Two women were rushed to the hospital in serious condition yesterday after the canoe they were paddling flipped at Pokai Bay in Waianae, turning a morning on the water into an emergency response scene. Emergency crews treated three people onshore, and one person declined to be transported by paramedics. First responders said the injured women were in their 70s and 60s and were taken to nearby hospitals for further care.
According to KITV, the canoe overturned at about 9:45 a.m., triggering a quick, multi-agency response from lifeguards and Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. KITV reported that two people were taken to hospitals in serious condition and that no additional details have been released so far.
Rescue Response And Injuries
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services co-responded to the scene and evaluated three people after the canoe flipped, according to Hawaii News Now. That outlet reported that crews treated a 79-year-old woman and another woman believed to be in her 60s, while a man in his 60s was checked onshore and declined further treatment.
Pokai Bay’s Safety Context
Pokai Bay is often seen as a friendlier stretch of coastline, thanks to its protective breakwater and typically calmer waters, but this year has brought some sobering reminders that the ocean still calls the shots. In August, a 64-year-old man was pulled from the water there and hospitalized in critical condition, as detailed in Hoodline’s coverage of a 64-year-old man in critical condition, which prompted renewed calls for testing and safety outreach in the area.
Officials Urge Caution
State and city agencies continue to remind beachgoers that even familiar spots deserve a second look before you jump in. The Hawaii Department of Health advises matching life jackets to the activity, checking conditions, listening to lifeguards and using local beach-safety resources before heading into the water…