Dad and son go missing on hike with only backpack and car discovered

A dad and his teenage son have gone missing on an island in Hawaiian, with only a backpack and a car being discovered so far.

The pair left their hotel on the eastern coast of the island of Oahu, near the capital of Honolulu, at about 7am on Tuesday (June 23), with the intention of hiking to Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge, family members said.

However, by 8:45am, passersbys found a backpack containing a man's items near the trail.

The Honolulu Police Department were soon notified, sparking a wide search involving the United States Coast Guard and local officials, totalling seven different agencies.

There has still been no further sign of the 49-year-old man and his 16-year-old son, who have not been identified.

Search continuing for missing father and son

Police, the Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Ocean Safety Department and the Coast Guard launched a joint search operation on Tuesday morning, as reported by KITV, via ABC News.

Though the man's car was soon found by the trailhead entrance, adverse weather conditions have hindered the search, leading to its suspension at 5:30pm on Tuesday, before resuming again on Wednesday and Thursday morning, with searches overnight also planned, as the search was extended to cover further waters surrounding Hanauma Bay.

The father and son have gone missing at Hanauma Bay (DEA PICTURE LIBRARY/De Agostini via Getty Images)

In a statement published on June 24, the US Coast Guard Oceania District said: "After receiving notification from the Honolulu Fire Department at 11:11 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point.

"The crew of fast response cutter USCGC Oliver Berry (WPC 1124) is also slated to join the search."

As of Thursday, as reported by The Star Advertiser, the pair, who are visitors from South Korea, remain missing.

It's reported that they are believed to have been swept into waters off of the the hike trail.

Hanauma Bay Rock Bridge is a natural forming bridge which is only accessible at low tides.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Chris Sena told KITV: "We're seeing swells around five to six feet and then the winds have picked up around 20 knots so it has increased today.

"It does increase difficulty but we have a lot of air assets they are seeing things in the water."

Posting on Facebook late on Thursday, the Honolulu Fire Department said: "The Honolulu Fire Department resumed the search for two missing Korean visitors this morning, shortly before 8 a.m.

"Firefighters continued searching along the shoreline while a rescue boat, Air2, and the department’s drone team conducted coordinated search operations offshore alongside Ocean Safety and the United States Coast Guard.

"The visitors’ family, through the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, remains in communication with the unified Command Center and is receiving regular updates on the ongoing search efforts."

LADbible has approached The Honolulu Police Department and the US Coast Guard Oceania District for comment.