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Missing teen kayaker found off Waikiki, now in rescue service
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Missing teen kayaker found off Waikiki, now in rescue service

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A missing teenage kayaker has been found and is now in the care of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, the Honolulu Fire Department confirmed early Thursday morning.

Officials said around 4:20 a.m. Thursday, a USCG C-130 spotted the kayaker off the coast of Waikiki Natatorium and marked his location with a flare.

According to HFD, a good Samaritan took the teen kayaker back to the Ala Wai Boat Harbor.

His condition is currently unclear. HNN has reached out to EMS for more information and is waiting to hear back.

HFD units and emergency responders from the State of Hawaii Airports Division and the U.S. Coast Guard searched throughout the night for the missing kayaker.

It was reported that a teenager was kayaking with a group that had planned to kayak from Ala Wai Channel to Diamond Head and back around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

“They had some strong winds, so they turned around and headed back,” HFD Capt. Dean Baldeviso said, adding that the wind was strong enough to overturn some of the single-person kayaks.

“On the way back they realized they were missing a kayaker,” he said.

According to HFD, first responders were called at 6:28 p.m. The first crews arrived at 6:35 p.m. and began searching the area's shoreline from Ala Wai Boat Harbor through portions of Waikiki.

The fire brigade was involved in the search in a large area with 13 units with around 39 men.

“I know our search companies are exhausted until about three and a half miles offshore,” Captain Baldeviso said. “We also have rescue and firefighting forces from the state airports and the Coast Guard assisting us in the search.”

Both fire brigade helicopters and several rescue boats were involved in the search. Magic Island served as a landing and refueling zone for the helicopters.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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