South shore swell is down, but still dangerous
By Allison Schaefers and Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writers
Surf as high as 14 feet pounded the south shore of O'ahu yesterday, and lifeguards working off Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches rescued 350 people and assisted 600 more floundering in the water.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Surf of 10 to 14 feet was expected to continue through last night, decreasing in size this morning but remaining at advisory levels. The south swell is expected to drop to 8 to 10 feet today .
A south swell brought sizable waves rolling into Kewalo's, a popular surf break near Ala Moana, leaving many content to watch the action from shore. Dangerous conditions led lifeguards to order everyone out of the water at Sandy Beach.
Lifeguards said the conditions are typical for summertime on the south shore and they were well prepared for the crush of activity.
That doesn't mean they weren't busy, pulling hundreds to shore who were were exhausted, suffering cramps or who lost equipment in the water. Others were treated for cuts and bruises, and many inexperienced swimmers were warned away from the surf on south and eastern beaches.
Before noon, a swimmer, a surfer and four boaters had been rescued between Diamond Head and Point Panic. Lifeguards working near the China Wall surf break off Portlock rescued 75 people throughout the day, said Ocean Safety Dispatcher Rob Miller. They counted 25 broken boards.
"On my break I made a couple of rescues myself," Miller said, "and the captain made some."
350 600 8-10
At notoriously rough Sandy Beach, everyone was ordered out of the water.
10-14
foot waves
people rescued
people assisted
foot waves expected today
As the number of people in danger grew, Ocean Safety officials normally assigned to administrative duties jumped in to lend a hand. A Junior Lifeguard program instructor made one of the first rescues of the day. One of her students helped firefighters with another early-morning rescue.
Lifeguards said they rescued two swimmers and assisted another 100 who got caught in the rip tide back to shore. A man at Point Panic who washed into the rocks early yesterday was rescued, and an off-duty lifeguard brought in a surfer at Publics off Waikiki. "The guy was floating for 20 minutes before he was rescued," said Capt. Paul Merino of the Honolulu City and County Ocean Safety Division.
The U.S. Coast Guard also fished four people out of the water after a 14-foot pleasure skiff capsized around 7:40 a.m. near the Ala Wai Yacht Club. The effort went smoothly, and the boaters were out of the water and back at the boat ramp by 7:53 a.m., said Petty Officer Wesley Stech. The Fire Department righted the boat and towed it to the Ke'ehi Boat Harbor.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
As the day progressed, most boaters heeded advice not to leave the harbors, Stech said, and the Coast Guard reported no more boating incidents as of 6 p.m.
Eric Hill holds onto a rescue team member while being taken to shore. Hill lost one of his fins and began getting leg cramps in the pounding surf.
The number of rescues didn't seem to faze local officials, who had geared up for the massive surf.
"This is really nothing out of the ordinary," said Jim Howe, operations chief for the Honolulu City and County Water Safety Division. "It's south shore and it's the summertime."
During heavy-traffic summer months when lifeguards see high surf advisories, "we don't get worried, we get prepared," Marino said.
Lifeguards are posted at towers, on rescue watercraft and on hotel balconies watching to make sure swimmers stay safe, he said.
"Conditions are dangerous for inexperienced beachgoers and swimmers," said Roy Matsuda, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service.
Correction: The name of Capt. Paul Merino of the city's Ocean Safety Division was misspelled in an earlier version of this story.
