Hawai‘i Police Department
Kona Patrol
Lieutenant Erich Jackson
Phone: (808) 326-4646, Ext. 253
Report No.: 23-071006
Media Release
The Hawai‘i Police Department is investigating a possible drowning that occurred near the public beach access at Hokulia in Kailua-Kona. The victim has been positively identified as 17-year-old Yohan Choi from Kailua-Kona.
Shortly after 4:31 p.m. on Monday, July 24, 2023, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a missing spear fisherman near the Hokulia public beach access. It was reported that four spear fishermen, including Choi, entered the ocean at 1:30 p.m., and when three of them exited the ocean three hours later, Choi could not be located.
A search was conducted, and Choi was located unresponsive on the ocean floor. Choi was brought to the shore, and CPR was initiated until Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene; however, attempts to resuscitate Choi were unsuccessful.
Choi was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 5:29 p.m.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Kona Patrol Officer Kyle Murray, via email at Kyle.Murray@hawaiicounty.gov, or the police department’s non-emergency at (808) 935-3311.
