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By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Firefighters from the Kailua station and police searched
the waters and ground areas around Lanikai Beach for
Ming Fang Lee today. Fire rescue divers were also called
in to search under water. Lee, a visitor from New York,
was missing after going to the beach yesterday.

Visitor missing
after going to beach

Firefighters and police
search for the woman
in the Lanikai area

By Jaymes Song
Star-Bulletin

A missing New York woman was the subject of an intense air, ground and water search off Lanikai today.

Ming Fang Lee, 33, a Taiwan native who lives in Oakdale, N.Y., was last seen about 3 p.m. yesterday. She told the friend she was staying with in Lanikai that she was going to the beach, police said. She was reported missing at 10 p.m.

Police found Lee's towel, clothing and other belongings on Lanikai Beach late last night. There was no evidence of foul play, said detective Joseph Self of the missing persons detail.

An aerial and ground search by police, fire rescue crews and lifeguards turned up no signs of Lee this morning. Divers and a rescue boat also searched the clear, calm waters near the Mokulua Islands.

Among the equipment used by searchers was an underwater scooter purchased with money donated by the family of Marine Lance Cpl. Kenneth Abell. Abell, 21, was swept out to sea in February, 1999, as he stood on one of the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai.

A student at Downing College in Long Island, Lee is described as 5-feet 1-inch tall, 95 pounds, with black hair and a fair complexion.

She was wearing a blue, two-piece swimsuit.