Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a Kailua-Kona drowning involving 26-year-old Charles Hutchinson of Honolulu.

Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a scuba diver in distress at Honokōhau Harbor. According to a witness, Hutchinson had been scuba diving offshore near the Ellison Onizuka International Airport when he encountered difficulty.

He was brought aboard a fishing vessel, where he later became unresponsive. CPR was initiated and an AED was used. The boat transported Hutchinson to the Honokōhau Harbor where Hawai‘i County Fire Department personnel continued life-saving measures before transporting him to Kona Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. No foul play is suspected at this time.

Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Kona Patrol Officer Karl Nickel at (808) 935-3311 or via email, karl.nickel@hawaiipolice.gov.