Light buoy discovered at Hanamaulu Beach

LIHUE — Scott Nakata wants the buoy for his yard to use as a dog tether.

Nakata got help from John Martin of the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation in unloading a light buoy discovered by a Hanamaulu Beach Park user Friday morning.

“Someone called Mary Daubert to report the buoy at the park,” Martin said. “Scott went down to check out the report.”

Nakata said when he arrived at the park, the buoy, measuring more than six feet tall, was still floating in the water, and he pondered how to get it.

“Luckily, a wave came and turned it so the ballast side came up and I was able to grab the anchoring eye,” Nakata said. “But I almost fell while trying to pull it out.”

The buoy was brought to the parks and rec office where Martin said they are in the process of notifying the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration of the find, a procedure for debris suspected of being possible tsunami debris.

Japanese characters on a label at the bottom of the light as well as on the plastic body indicate it may have originated in Osaka, Japan, according to Art Umezu, the Kauai Film Commissioner who acts as an interpreter.

“This is pretty cool,” Nakata said. “If no one wants it after all the procedures are done, I want it for my yard where I can use it to tie my dog.”

• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.