Rough surf sweeps away man picking opihi on rocky Hawaii shore, officials say

A search has been called off for a 46-year-old man who fell into heavy surf while picking opihi in Hawaii, the U.S. Coast Guard told Hawaii News Now.

Opihi, a type of limpet or snail, were eaten by early Hawaiians and are still a popular food, according to the Waikiki Aquarium.

The man and a friend were picking opihi on a rocky shore at Kaiwi Point at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, when he fell into the ocean, the Hawaii County Fire Department reported in a news release.

The man’s friend dove in to try to help him but was sucked under and lost sight of him, firefighters reported.

A search by firefighters, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a state Department of Land and Natural Resources vessel failed to find the missing man, the release said. Searchers continued their efforts Sunday and into Monday before the Coast Guard suspended its search efforts.

Opihi live on rocky shorelines, where they cling to rocks with a muscular foot that acts as a suction cup, the Waikiki Aquarium said.

They can be dangerous to collect and a state law limits opihi pickers to gather them only for personal use.

This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Rough surf sweeps away man picking opihi on rocky Hawaii shore, officials say."