02-06-2013, 04:45 AM
I had heard stories about people drowning at Kehena Beach in the past. A friend of mine that I had met at chess Tuesdays at the Pahoa Village Museum about a year ago drowned on January 6th there. I didn't know till last Saturday at our Big Island Chees Club meeting at the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility, when Jim Lee, the club organizer, mentioned it. His name was Eric Dietz, but I always knew him as Arrow. He never told me his real name, and I kidded him once about him being in the witness protection progarm.
I scanned the internet about this and that's how I learned his real name. He had come here shortly after I did, and I think he was from Wisconsin, and had been through a divorce there. He was 29 years young. The articles I read said he had jumped into the water to help someone else in trouble. I assume that person was able to make it out of the water. This was during a stormy weekend too, and there were wave warnings and the water was very rough. I remember one of the owners of my Gym, Aloha Fittness, had told me about two good sized boats that were overturned in Hilo Bay that weekend.
Anyway, "Arrow"/Eric, was a nice young man, and I always enjoyed his company whether we were at the chess club, or when In ran into him at the Makuu Market, or Keaau Market. Here is a copy of an article about it:
Eric Dietz aka “Eroz” and “Arrows”
Eric T. Dietz, 29, who has no permanent address, was last seen in the waters off Kehena Beach in Lower Puna shortly before 2:40 p.m. Sunday (January 6). He apparently was experiencing difficulties in returning to shore amid the rough ocean conditions. A body boarder managed to get within reach of Dietz but then lost sight of him after he himself was caught in the rough surf before returning to shore safely.
Dietz is also known as “Eroz” and “Arrows.” He is described as Caucasian, about 5-foot-11, about 150 pounds with hazel eyes, brown hair and facial hair. He also has a multi-colored tattoo on his upper right arm that depicts a bird, a spider and a tortoise shell.
Police ask that anyone with information on this case or who knows his whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Joel Field at 961-2381. Detective Field may also be reached by email at jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Somehow I am not surprised that he lost his life trying to help someone else. As it says, they never recovered his body.
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Jon in Keaau/HPP