Latest news with #HawaiiWaterSafetyPlan
USA Today
10-03-2025
- USA Today
Tourist dies after kitesurfing accident at popular Hawaii beach
Tourist dies after kitesurfing accident at popular Hawaii beach Show Caption Hide Caption Maui police investigate resort explosion Maui Police Department investigates an explosion at a beach resort, warns public to avoid the area. A 63-year-old California man died after a kitesurfing accident at Kailua Beach in Oahu, Hawaii. Hawaii has the second highest drowning rate in the U.S., and tourists are particularly at risk. A California man died after a kitesurfing accident on Wednesday at a popular beach on Oahu, according to the Honolulu Emergency Services Department (EMS). It was one of two rescues at the same beach that day. Honolulu Ocean Safety responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:33 a.m. for an unresponsive 63-year-old male – whose identity was not released – at Kailua Beach. The beach is frequently visited by locals and tourists on the east side of the island. The cause of the accident is unknown as of Monday. Ocean Safety first responders pulled him out of the water and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They also used an automated external defibrillator on him before Honolulu EMS and the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) arrived at the scene to give advanced life support. He was taken to the emergency room in critical condition, where he died two days later on Friday. About 90 minutes prior, another 9-1-1 call for a different unresponsive male in his 60s came through after beachgoers found him at Kailua Beach. Hawaii's beaches are disappearing: The uncertain future of Oahu's iconic Waikiki "Bystanders recognized he wasn't breathing and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)," a Honolulu EMS spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement. "The man was wearing a life vest at the time he went into cardiac arrest and is known to be a kite surfer in the area." Ocean Safety arrived within three minutes to take over CPR efforts, also using an automated external defibrillator multiple times. Honolulu EMS and HFD co-responded, putting him on advanced life support. He regained a pulse and was transported to the hospital. Both incidents occurred at a beach break known locally as "Flagpoles" along Kailua Beach. Lifeguards at towers located about a half-mile in both directions responded on jet skis, officials said. Hawaii's waters are unpredictable and can be dangerous for those even with experience in the ocean. The drowning rate for Hawaii residents is the second highest in the nation behind Alaska, according to the 2025 Hawaii Water Safety Plan. Other ocean-related incidents – such as injuries, water sports accidents, hazardous surf conditions and going out alone – also pose significant dangers. Tourists, who are often unfamiliar with the ocean, are at an even greater risk at the beach. Tourists comprise half of all drownings in the islands despite making up just 12% of the de facto population. It is the leading cause of death for Hawaii visitors. Honolulu Ocean Safety previously told USA TODAY that visiting beachgoers are taking more chances by entering waters not patrolled by lifeguards, cliff jumping or swimming at night, increasing the need for more lifeguard towers and ocean safety education.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tourist dies after kitesurfing accident at popular Hawaii beach
A California man died after a kitesurfing accident on Wednesday at a popular beach on Oahu, according to the Honolulu Emergency Services Department (EMS). It was one of two rescues at the same beach that day. Honolulu Ocean Safety responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:33 a.m. for an unresponsive 63-year-old male – whose identity was not released – at Kailua Beach. The beach is frequently visited by locals and tourists on the east side of the island. The cause of the accident is unknown as of Monday. Ocean Safety first responders pulled him out of the water and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They also used an automated external defibrillator on him before Honolulu EMS and the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) arrived at the scene to give advanced life support. He was taken to the emergency room in critical condition, where he died two days later on Friday. About 90 minutes prior, another 9-1-1 call for a different unresponsive male in his 60s came through after beachgoers found him at Kailua Beach. Hawaii's beaches are disappearing: The uncertain future of Oahu's iconic Waikiki "Bystanders recognized he wasn't breathing and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)," a Honolulu EMS spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement. "The man was wearing a life vest at the time he went into cardiac arrest and is known to be a kite surfer in the area." Ocean Safety arrived within three minutes to take over CPR efforts, also using an automated external defibrillator multiple times. Honolulu EMS and HFD co-responded, putting him on advanced life support. He regained a pulse and was transported to the hospital. Both incidents occurred at a beach break known locally as "Flagpoles" along Kailua Beach. Lifeguards at towers located about a half-mile in both directions responded on jet skis, officials said. Hawaii's waters are unpredictable and can be dangerous for those even with experience in the ocean. The drowning rate for Hawaii residents is the second highest in the nation behind Alaska, according to the 2025 Hawaii Water Safety Plan. Other ocean-related incidents – such as injuries, water sports accidents, hazardous surf conditions and going out alone – also pose significant dangers. Tourists, who are often unfamiliar with the ocean, are at an even greater risk at the beach. Tourists comprise half of all drownings in the islands despite making up just 12% of the de facto population. It is the leading cause of death for Hawaii visitors. Honolulu Ocean Safety previously told USA TODAY that visiting beachgoers are taking more chances by entering waters not patrolled by lifeguards, cliff jumping or swimming at night, increasing the need for more lifeguard towers and ocean safety education. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California kite surfer dies at popular Hawaii beach
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hawaii's first Water Safety Plan addresses keiki drowning prevention
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Drowning is the number one cause of death for Hawaii keiki ages one to 15 and now, the state of Hawaii is taking steps toward first Hawaii Water Safety Plan, 'I Palekana Kākou Ka Wai: Let Us Be Safe in the Water,' was released by the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition. HWSC introduced the measure to call on stakeholders to help identify the state's most urgent drowning prevention recommendations. Death by negligence? Family sues after teen swimmer's tragedy 'Drownings are preventable with constant adult supervision in and around the water, including at home. Our goal is to protect children from drowning in Hawai'i,' said Dr. Pat Morgan, Child Death Review in Hawaii member and Kapiolani Child Advocacy and Protection medical director. The Water Safety Plan outlined the following drowning statistics: Hawaii resident drowning rate is the second highest in the nation behind Alaska Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are about 27 percent of Hawaii's population yet to make up 36 percent of resident drowning deaths Less than two percent of Hawaii second graders have basic skills to avoid or recover from drowning Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for Hawaii visitors Several measures are being introduced during the 2025 legislative session including requiring swim education at public schools and better regulation around ponds. 'It seems to us that it's a common sensical desire to put this in DOE's curriculum but that comes at an expense. DOE is set up to educate our kids, prepare them for potentially a life in college, and swimming some might say is not part of their mission,' said Glenn Wakai, Senate majority floor leader. Hawaii Safety Plan's lead writer Allison Schaefers is also a bereaved parent after her daughter drowned in 2004 in a detention pond. Check out more news from around Hawaii 'What inspired me to keep going was her. I kept thinking if a five-year-old can be a hero, that we could all be heroes,' Schaefer said. 'I do not want any of Hawaii's children to ever go through that again and so that's my inspiration.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
