HONOLULU (Island News) — Throughout Independence Day, the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department rescued dozens of people and performed thousands of preventative actions on Oahu during one of the busiest beach days of the year.
Safety personnel conducted 7,772 preventative actions and 46 rescues across the island as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
The significant incidents during the holiday include:
- Lifeguards assisted two people after their 10-foot boat overturned offshore at Papailoa Beach in Haleiwa.
- Lifeguards rescued two people using foil boards at Alan Davis Beach on the south shore who had trouble in the water.
- Lifeguards at Tower 2A near the Moana Surfrider on Kalakaua Avenue treated a 22-year-old woman for a head injury after she was hit by a canoe. An 18-year-old woman also suffered a head injury in a separate canoe-related incident.
- Lifeguards at Tower 1C at Ala Moana Regional Park administered Narcan to a 34-year-old woman following a near-drowning before Honolulu Emergency Medical Services took over medical care.
- Approximately one to two miles offshore from Black Point near Diamond Head, Ocean Safety personnel rescued two people aboard a disabled jet ski. Their watercraft was safely towed back to shore.
Ocean Safety is reminding the public about changing ocean conditions, strong currents, shorebreak and how crowded beaches can quickly create hazardous situations. Beachgoers are urged to remain aware of their surroundings, supervise children at all times and avoid going into the ocean if the conditions are beyond their skill level…