HONOLULU (KHON2) — The daughter of a missing fisherman is pleading with authorities to continue search efforts off the coast of Hawaii, where her father vanished at sea last week.
Makalapuaonalani Hind, whose father has more than two decades of experience fishing in Hawaiian waters, is urging the U.S. Coast Guard not to call off the rescue mission.
Efforts are said to be suspended due to challenging weather conditions that have hampered operations.
“My father is a survivor,” Hind said in a public statement. “He knows these waters. He knows how to endure. If anyone can survive this, it’s him.”
Her father was last seen aboard his 24-foot Force vessel. No debris or signs of a wreck have been found, which Hind says points to hope, not closure.
“The boat is built for buoyancy, and so is his gear,” she said. “These aren’t signs of finality — they’re signs he may still be out there.”
While the Coast Guard has been leading search operations, recent storms have reduced visibility and raised concerns that the mission could be suspended. But Hind is hopeful, especially with clearer skies and calmer seas in the forecast.
“Our family hasn’t given up. Our community hasn’t either,” she said. “Volunteers have been organizing search parties, and people across the islands are spreading the word.”
Hind is now calling on local officials, media, and the public to help keep the search alive.
“He’s a father, a grandfather, a friend,” she said. “We’re holding on to hope, and we need others to hold on with us. Please — don’t stop looking.”