Yesterday afternoon the search for Aunu’u Chen who disappeared Sunday at the Sliding Rocks, Leala, was called off but his older brother, Manu’a Chen and brother-in-law Ben Sauvao are continuing to scour the ocean on jet skis.
And his family is hoping fishing boats and freighters will keep and eye out for any signs of his body.
The 39-year old Chen was fishing with friends at the popular spot when he was swept into the sea by large swells.
Chen’s sister, Tutuila Chen-Sauvao, said her brother had been fishing, not surfing as we reported earlier.
“He was fishing off rocks on the lower part of Leala Beach when he was caught by a wave and carried into the ocean,” said Tutuila in a phone interview with KHJ News.
This was the first time the grieving sister was able to speak about her brother.
She said Aunu’u was familiar with Leala Beach as he and friends frequent the Sliding Rocks.
She’s not exactly sure how many were with Aunu’s on Sunday.
Police said he was with four others.
Tutuila describes Aunu’u as a kindhearted person, very helpful to everyone and was well liked.
“He was just a very good person. I miss him very much,”she told KHJ News.
Aunu’u is the third of four American Samoa-born children of Jane and Perry Chen, Taiwanese citizens who moved to the territory in 1977.
He was educated at Samoa Baptist and South Pacific Academy and graduated from the Univeristy of Hawaii, Manoa.
With Mr and Mrs Chen away in Taiwan, Aunu’u was helping manage the family stores but recently set up his onw business, Next Door Eats at the Airport Way Gas Station.
He has four children and his girlfriend Megan is due to give birth next week.
Tutuila says its been difficult trying to deal with her brother’s sudden disappearance.
She posted on her FaceBook page Monday; “A million words would not bring you back. I know because I tried. Neither would a million tears, I know because I cried.”
Our thoughts and prayer are with the Chen Family at this difficult time.
