An autopsy performed on 47-year-old Chad Gilbert Keala Shimaoka of Honomu indicated he died of an accidental drowning.

On May 2, South Hilo patrol officers and Hawai‘i County Fire Department personnel responded to a report of a drowning at Kolekole Beach Park.

Witnesses reported seeing Shimaoka and a friend enter the water with a kayak. They also said they and saw him get thrown off the kayak several times before watching him flail with his arms in the air in distress. They later saw what  appeared to be a lifeless body floating on the surface of the water.

Witnesses entered the water to retrieve Shimaoka and brought him to shore where they immediately started CPR. He was transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to contact Detective Kimo Keli’ipa’akaua of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2375 or via email kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov