Community: 8-03-23 Police Identify Missing Opihi Picker/Diver
Hawai‘i Island police have identified the body found in the ocean near the cliffs off Old Government Road in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision on Sunday, July 30, 2023, as 39-year-old Seth Kapiliokalani Waltjen, of Hilo.
On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, an autopsy was performed on Waltjen. The forensic pathologist ruled Waltjen’s death was consistent with drowning, and ruled out foul play; however, final autopsy results are pending toxicology testing.
Waltjen was initially reported as a missing person on Sunday morning after he failed to return from opihi picking and diving on Saturday evening, July 29, 2023.
On Sunday afternoon, divers with the Hawai’i Fire Department located Waltjen’s body in waters several hundred yards offshore.
Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation, which is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest.
Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case, to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or email Jeremy.Kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov.
