Drowning at Waiohai

[thinze3]

Here is an article about a person who drowned in the waters out front of Waiohai on Thursday.

There is definately a current there. When we snorkeled without flippers a few yards out, it took more than a little energy to make it back to shore.

This would be a horrendous way to end a vacation in paradise.


Terry

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

I'm pretty sure that this is where we went to swim about 6 years ago, summer, low surf, kids all over, seemed safe, but there was a place, not far out because I was still standing, where I had trouble even WALKING in! It scared me and I am very, very careful in Hawaiian waters now. I don't use flippers, but I don't really snorkel either, I just swim with goggles. I noticed when my friend was out snorkeling she didn't come up often for air to see where she was and she was out pretty far, and I realized that by not coming up for air all the time, one could drift pretty far and not know it.
Liz

 

[thinze3]

...I realized that by not coming up for air all the time, one could drift pretty far and not know it.
Liz

This happened to me in St. Thomas many years ago. When I finally looked up, I was so far from shore than I actually got very worried. I made myself calm down and meandered my way back to shore. There was no current. Luckily, I had flippers on and was much younger at the time.


Terry

 

[jerseyfinn]

Indeed it's a devestating thing for a family to go through on a holiday which is suppossed to be about happiness and fun, espeically in a pardise like Hawaii.

Water anywhere is potentially dangerous, but especially so in Hawaii which is open sea. The staff at the former Renaissance Wailea always used to caution us about the waters anywhere in Hawaii, even if you're just walking along the shore break as every so often a big wave can sneak up and wallop you. An adult would get knocked down, but a kid could get taken up in the wash. One's heart has to go out to the victim's family.

Stay safe and alert.

Barry

 

[1sland]

Here is an article about a person who drowned in the waters out front of Waiohai on Thursday.

There is definately a current there. When we snorkeled without flippers a few yards out, it took more than a little energy to make it back to shore.

This would be a horrendous way to end a vacation in paradise.


Terry

There was also an apparent drowning at Tunnels a week ago. A girl 26 yrs. old from California.

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/07/20/news/news03.txt

 

[sernow]

It's very tragic and sad. Too many people have no respect for the water and underestimate the potential danger.

 

[winger]

This past December, the four of us were on a little paddle/sea bike at Ko Olina's lagoon and got caught in the safety rope blocking off the middle opening to the lagoon, which is where the current goes OUT to the open Pacific. We go a little nervous, to say the least. It felt very daunting for a few moments there when we discovered we drifted so close to the opening... I can imagine if one were actually on a beach with only an open ocean ...

 

[thinze3]

Another drowning at Waiohai.

Here is the article.

Another


.

 

[thheath]

Living on Kauai it is a regular event to read about visitors drowning or needing to be airlifted out of the Kalalau trail area.

One weekend last year there were 5 deaths due to drowning.

 

[NJMOM2]

I don't know all the details but last month a women my husband works with was on her honeymoon and her new husband. He drowned in Hawaii while on thier honeymoon. I don't know what island it was. It's sad. My heard goes out to all these families.

 

[LisaRex]

We all use snorkel vests now. They're brightly colored, too, which helps boaters spot us.

http://www.101snorkel.com/Snorkel_Vest_s/8.htm

 

[potchak]

as do I, my dh doesn't though, which always makes me nervous.

 

[Steve A]

As an aside, I found the ocean around Waiohai to be littered with coral rocks. We were there in December and I ripped a big chuck out of my foot the first day of our vacation. I wore clogs after that, but I never did find a satisfactory place to enter the water without fear of being cut up.