HONOLULU (KHON2) — First responders and Ocean Safety officials are giving a tragic reminder about the power of the ocean after three people drowned in Hawaii waters over the weekend.
Ocean Safety officials said even though winter brings enormous swells to the north shores around Hawaii, flat water at other beaches does not always mean it is safe to swim.
California man, 61, dead after Kauaʻi swimming incident
“I think when people come down and see the waters, they don’t see big waves, ‘Oh, this is like a pool where it looks super safe.’ But there’s always underlying currents where there’s reefs or channels that they’re not aware of,” said Honolulu Ocean Safety Lt. Dennis Coglietta. “Like at Kaimana Beach, the area of the channel along the shoreline is pretty calm, but as you make your way out towards the edge of the reef, all of a sudden all the water, it’s like an underwater river just sucks out and pull you towards Diamondhead.”
Two people drowned this past weekend in Kauai waters — one of them was a 47-year-old Florida man who jumped in the water to rescue two children near Barking Sands on Saturday, Nov. 22. Officials say the good Samaritan encountered trouble in the water, but the kids were able to make it back to shore safely…