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Police are investigating a possible drowning on Friday along the shoreline in South Kohala.
The victim has been identified as 72-year-old Joann Butler of Boise, Idaho.
At 5:57 p.m. Friday, officers responded to a report of a woman swimmer face down and unresponsive in shallow water at Makaiwa Beach off Kaniku Place. Upon arrival, officers found bystanders performing CPR, and Hawaii Fire Department medics were summoned.
The woman was taken to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital but Butler remained unresponsive and was pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.