Hawai‘i Police Department
Area I Criminal Investigation Division
Lieutenant Zachary Fernando
Phone: (808) 961-2252
Report No.: 24-013494
Media Release
Autopsy results for an elderly Hilo man whose body was found in Hilo Harbor earlier this month indicate that his death was the result of a probable drowning.
Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on February 9, 2024, Hilo patrol officers and Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel responded to a report of a male body floating face-down at the edge of the Hilo Pier located at 100 Kuhio Street in Hilo. The man, later identified as 73-year-old Dennis William Swain, was pulled from the water by responding personnel and transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was officially pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m.
On Friday morning, February 16, an autopsy performed on Swain indicated he had died as a result of a probable drowning; however, the pathologist’s final ruling is pending standard toxicology results. There was no indication of foul play.
Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Kimo Keliipaakaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375 or email kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.
