On June 23, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a call from the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) at 10:21 a.m. and responded to a missing swimmer reported at Hanauma Bay Ridge Tail in Hawaiꞌi Kai with 13 units staffed with approximately 38 personnel. The first unit arrived on scene at 10:27 a.m., established command and initiated a search and rescue operation by ground.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., two hikers discovered unattended personal belongings near the “Rock Bridge” area, on the makai side of the trail, and notified the HPD of a possible missing person. Shortly afterwards, additional information was obtained and it was determined that the incident included two missing persons. HPD notified HFD to request assistance with search operations.
The HFD, along with the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department (OSD) and United States Coast Guard (USCG), searched by air, land and sea until approximately 5:30 p.m. when inclement weather suspended operations. Throughout the day, ground crews searched along the trail and the immediate area surrounding the trail. Air 1, Air 2 and the drone team performed aerial searches along the coastline. HFDʻs Rescue Boat, OSD jet skis, and resources from the USCG searched from the Witches Brew areas to Spitting Caves, both on the surface and underwater.
Operations will resume tomorrow at first light. All HFD personnel were accounted for with no reports of injuries.