{"id":56,"date":"2014-02-10T06:26:02","date_gmt":"2014-02-10T11:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/?p=56"},"modified":"2025-03-11T04:19:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T08:19:49","slug":"dangers-of-swimming-off-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/dangers-of-swimming-off-hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaii has killer waves (and not in a good way)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drowning is probably the last thing on your mind when you think about Hawaii, the tropical paradise that attracts over 8 million visitors each year<\/a>. But according to these statistics, it should<\/em> be among your top concerns, especially if you\u2019re swimming off the main island.<\/p>\n

The island of Kauai witnesses the highest drowning rate among all the islands in the archipelago, even though it only attracts 18% of Hawaii’s visitors. This number has only increased in the last two years<\/a> (from four in 2012 to eleven in 2013). Reasons for the high drowning death rate include rogue waves, strong undertows, deadly shore breaks, misinformation, and poor judgment.<\/p>\n

\"Waves

Watch out for killer waves in Kauai. Image by jaybergesen<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Unrecognized currents are the biggest threat to swimmers’ safety<\/b><\/h2>\n

Dr. Monty Downs, who is an emergency room physician and an advocate of ocean safety, says that unrecognized rip currents on the islands are the biggest threat to swimmers\u2019 safety. Currents can cast swimmers offshore to 20 or 30 yards to sea. \u201cEven a strong swimmer may not be able to get back. If you get tired and panicky with your breathing, a wave breaks on your head and you gulp in water, drowning can happen very quickly,\u201d he tells My Hawaii Traveler<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Unlike California waters that have a continental shelf, Hawaii swells have no buffer, and they’re emitted from thousands of miles away. The water goes from shallow to\u00a018,000 feet deep<\/a>\u00a0only five miles offshore.<\/p>\n

Lumahai Beach, also known as \u201cLuma-die,\u201d is one of Hawaii’s most dangerous spots. According to\u00a0Yahoo!<\/i>, \u201cThis unguarded beach made famous by the movie South Pacific<\/em>\u00a0has extremely strong currents and some of the most dangerous shore breaks on Kauai. It’s a pretty spot for ocean-viewing; a deadly place to take a dip.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kipu Falls in East Kauai also make the list of most\u00a0deadly getaways in Hawaii<\/a>; they’re\u00a0now closed to tourists. One of the most dangerous spots in the state is speculated to have strong whirlpool currents<\/a> that suck divers to the bottom of the pool. Queen\u2019s Bath<\/a>, a tide pool in the north shore of Kauai, is also notorious for large swells that knock swimmers out, leaving them to drown.<\/p>\n

\"Queen's

Better skip Queen’s Bath. Image by Philip Miller<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Deadly shorebreaks turn boogie boarding into tumbling and crashing<\/b><\/h2>\n

The year-round crushing shore break in Sandy beach in O\u2019ahu<\/a>, the third largest island in Hawaii, leaves even the most experienced of swimmers with serious injuries. Chances of traumatic injuries are so high that many tourists who\u2019ve been there advise others to avoid swimming<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to Beaches of Oahu<\/a><\/i>, a book by John R Clark, \u201cSandy\u2019s famous waves are formed by a quick change in the ocean bottom. A combination of sand patches and shallow rock ledges, the bottom at the water\u2019s edge drops off abruptly to an average depth of eight to ten feet. This abrupt change in depth creates the steep, hard-breaking waves in Sandy\u2019s shorebreak, which in turn generate its rip currents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hazardous shorebreaks also exist at Maui’s\u00a0Makena beach that locals call the \u201cbreakneck beach<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Water safety left to a few lifeguards stationed at the island<\/b><\/h2>\n

Dr. Chuck Blay, a Kauai-based ocean scientist, says that water safety is a complicated situation for Kauai. He tells the Garden Island<\/a>, \u201cThe county provides world-class lifeguards, well-equipped at 10 coastal localities\u2026Unfortunately, they are too few to be able to monitor the many more localities at which island visitors and residents alike like to enter the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tourism industry provides little direct information in fear of losing business.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Rogue waves and killer sharks aren\u2019t the only danger travelers have to face in Hawaii. Absence of complete information about hazards of some alluring destinations on the islands is another reason travelers find themselves in deep waters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tourist industry promotes visitation but provides little direct information as to the hazardous nature of the alluring coastline,\u201d Chuck Blay remarks. Guidebooks, too, entice travelers to visit off-beaten paths and remote destinations without alerting them to the risks associated with such visits.<\/p>\n

However, state officials are proposing legislation to ensure travelers stay informed and safe over the course of their visit. Last year, the state senate asked airlines to show ocean safety videos to passengers enroute Hawaii. While some are on board with the idea, others say it is an overkill. \u00a0Rep. Tom Brower says<\/a>, \u201cYou don\u2019t want to be on a plane and see people getting eaten by sharks.\u201d He adds that while it\u2019s important to educate tourists, \u201cyou don\u2019t want to beat people over the head with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skift News editor\u00a0Dennis Schall says<\/a>, \u201cAirlines should go along with the state Senate\u2019s wishes and show videos warning visitors to Hawaii about the specter of drowning. This should be a no-brainer, with safety taking precedence over lost visitor dollars.\u201d Fortunately, the Kauai airport already shows ocean safety videos in its baggage claim areas.<\/p>\n

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