Voice of Stephanie Salazar

Two deaths were reported in the waters off Kona this weekend.

On Friday morning, 52 year old George Nalimu was found floating face down about 100 yards from the shoreline outside of Pawai Bay fronting Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center.

A dive boat transported the victim to Honokohau Harbor, and Nalimu was later pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital.

Nalimu had last been seen alone picking opihi and still had his opihi knife and a bag of opihi with him when his body was found.

On Saturday, also in Honokohau Harbor, 59-year-old Franklin Lewis Smith of Kona was found floating face down by paddle boarders approximately 100 yards within the entrance of the harbor.

Mr. Smith was found to have apparent injuries to his head and leg. Officers located personal property on the cliff banks within the harbor that may belong to him.

Police have not ruled out foul play in the case of Smith’s death.

Police have classified both of the investigations as coroner’s inquests and have ordered an autopsies to determine the exact causes of two deaths.

UPDATE – 4/7/11 – Police report that an autopsy conducted Monday has determined that 59-year-old Franklin Lewis Smith of Kailua-Kona died of salt water drowning. The autopsy also determined that injuries to his head and leg were consistent with a fall onto rocks.

The case has been reclassified as a public accident.

Smith was found on Saturday floating in the waters within the Honokohau Harbor.