Kaua'i fire officials have called off a search for Robert Nakashima Sr., an 80-year-old Kilauea fisherman who has been missing since Monday.

"I want to thank everyone who assisted in the search for Mr. Nakashima, including the Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol, all of our fire department personnel, as well as friends and family," Kaua'i Fire Chief Robert Westerman said yesterday. He noted that the search was suspended at 11:30 a.m. yesterday after utilizing much of the department's resources for nearly three days.

We "are prepared to reactivate our personnel should we receive any new information," he said.

The search for Nakashima started early Tuesday morning with aerial and water sweeps by the Coast Guard, followed by an aerial search.