On October 16, 2024, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 6:28 p.m. and responded to a missing kayaker off of Waikiki with 16 HFD units, staffed with 48 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 6:35 p.m., established command and commenced with a search of the shoreline.

It was reported that a male in his teens was kayaking with a group that had planned to kayak from the Ala Wai Channel to Diamond Head and back. On their way back to the Ala Wai Channel, they noticed one of the kayakers missing and activated 911. The search area encompassed the East-end of Diamond Head to Nanakuli, from the shoreline to approximately four miles offshore. Assets from the State of Hawaii Airports Division and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) assisted with the search.

At approximately 4:20 a.m., a USCG C-130 spotted the kayaker offshore fronting the Waikiki Natatorium and marked his location with a flare. A good samaritan boater transported the kayaker back to the Ala Wai Boat Harbor where care was transferred to EMS at 5:28 a.m.

All HFD personnel were accounted for with no injuries.