HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
CAPTAIN JULIAN H. SHIROMA
PHONE: 326-4213
OCTOBER 31, 2000
G-46643
MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE
Preliminary results of an autopsy conducted Tuesday (October 31, 2000) indicate that a man whose body was found floating in waters off Kaiwi Point, North Kona, died under suspicious circumstances.
The exact cause of death could not be immediately determined, however. Making a determination must await further examination and the results of toxicological tests.
Police have tentatively identified the victim, believed to be a 43-year-old Kona resident, but are withholding the name until his next of kin can be notified.
The victim was described as a Caucasian male, being about 6 feet in height, weighing 175 pounds and having a fair complexion, a medium build, brown hair and a mustache.
He was wearing green surfing shorts with a Hawaiian print of white and blue hibiscus flowers; low-cut, dark brown leather lace shoes with thick black rubber soles; and dark-colored socks.
The victim’s body was reported floating about 300 yards offshore just north of Kailua-Kona at about 9:15 a.m. Saturday. Several persons participating in a canoe regatta retrieved the body and transported it to the Kailua Pier.
From there, fire rescue personnel transported the victim to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:29 a.m.
Anyone with information that could assist the police in this investigation is asked to call Detective Theodore Gaspar of the Kona Criminal Investigation Section at 326-4231.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. The numbers are answered 24 hours a day. Callers will be given a coded number and their identity will remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if their call leads to an arrest, indictment or the recovery of property. Crime Stoppers neither subscribes to “Caller ID,” nor does it record phone calls.
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