Also, other helicopters such as those from law enforcement stayed on the ground that day due to the intense fog.
Yep, watching the Farmer's Insurance Golf Tournament a few hours to the South it is obvious that the marine layer / fog would make flying hazardous, even the hang glider folks were afraid to go off the cliffs.
Pilot was instrument rated but they should not have flown. Game would have been forfeited.
Owner of Island Express is Philip DiFiore.