CLALLAM BAY — The body of a Quilcene fisherman lost at sea last month has been found.
Joel Kawahara was last heard from Aug. 8. His body was found Aug. 22, Olympic National Park public affairs specialist Molly Pittman said in an email.
“Backpackers reported a body on the beach less than a mile south of the Seafield Creek wilderness camp area,” Pittman wrote. “Rangers and a search and rescue helicopter arrived at the rocky and remote site at 10:45 a.m.”
The helicopter crew transferred the body to the Clallam County Coroner at the William R. Fairchild International Airport around 12:11 p.m., Pittman said.
The coroner’s office confirmed the identity and notified next of kin.
The National Park Service is investigating the incident.
U.S. Coast Guard crews searched more than 2,100 square miles for over 18 hours and suspended their search for Kawahara on Aug. 13.
His boat, the F/V Karolee was observed Aug. 12 rigged for fishing with its lights on and the life raft stowed but with no signs of distress.
Kawahara was born April 27, 1955, in Seattle, where he grew up in lower Queen Anne. He worked as a commercial fisherman and won the National Fisherman’s Highliner of the Year award in 2009.
