Posted at 10:45 a.m., Thursday, June 28, 2001

'Missing' fishermen return safely

Advertiser Staff

Two North Shore fishermen who were thought to be missing pulled into Hale'iwa Harbor yesterday morning.

Lawrence Kealoha, captain of the 30-foot sampan Hale'iwa, and crewman Kevin Nakamura were expected home Tuesday morning. When they did not return, a girlfriend of one of the men called the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard searched off Hale'iwa and Ka'ena Point. Chief Gary Openshaw, Coast Guard spokesman, said the men arrived safely about 10 a.m. The Coast Guard had suspended its search an hour earlier to await more information.

"We called it off at 9 and they came back an hour later, probably suprised there was a search for them, and a considerable search at that," Openshaw said. "As far as we're concerned, though, better safe than sorry."