Robert Rumburg, 51, traveled from Arvada, Colorado to Oahu in November 2011 and was staying with a friend in Sunset Beach. He failed to show for a dinner on Wednesday, November 16, 2011; his suitcase and rental car remained at the home but one of the host’s surfboards was missing, prompting concern that he may have gone into the water.

Local surfers described unusually calm, glassy conditions that day. The next day a surfboard believed to be his was found a considerable distance offshore near Rocky Point and brought to shore, and an extensive search followed. The Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department and local police searched by air, land and sea, covering more than a thousand square miles and up to 20 miles out to sea, but no sign of Robert was found and the search was suspended.

Authorities’ working explanation is a surfing accident, though the Coast Guard did not officially suspect foul play and other possibilities such as a medical event or an encounter with marine life were also considered. The exact circumstances remain unknown and Robert has never been recovered.

If anyone was on the North Shore that week or remembers seeing a lone surfer or a board in that area on or about November 16, 2011, please share what was seen.