Co-workers at the city Parks and Recreation Department, where Okamoto was employed for more than 30 years, expressed sorrow and surprise at the news.

"He was going to retire next year, and he was always talking about how he could hardly wait," said parks official Joan Ushijima. "He was a very personable guy."

Bobby Shintani, a recreational director at the Kilauea Recreational Center in Kaimuki, described Okamoto as a man with a good sense of humor who loved nothing more than fishing.

"He was good friend," said Shintani. "I went fishing with him once or twice. That's what he was waiting for — to retire with his boat."

Okamoto's neighbor, Paul Igawa, said: "I was talking to him only Thursday about 2:30 or 3 o'clock. We talked about how he was going fishing. Usually they go fishing at Hawai'i Kai, but yesterday he told me they were going to Kewalo."

Igawa said he saw Okamoto and Cameron leave a short time later, between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

The National Weather Service reported that winds in the area yesterday morning were out of the southeast at around 7 mph, along with a 3- to 6-foot surf and a moderate swell.

It was unclear when the boat capsized or exactly how long the bodies were in the water.

Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Adam Enos said surfers provided a description of a possible third man who was said to be wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. That clothing did not match clothing found on the two bodies recovered.

An HFD helicopter and rescue boat and the Coast Guard searched the area for several hours for a possible third victim before calling off the search upon concluding that only the two men had been aboard the small boat.

About 20 firefighters and rescue workers participated.

Rescue efforts were hindered somewhat by the 4- to 6-foot surf constantly breaking on the reef.

Enos said rescue workers were retrieving the two bodies about the same time HFD got a call about an overturned boat off Ala Moana Beach Park makai of the tennis courts. Rescuers quickly concluded the bodies were probably those of the occupants of the boat that overturned.

HFD Capt. Emmit Kane said, "It appeared the bodies had been in the water for several hours at least."

The two bodies were found in the same area where debris from the overturned boat was located. The debris included a water cooler, life jackets, a tackle box, a gas tank and rubber slippers.

Enos credited surfers for pointing out where to search.