Mathen Jackson, 26, of Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island, died Saturday afternoon April 11, 2026 after jumping from the rocky cliffs at Lekeleke Bay, a popular but hazardous spot in Keauhou commonly known as the End of the World.
He had been eating food with a friend at the scenic bay when he decided to leap into the ocean below. Jackson quickly became distressed in the strong currents and surging waves near the lava rock shoreline. A witness called 911 at approximately 5:13 p.m. as the friend and a passerby entered the water to assist the struggling swimmer.
The friend and a bystander, a former firefighter, worked together to reach Jackson in the choppy waters off Lekeleke Bay in Keauhou. They managed to bring him to a nearby tour boat that had responded to the distress call, where CPR was immediately started and an automated external defibrillator was used.
The boat transported him to Keauhou Pier, where Hawaii Fire Department personnel took over life-saving efforts and rushed him by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital. He arrived in critical condition but was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. No foul play is suspected in the incident at the End of the World cliff in Keauhou.
Mathen Jackson was remembered by those who knew him as a vibrant young man from Kailua-Kona who enjoyed the natural beauty of the Big Island’s west side. The leap from the cliffs at Lekeleke Bay, a well-known but dangerous jumping spot in Keauhou, was intended as a spontaneous thrill during an otherwise casual afternoon meal with his friend. The strong currents and rough surf at the base of the End of the World cliffs in Keauhou have claimed lives before, and local residents have long warned visitors about the hidden dangers of the popular but unforgiving location.
Hawaii Island police responded to the swimmer-in-distress call at Lekeleke Bay in Keauhou and have opened a coroner’s inquest investigation into Mathen Jackson’s death. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause, though preliminary reports point to drowning after he became caught in the surging waters off the End of the World cliffs. The Hawaii Police Department continues to review witness accounts from the scene in Keauhou, with no charges expected as the incident appears accidental.
The Keauhou and Kailua-Kona communities on the Big Island have been left saddened by the death of Mathen Jackson at the End of the World cliff in Lekeleke Bay. Friends and locals have shared tributes emphasizing the need for caution when visiting the scenic but treacherous jumping spot in Keauhou, where powerful currents can quickly overwhelm even strong swimmers. The tragedy has renewed calls for safety awareness at the popular Keauhou location, especially among visitors drawn to the dramatic cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Hawaii Island police urge anyone with additional information about the events at Lekeleke Bay in Keauhou on April 11, 2026 to contact authorities. The investigation into Mathen Jackson’s death remains active as officials work to provide a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the jump from the End of the World cliffs. Grief support resources are available for family, friends, and the broader Big Island community affected by the loss in Keauhou.
