A Michigan woman is warning others after her husband died while snorkeling in Hawaii. She has since filed a lawsuit against their hotel, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors Convention Bureau.

“There’s barely a minute in my life that goes by that I don’t think about him,” said Patti Johnson.

She says her husband of 38 years, Ray Johnson, was snorkeling with friends during their vacation in Hawaii when suddenly something wasn’t right.

The 64-year-old was keeping his head above water and heading to shore but seemed out of sorts.

“Soon they started yelling, call 911! That’s when I ran to the beach. And I ran — I got onto the beach. They were pulling him out. His head snapped back and I believe at that point he was gone,” Patti recalled.

Medical professionals were unable to resuscitate the 64-year-old. The family said the autopsy ruled it a drowning.

“It didn’t make sense when I received the autopsy report that just said it drowning. And I was like, I was watching him come in. When you’re drowning, I don’t think you’re making your way in. I don’t think you’re talking to the people you’re with,” she said.

The couple had been to Hawaii a half dozen times, and Ray had snorkeled in the islands numerous times, CNN reported.

“He was an experienced swimmer and snorkeler. But in February 2022, while snorkeling off Maui he had trouble breathing. A friend helped him to shore, but he died on the beach,” stated Jay Stuemke, the Johnson family attorney.

Patti said she believes her husband died because of a little-known medical condition called rapid onset pulmonary edema, or ROPE.

It can happen when breathing is restricted, with fluid building up in the lungs, causing a lack of oxygen and sometimes leading to losing consciousness.

“Patients or people who are out snorkeling will notice an increase in shortness of breath is one thing, but then they’ll also become confused,” explained Dr. Meilan Han, chief of pulmonary & critical care medicine at the University of Michigan.

Stuemke says their long flight contributed to Ray’s death.

“What long haul flights do, is it has an effect on your lungs,” she said. “After 3 days you are back to normal, but if you snorkel after that long flight there is a substantial increased risk of death.”

Patti is now suing the resort where she and her husband were staying, along with state and local tourism, alleging they failed to educate the public about the potential dangers of ROPE.

The Johnson family feels all of those groups knew about the dangers of snorkeling after long flights, but did not warn visitors.

“If warnings are effectively communicated, snorkelers can make informed choices about what risks to take,” added Stuemke.

ABC News says all of those organizations declined to comment.

A 2021 study suggests ROPE might be to blame for some snorkeling deaths, with people dying due to lower-than-normal levels of oxygen rather than drowning. However, experts say more research is needed to fully understand if this is the case.

“After flying 10 hours, we would have waited 72 hours. His lungs would have recovered from whatever being in a pressurized cabin does to your lungs,” Patti said.

But even beyond ROPE, the case is shining a light on snorkeling safety.

Drowning is by far the most common cause of death for Hawaiian tourists, with the majority of those deaths happening while snorkeling.

“I don’t want other people to go through what we have gone through and to lose a family member to — lose your husband in this way,” Patti said. “It’s just heartbreaking and it’s avoidable, and so just, you know, just to please be aware of this. Make people aware.”

CNN contributed to this post.

Star Alameda, wife of Hawaii County mayoral candidate Kimo Alameda and a career educator, died Friday. She was 54.

According to Kimo Alameda’s Facebook page, Star Alameda was found unresponsive Friday morning.

“She was my strongest supporter and advisor. Our rock and backbone of the family. Our hearts are all super sore,” Alameda said on Facebook.

“Valiant efforts by family and Hawaii County EMS personnel were unable to revive her. Dr. Kimo would like to thank our Hawaii County EMS and the countless friends and family who have reached out to share their aloha,” the page said. “The Alameda ‘Ohana is in deep mourning and asks for continued prayers as they mourn her loss.”

The Alamedas have seven children and a grandchild. According to Star Alameda’s Facebook page, she was a reading specialist at E. B. deSilva Elementary School, was formerly a special education teacher at Moanalua Intermediate School in Honolulu, studied business education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated from Hilo High School.

The outpouring of condolences on social media was immediate.

“My deepest condolences to Kimo and ohana on your sudden loss our prayers are with you during this difficult time,” said former Hawaii County Prosecutor Jay Kimura.

