After spending more than 48 hours missing in the Koke‘e area, Cody Kimura of Lihu‘e was found unharmed yesterday morning.
Kimura was walking down a dirt road when a search team spotted him shortly before 10 a.m. Besides being cold and dehydrated, Kimura appeared to be fine.
The 21-year-old was taken to Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital for observation; he was treated and released.
According to Mary Daubert, county spokesperson, about 85 people participated in the search including personnel from the Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Police Department, state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, the Kaua‘i Canine Team, hunters and hikers familiar with the area and friends and family of Kimura.
Firefighters and rescue specialists from the Kaua‘i Fire Department conducted an aerial search Sunday with help from Air-1.
Inter-Island Helicopters owner Ken D’Attilio said Air-1 was called in to help look for Kimura in areas that weren’t easily accessible by foot.
D’Attilio said Air-1 was airborne all day Sunday with no sign of Kimura.
According to D’Attilio, Kimura reportedly saw the helicopter and fired some shots; officials were then able to pinpoint his location.
Kimura, who was goat hunting with his brother and a friend, was reported missing late Saturday night after attempts to find him by his hunting party were unsuccessful.
D’Attilio added it was the first day of the feral goat hunting season on Saturday, the day Kimura went missing.
“Hunt with a buddy,” D’Attilio advised. “It’s easy to get turned around up there — it’s rough terrain.”
According to Daubert, Kimura’s first request upon being released from the hospital was for a bowl of saimin from Hamura’s.
