Posted on: Wednesday, September 3, 2003

EDITORIAL
Roughwater swim delay was merited

Sure, competitive swimmers understood there would be rough waters at the annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim Monday. What many were ill-prepared to tackle were currents so treacherous as to bring on one of the biggest water rescue efforts in Hawai'i history, with more than 350 swimmers plucked from the ocean.

To their credit, before the event, organizers warned swimmers via a public address system of the strong currents and wind conditions. But though the warning deterred a handful of swimmers, it also had the reverse effect of challenging the egos of those who thought they could handle the currents and who soon discovered they were caught in the outgoing tide. No wonder.

As Sen. Fred Hemmings, a veteran surfer, points out, the swim began at 9 a.m. when the tide was changing. Perhaps they should have waited a couple of hours.

Rescue efforts were successful, and everyone is accounted for, thanks to city lifeguards, the Coast Guard, the Honolulu Fire Department, police and other emergency workers. Even boaters and paddleboarders were asked to assist.

Let this serve as a reminder of the awesome power of nature in Hawai'i. The ocean might seem benign to the untrained eye, but there's a lot more going on beneath the surface. And that's why we depend on the experts to pull the plug whenever possible on events that have the potential of becoming catastrophes.