Hawai‘i Island police recovered the body of deceased man, who was last seen sitting on the edge of an 80-foot waterfall in Ninole.

On Saturday evening, Hilo patrol officers initiated a missing persons investigation after a Hilo man reported that he hadn’t seen or heard from his employee since early afternoon. The employee, who was said to be intoxicated while ignoring warnings to move due to safety concerns, was last seen sitting on the edge of the waterfall.

As the employer completed yard maintenance, he conducted another check for the missing man at the waterfall, and other areas of the property, however he could not be located. The employer then drove to Hilo and filed the missing person’s report.

North Hilo patrol officers responded to the scene and conducted checks however they were unable to locate anyone that evening.

On Sunday morning, the body of a deceased male, on the riverbed below the waterfall, submerged about 6 feet under water. Members of the Hawai’i County Fire Department extricated the body, which was turned over to police for continued investigation. The victim was then transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center for pronouncement of death.

Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation, and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Police will release the victim’s identity once positive identification has been made, and next of kin have been notified.

Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to contact detective Kimo Keli’ipa’akaua of the Area I Criminal Investigations Section at (808) 961-2375, or via email at kimo.keliipaakaua@hawaiicounty.gov.