Search continues for second victim

KILAUEA — A high surf warning was finally downgraded to a high surf advisory for Kaua‘i’s north and west shores Sunday, as the search for a second victim around Kalihiwai Bay continued.

Kaua‘i Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter spent most of the day on the North Shore looking for Brian Baker, 47, who presumably drowned in heavy surf late Friday afternoon. Air 1 successfully recovered the body of his companion, Adam Griffiths, 46, on Saturday morning.

Both were from San Francisco.

Fire personnel continued to visually monitor the coastline near Kalihiwai until sundown. The air and sea search will resume today, county officials said.

The two men took a trail down from the south Kalihiwai Road to the remote, rocky area near South Kalihiwai Point Friday, according to county officials.

 A large wave washed Baker off the rocks and Griffiths jumped in to help, while another woman who was part of the group called 911.

The large swell had an unusually long swell period, which led for very long intervals between the largest sets of waves.

A high surf advisory is in effect for north and west-facing shores of Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i until 6 p.m. today. Another extra-large swell with the capability of producing surf over 30 feet is forecast to arrive on Tuesday.