Search for missing fisherman suspended after three days
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Last night the U.S. Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department suspended a three-day search for a fisherman lost at sea.
Richard Shiroma was last heard from Wednesday afternoon, when he called a friend to report he had hooked a marlin.
Later that night, Shiroma's boat, Bingo II, washed ashore at Turtle Bay. The engine was running and a large marlin was lashed to the side.
After searching an area of ocean larger than the Big Island, officials are presuming that Shiroma, 61, of Kane'ohe, is dead.
"We estimated he could survive in the water for 36 hours," said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. John Titchen. "We searched for more than 72."
The Coast Guard used helicopters, C-130 airplanes and patrol boats to search an area three to 15 miles offshore — from Kahuku to Ka'ena Point. They were assisted by the Coast Guard auxiliary.
HFD used its helicopter and rescue boat to search from the shore to three miles out.
"From Kahuku to Ka'a'awa and from Kahuku to Ka'ena," said Fire Capt. Emmit Kane.
Several boats carrying Shiroma's friends and fellow members of the 'Aiea Boat Club also joined the search.
A total area of more than 6,700 square miles was covered.
"We believe we have exhausted the area of reasonable search," Titchen said.
He said Shiroma's wife, Sandra, was among about a half-dozen friends and relatives who spent the last hours of the search in the Coast Guard's command center at Sand Island.
"We wanted them to see we were doing all we could," Titchen said.
Titchen said Shiroma's boat was well equipped, and Shiroma, who had been fishing for more than 40 years, was known to be a skilled and safe boater.
"We have absolute confidence he was prepared for an emergency," Titchen said. "Whether he took those precautions on the afternoon he ran into trouble, we may never know.
"I want to express our condolences and our deepest sympathy to his family," Titchen said.
"He was well liked," Kane said. "He'll be missed."
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
