By Hawaii 24/7 Staff
Fire/rescue crews responded to a 12:17 p.m. alarm Saturday (May 26) for a report of missing kayakers off the Kohala coastline at about the nine mile marker of Akoni Pule Highway.
A 29 year-old woman and an eight year old girl were last seen in a kayak about 200 yards offshore in rough surf with Northeast winds blowing at 20-35 mph with gusts or 45 mph or more. The trade winds and heavy ocean whitecaps made it impossible to spot the kayakers from shore.
Two fire department helicopters joined the search and the kayakers were found three miles offshore near the wind line by Chopper One just South of the spot they were last seen. A fire/rescue specialist dropped into the water and helped the kayakers into a Billy Pugh rescue net. The girl and woman were flown to shore.
Both kayakers had no injuries and reported to be relieved to have been found after being on the ocean in the extreme wind conditions.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a small craft advisory for all Hawaiian waters through 6 p.m. Monday due to the strong trade winds.