Search finds no clue to Hanauma leg
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
A four-hour underwater search near Hanauma Bay yesterday found no additional human remains, but police said they will make every effort possible to identify the leg bone found submerged near the Toilet Bowl area Saturday.
"We do this for every remains we find," said Phil Camero of the HPD Missing Persons Detail. "We try to exhaust all leads possible to determine the identity of the deceased."
Yesterday, divers from the Fire Department explored the ocean floor from Toilet Bowl as far as Bamboo Ridge, then reversed their search to Witches Brew, said HFD spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.
Seven firefighters, including three divers, scoured the ocean for more than a mile, but were hampered by turbulent water conditions, Soo said. The divers searched from about 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and were led to the scene by the civilian divers who found the remains, Soo said.
Yesterday was the first day of the underwater search near the popular state park since a diver found the leg — consisting of nearly all the bones from the hip socket to the toes — in 30 feet of water on Saturday. A lifeguard brought the limb to shore. The leg, except for part of the foot, was devoid of flesh.
Soo said divers may search again under better weather and calmer ocean conditions. He said yesterday's underwater search for human remains was unusual.
"Usually we extract human remains in mountains," Soo said. "This is rare — recovering body parts on the ocean floor. We want to be helpful with the police and the medical examiner and find closure to surviving members or close the case."
Officer Joe Self of the missing persons detail earlier said the leg could belong to Michael Ng, Glenn Gold, Eugene Ambard or Lance Masuda. But it could also be an entirely new case, he said. Self said he may ask for assistance from HFD for more ocean searches.
Police are awaiting results of examinations by the Honolulu Medical Examiner, which is being assisted by the Army Central Identification Laboratory-Hawai'i.
Dr. Kanthi Von Guenthner, the city's chief medical examiner, said officials are hoping the Army lab can determine the gender and height of the person, and possibly even the ethnicity.
Self said once forensic experts get more information, police can start pinpointing certain missing people.
Camero said DNA can also be used. Experts used DNA to identify a surfer who had drowned on the North Shore several years ago, he said.
Mike Gordon and Vicki Viotti contributed to this report. Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.
