The Hawai'i Police Department (HPD) issued a news release on July 25 on an investigation into the death of a 17-year-old at a beach in Kailua-Kona, according to are release from the HPD. The teen was found unresponsive on the ocean floor, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the death.
"The Hawai'i Police Department is investigating a possible drowning that occurred near the public beach access at Hokulia in Kailua-Kona," the release stated. "The victim has been positively identified as 17-year-old Yohan Choi from Kailua-Kona."
Shortly after 4:31 p.m. on July 24, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a missing spear fisherman near the Hokulia public beach access. "It was reported that four spear fishermen, including Choi, entered the ocean at 1:30 p.m., and when three of them exited the ocean three hours later, Choi could not be located," the release said.
"A search was conducted, and Choi was located unresponsive on the ocean floor," Lt. Erich Jackson explained in a report. "Choi was brought to the shore, and CPR was initiated until Hawai'i Fire Department personnel arrived on scene; however, attempts to resuscitate Choi were unsuccessful. Choi was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 5:29 p.m."
Anyone with information related to the case was asked to contact Kona Patrol Officer Kyle Murray at Kyle.Murray@hawaiicounty.gov, or call theHPD's non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.