Police: Victim in Kona drowning was from Ohio

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Police have identified the man who died Sunday, Jan. 5, in an apparent drowning in Kailua-Kona as 35-year-old Garret Khralovch Stanislav of Mayfield, Ohio.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m., Kona patrol officers responded to a report of a swimmer in distress at O-Tech Beach in Wawaloli Beach Park.

Three men, including the victim, were near the bathrooms at O-Tech Beach when the man fell into the water and was not able to return to land due to the large waves.

The two unidentified men with Stanislav were observed trying to coach him back to land. However, he could not swim back to shore.

Hawaii Fire Department rescue personnel arrived on the scene and conducted a search, locating Stanislav, who had no signs of life. He was then taken to Honokohau Harbor via a boat.

Stanislav was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and are awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Kona Patrol Officer Sarha Reich at the police department’s nonemergency number (808) 935-3311 or via email at Sarha.Reich@hawaiicounty.gov.