Couple found dead
in waters off Makaha

A couple in their 50s was found dead yesterday in waters off Mauna Lahilahi Beach Park in Makaha, but police do not suspect foul play.

Police said the two -- a 51-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman -- lived together in a home off Pali Highway.

Their names were not released last night, pending notification of family members.

A car belonging to the couple was parked near the beach park, and police towed it away last night. Unclaimed fishing gear was also found less than a half-mile away from the park.

Police did not immediately know whether the equipment belonged to the couple.

The cases have been classified as unattended deaths, possibly caused by drowning. Neither victim had any bodily signs of trauma or visible wounds, police said.

The woman was found at about 3 p.m. by bodyboarders near the reef in waters off the park, which is located at 84-1161 Farrington Highway. She was face-down and fully clothed.

She was also wearing fishing boots, police said.

The bodyboarders brought the woman to shore before police arrived.

She was pronounced dead at 3:27 p.m., police said.

After the woman was found, police searched the coastline by helicopter.

Within an hour, police had located the man about a half-mile away from the park in deeper waters near Lahilahi Point.

The man was also fully clothed. He was pronounced dead at 5:05 p.m.

Police suspect the two got into trouble while fishing near the shoreline.

But police also said that the ocean was nearly flat yesterday in Makaha, even though forecasts called for surf with 5- to 8-foot faces.