Posted on: Tuesday, August 20, 2002

Search will continue for missing Zodiac boater

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The search for a Big Island man reported lost at sea more than six days ago will continue today.

Jason Henderson, 30, left the Big Island's Mahukona Harbor Wednesday morning for a day-long fishing trip. His family reported him missing that night.

Since then, the Coast Guard and Navy have searched more than 65,000 square miles of ocean. The search began near the northwest tip of the Big Island, but has expanded to a huge area west and southwest of the island.

A Coast Guard C-130 aircraft using radar has conducted nightly searches for Henderson. During the day, a Navy P-3C aircraft from Kane'ohe has joined the search.

Henderson was last seen at 6 p.m. Wednesday by a fisherman about a half-mile from shore. Henderson had a cellular telephone with him when he left on his 12-foot Zodiac boat, but the phone has been out of range since he was reported missing.

Coast Guard officials said he did not have a VHF radio, emergency beacon or flares.

Coast Guard spokeswoman Erica Ryan said no date has been set as to when the search will end.

"They factor in if he had water, if he had food, what's the probability. They're still searching, and we're still hopeful that he's out there and is going to be found or spotted by somebody," Ryan said.