Teen lost at sea found nearly 12 hours later clinging to kayak [Video]

HONOLULU (KHNL/Gray News) – A teen kayaker who was lost at sea off Oahu’s south shore for nearly 12 hours was returned safely to his family Thursday morning, thanks to the efforts of multiple agencies and an off-duty lifeguard.

Officials at a press conference Thursday said around 4:20 a.m., a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft crew spotted 17-year-old Kahiau Kawai clinging to his kayak about half a mile off Kaimana Beach, fronting the Waikiki Natatorium.

They marked his location with flares and directed off-duty lifeguard and waterman Noland Keaulana to his location via a maritime radio transmission. Keaulana had been searching for the teenager since around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday by boat and happened to be nearby.

“While it is rare to find people after 11 and a half to 12 hours, it’s obviously not impossible,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nic Iannarone, the mission’s search and rescue coordinator for the U.S. Coast …