Fishermen found 54 miles off land

By Jessica Webster
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Coast Guard aircraft found two missing Big Island fishermen last night drifting in their 22-foot boat 54 miles northwest of Hawai'i's South Point.

The Coast Guard C-130 rescue aircraft spotted a flare fired by the men, and dropped food, water and a radio to them and relayed their position to the Coast Guard cutter Assateague.

The Assateague was expected to arrive at the area at 7:30 p.m to rescue the fishermen and tow their boat back to the Big Island.

The men were reported in good condition.

The Coast Guard had been searching for the overdue Kona-based fishing vessel since Thursday evening when it failed to return to Keauhou Harbor by 10:30 p.m.

The boat had been last seen 15 miles west of Ka' Loa Point in South Kona around 3 p.m. Thursday when another Big Island fisherman assisted with electrical problems the boat was experiencing.

The missing fishermen have been identified as James Kanuha, 34, and Dominique Gomes.

Kanuha made a living from fishing and went out with the Kino'ole four times a week to catch 'ahi and ono, said his father, Zachary. He has two children, ages 6 and 7, who are with their grandfather now.

"He's a seafaring person, and always been out there on the ocean since he was little," the elder Kanuha said early yesterday during the search. "A couple of times James has run into small troubles out on sea, but he usually calls or comes back by now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.