated until Hawaii Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene,
However, attempts to resuscitate Choi were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 5:29 p.m. at Kona Community Hospital.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the police non-emergency at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.