Petty Officer Lauren Smith Coast Guard spokeswoman, said that John Stockton, the Arizona resident who reported his kayak taking on water two days ago, was spotted at about 11:40 a.m. today by the Navy P3 Orion aircraft dispatched for the search effort from Kane'ohe Bay.

"He was in good enough condition that he abandoned his kayak and swam to the life raft the Coast Guard C-130 (aircraft) dropped for him," Smith said.

Smith said he was found about 120 miles southwest of the Big Island. He was being flown aboard a Coast Guard HH65 Dolphin helicopter to Kona airport, where paramedics will assess his medical condition, Smith said.

Authorities are working to arrange a reunion with family members, who have been alerted to his rescue aboard the airplane that's flying them to Hawai'i now, said Petty Officer David Mosley.