Global Courant
A Hawaiian couple vacationing in Alaska is dead after a charter fishing boat they were riding capsized near Sitka on Sunday, officials said.
Alaska State Troopers identified the victims as Maury Agcaoili, 57, and his wife, Danielle Agcaoili, 53, both from Waipahu, according to Hawaii News Now.
Authorities said Maury Agcaoili was found unconscious in the water near the boat, called the Awakin. He was later pronounced dead while Danielle Agcaoili was initially listed among the missing, which still included her sister Brandi Tyau, 56, of Canoga Park, California; Tyau’s partner, Robert Solis, 61. Boat captain Morgan Robidou, 32, of Sitka, Alaska is also missing.
Charter company Kingfisher Charters said it was “devastated by the loss of the guests and captain of the Awakin. We are cooperating fully with the US Coast Guard in the investigation of this tragic event and hope it answers the questions of how the occurred.”
COAST GUARD STOPS SEARCH FOR 4 MISSING AFTER CHARTER BOAT FOUND PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN ALASKA
Sunset Inside Passage near Sitka Alaska Inside Passage Southeast Alaska USA. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Monday that it had suspended its search for the still-missing persons, whose names were made public Wednesday, after conducting more than 20 hours of investigating about 825 square miles.
“Giving up on a search is never an easy decision,” Port Southeast Alaska captain Darwin Jensen told Hawaii News Now. “We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones at this difficult time. Our sincere thanks to community partners and the Good Samaritan ships who responded quickly to assist in the search.”
US Coast Guard boat May 23, 2012 (Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images)
The 9-foot aluminum charter vessel was last seen on Sunday near Sitka, which the Coast Guard says is about 90 miles southwest of Juneau.
Search and rescue crews later found the boat near an island about 10 miles west of Sitka. It was partially submerged amid rough water.
RANGERS AT ALASKA DENALI NATIONAL PARK RESCUE CLIMBER WHO FALLEN FROM A 5 MILES HIGH BACK
Coast Guard Petty Officer Ian Gray said the region had a sea of 20 to 10 feet high the day the ship went missing.
Kingfisher Charters reported the ship missing after it failed to return from a day of fishing, the Coast Guard said.
Jim Solis, brother of Robert Solis, said the sisters’ parents and brother traveled with them, but were on a separate ship.
Fishing Fleet Harbor Marina Sitka Alaska Inside Passage Southeast Alaska USA. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Jim Solis said he and his brother grew up in Burbank, California, and that his brother, a Navy diver, met Tyau when he was stationed in Hawaii decades ago.
They have a son and enjoy fishing together, said Jim Solis.
“He was a great surfer, a really good musician. He played guitar and put songs together,” Jim Solis said of Robert. “The ocean really was his life.”
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According to Hawaii News Now, Danielle worked at First Hawaiian Bank. CEO Bob Harrison issued a statement saying “she was a beloved member of our First Hawaiian Bank ‘ohana’,” the report said.
He added: “We are keeping Dani, her husband and her family members in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
