Man likely drowned
trying to save his
girlfriend

Stephen Kumagai, 51, "died
a hero," his brother says

The 51-year-old cabdriver who drowned in waters off Makaha's Lahilahi Point on Thursday likely died trying to save his girlfriend, who could not swim, a family member said.

Stephen Kumagai of Honolulu drowned along with 54-year-old Soledad Samortin in near-shore waters about a half-mile from Mauna Lahilahi Beach Park.

The two had been seeing each other for about a year, and often fished together at Lahilahi Point, said Kumagai's younger brother, David.

"She got into trouble in the water. He tried saving her and they both died," he said. "To me he died a hero."

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office confirmed yesterday that the couple had died due to drowning.

Autopsies did not provide conclusive information on what might have happened to them, but a police detective and a physician at the Medical Examiner's Office told the families of the two that Kumagai likely jumped into the water to save his girlfriend, Kumagai's brother said.

There were no witnesses to the drownings.

Lahilahi Point was one of Kumagai's favorite fishing spots, and he had been going there for years.

"Fishing was his first love," his brother said.

The waters off Lahilahi are often rough and unpredictable, though the area was relatively calm on Thursday, Kumagai's brother said.

He said Samortin likely fell or was swept into the water by a rogue wave, which caused Kumagai, who was a good swimmer, to jump in after her.

Police found the couple's car parked at the Mauna Lahilahi Beach Park on Thursday night.

They also found unclaimed fishing gear at Lahilahi Point, including Kumagai's cooler with several fish inside, his brother said.

Samortin's body was found at about 3 p.m. Thursday by bodyboarders in waters near the beach park's reef.

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

Within an hour, police had located Kumagai about a half-mile away and in deeper waters near Lahilahi Point, which is about a 30- to 45-minute hike from the beach park.

Both Samortin and Kumagai were fully clothed and wearing fishing boots.

Services for the couple have not yet been set.

Kumagai is survived by two brothers and two sisters. The family asked that a complete list of survivors' names not be released.