“May the Lord surround you, Kimo (and) the rest of your ‘ohana with his love as you go through this very painful (and) difficult time,” posted kumu hula Puanani Crumb.

“So sorry for your loss Kimo. We had immense respect for Star,” posted businessman and farmer Richard Ha. “June and I would like to offer You and your Ohana our deepest sympathy!”

“There are no words to convey that adequately express my shock, condolences and prayers for your family. I am so sorry to hear the news,” wrote Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, retired longtime public servant.

“Sending love and prayers to all of you,” said Pomai Bartolome, executive assistant to and campaign chairman for Mayor Mitch Roth, the incumbent Kimo Alameda is challenging in this year’s election. Also having filed papers for the mayor’s race are Breeani Kobayashi and Jr. Tupa‘i.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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Ever since the news of its cancellation, fans have wanted to know whether NCIS: Hawai’i was ending for good or if it could be renewed or picked up by another network like other ended CBS dramas.

NCIS: Hawai’i was CBS’ NCIS spin-off following a fictional team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents at the Pearl Harbor Field Office, as they investigate crimes related to military and national security. The series is led by Jane Tennant (played by Vanessa Lachey), the first female Special Agent-in-Charge of the NCIS: Hawai’i Field Office.

NCIS: Hawai’i was CBS’ fourth NCIS franchise series following the original NCIS; NCIS: Los Angeles; and NCIS: New Orleans. It was followed by NCIS: Sydney, as well as the upcoming spin-off, NCIS: Origins. NCIS: Hawai’i ended on May 6, 2024, after three seasons, but fans still haven’t lost hope that series could be saved. So is NCIS: Hawai’i ending for good? Read on for what we know about the chances the NCIS spin-off could find another life.

Is NCIS: Hawai’i ending for good?

Is NCIS: Hawai’i ending for good? The answer is yes. NCIS: Hawai’i was canceled by CBS in April 2024 after three seasons, and unfortunately, it won’t be picked up by another network, as  source told TVLine in May 2024 that NCIS: Hawai’i is not being shopped elsewhere.

CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach also confirmed to Variety at the time that there isn’t a chance of an “un-cancellation” for NCIS: Hawai’i, unlike other CBS series like S.W.A.T., which was uncanceled twice.

As for the reason for NCIS: Hawai’i cancellation, Reisenbach told the magazine that the decision had to do with finances, as well as CBS’ upcoming schedule, which includes NCIS’ upcoming spin-off, NCIS: Origins, a prequel following young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon in the mother series.) An upcoming NCIS spin-off featuring Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo and Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David is also in the works at Paramount Plus.

Following NCIS: Hawai’i‘s cancellation, star Vanessa Lachey, who played Jane Tennant, shared an emotional note on her Instagram expressing her gratitude for the series.

“Forever your Sweet Jane… This was the same spot where I filmed episode 1. I sat here at 2am on June 2021 and stared into the ocean,” she captioned a photo of her sitting on the beach in Hawaii “I asked her to protect me, my family, my crew and our show. I told her we will do all we can to protect the grace and integrity of Hawai’i while also sharing her Beauty with the world. As I sat here today, knowing our show is over, I turned to her again… what do we do now….(please protect us all) She answered with ease. Just as the air hits the water & the water hits the land, the waves connect to the shore, some with a huge impact, then… it goes back out. You see… we aren’t meant to be here forever, we are on borrowed time.”

She continued, “We appreciate what was given to us for our use, we nurture it and then we leave it better for the next dreamer. I’m wishing for my crew and my cast that we all remember the Beauty of what we had… we will spread this Aloha in every direction we go. I wish we had more time, I’m sorry we don’t. I wish we had a proper good-bye, I’m sorry we didn’t. I know we ALL are connected deeper than any TV show.”

She concluded her post, “I will go to the ends of the earth for my cast & crew! If you come across ANY of them… hire them! You won’t be disappointed. Salt of the earth people! In Hawai’i we don’t say “Good-Bye”, we say “A Hui Hou” it means “until we meet again”. To you all & especially the beloved fans… A Hui Hou. ❤️ Love Always, Your Sweet Jane.”

NCIS: Hawai’i is available to stream on Paramount Plus.

For more on NCIS, eheck out who the cast is married to or dating in real life in the gallery below.