March 8, 2022

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard suspended the active search for Matthew Preziose off Lumaha’i Beach, Tuesday.

Preziose, 26-years-old, remains missing. The active search has been suspended pending further information.

“During this case our crews have worked closely with the Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Ocean Safety, Kauai Police Department and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources conducted 35 searches over 61 search hours and covered 652 square miles with no sign of Mr. Preziose,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lackey, a Sector Honolulu watchstander. “These are always the most difficult decisions to make in our line of work and our condolences go to Mr. Preziose’s family and friends.”

Preziose is described as wearing dark-blue shorts, no shirt, and 3 gold chains. Waterway users are requested to keep a sharp lookout for signs of distress and anyone with information is requested to contact the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.

At 1:07 p.m., Saturday, Kauai County Dispatch received a report from a good Samaritan at Lumaha’i beach who witnessed two swimmers in distress 200-yards off shore. One of the swimmers was able to make it back to the beach while the other remained missing.

Coast Guard Station Kauai launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew in response and notified Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders who issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast notice to mariners and deployed an Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry.

First responders from the Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Ocean Safety, Kauai Police Department, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources were also deployed to search and an incident command post was established.

Involved in the search:
Crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry
Station Kauai 45-foot response boat medium crews
Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews
Kauai Fire Department Air 1 Helicopter crew
Ocean Safety Jet Ski operators
Kauai Fire Department ground crews
Kauai Police Department officers
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources responders.

U.S. Coast Guard story and photos:

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HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and Kauai County first responders continue to search for a 26-year-old missing swimmer off Lumaha’i Beach, Monday.

The male swimmer is described as wearing dark-blue shorts, no shirt, and 3 gold chains. Waterway users are requested to keep a sharp lookout for signs of distress and anyone with information is requested to contact the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.

At 1:07 p.m., Saturday, Kauai County Dispatch received a report from a good Samaritan at Lumaha’i beach who witnessed two swimmers in distress 200-yards off shore. One of the swimmers was able to make it back to the beach while the other remained missing.

Coast Guard Station Kauai launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew in response and notified Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders who issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast notice to mariners and deployed an Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry.

First responders from the Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Ocean Safety, Kauai Police Department, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources were also deployed to search and an incident command post was established.

Involved in the search so far:


Crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry
Station Kauai 45-foot response boat medium crews
Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews
Kauai Fire Department Air 1 Helicopter crew
Ocean Safety Jet Ski operators
Kauai Fire Department ground crews
Kauai Police Department officers
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources responders

The weather on scene is winds of 7 mph and seas up to 4 feet.

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LUMAHA‘I – Multiple agencies resumed search operations Sunday for a 25-year-old man of New Jersey who was swept out to sea Saturday in waters off Lumaha‘i on the North Shore.

The Kaua‘i Police Department has identified the man as Matthew Preziose.

According to a preliminary report, rescuers were dispatched shortly after 1 p.m., when two swimmers were in distress in waters off Lumaha‘i Beach, near Lumaha‘i River.

Lifeguards with the North Roving Patrol Unit were first on scene, where bystanders reported that one swimmer made it safely to shore while the second swimmer, Preziose, was last seen being swept out to sea.

Hanalei firefighters, Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, East Roving Patrol lifeguards on Jet Ski, and the on-duty Battalion Chief also responded to the scene and began an extensive search for the missing man – focusing from the reefs off Hā‘ena point to Hanalei Bay, with an emphasis on the Lumaha‘i Beach area. Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard also joined the search, utilizing their water and air assets.

Due to darkness, firefighters and lifeguards suspended their search Saturday evening at approximately 6 p.m. U.S. Coast Guard personnel continued to search through the night, with no sign of the missing swimmer.

The search was resumed Sunday morning with lifeguards and firefighters on Jet Ski, Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, Jet Ski assets from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), along with air and water assets from the U.S. Coast Guard. Shoreline searches are also being conducted Sunday by the Kaua‘i Police Department and DLNR.

Updates on the search will be given as information becomes available.

Preziose is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and was last seen wearing blue swim shorts. Anyone with information about the missing swimmer is urged to call KPD Dispatch at 241-1711.

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Photo of missing swimmer, Matthew Preziose, courtesy of Kaua‘i Police Department.

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