Missing boater’s
body is found

The Kaneohe man had rented
a boat yesterday morning

Rescue crews found the body of a missing 50-year-old Kaneohe man floating in the water near Heeia Kea State Park yesterday afternoon.

Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department officers spent approximately two hours searching Kaneohe Bay for Derek Chang after another boater reported finding an unattended vessel circling in the Sampan Channel close to shore.

A lifeguard found Chang's body around 2:30 p.m., without a life jacket.

Police said military officials found his life jacket floating in the water near the empty boat earlier that day. However, Coast Guard officials said they found Chang's life jacket, along with his identification cards, on the boat.

Chang was taken to Castle Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Military officials said Chang had rented the small fishing boat around 8 a.m. from Kaneohe Marine Corps and was expected to dock around 4 p.m.

Military officials said only licensed operators are allowed to rent their watercraft because they receive watercraft operation training and a detailed orientation of Kaneohe Bay.

Police said there were no signs of foul play, but military officials have opened an investigation.