Letisha Mims and Nolan Keola Reed at Kaawaloa

KAAWALOA, Hawaii: One day after the end of search and rescue operations for 15 year old Tyler Madoff, swept out to sea by large waves at Kaawaloa Lighthouse near Kealakekua Bay, the guides who were with Madoff’s tour group on July 4th return to the scene of the tragedy.

In this video, shot by Matt Binder of Visionary Video, the guides with the local kayak company Hawaii Pack and Paddle, retrace their steps, recalling the frantic moments after the waves hit the tour group.

Letisha Mims, the daughter of owner Bari Mims, and Nolan Keola Reed, also called Ola, remain shaken by the event, but said they do not want to play the blame game. The Colorado based Bold Earth Teen Adventures company, which contracted Hawaii Pack and Paddle to guide the tour group to Kaawaloa, was criticised by Madoffs parents, Michael and Marianne,  during a press conference held in Hawaii on Sunday. But the White Plains, New York couple expressed thanks to Letisha and Ola for their heroic actions that day.

According to news reports, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said that the kayak company’s permit to take kayaks to Kaawaloa did not include the tidal pools where the incident occurred. Hawaii Pack and Paddle has disputed that claim.

VIDEO by Matt Binder, Visionary Video