Posted on: Thursday, September 4, 2003

Roughwater rescues cost at least $31,000

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Helping to rescue struggling participants Monday in the Waikiki Roughwater Swim used more than $31,000 in Coast Guard resources.

The amount includes the use of a 47-foot rescue boat, an HH-65 Dolphin search helicopter and personnel, said Petty Officer Brooksann Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard.

Authorities had to rescue at least 260 people after treacherous currents began sweeping swimmers out to sea during the annual race.

Anderson said the cost is secondary to the fact that the Coast Guard saved lives.

"Our mission is to save lives, not to charge for a rescue," she said. "We were saving lives, so that is money well spent."

Honolulu Fire Department officials, however, continued to withhold the cost of their rescue efforts during the race.

The fire department's Air One helicopter spent much of the morning plucking stranded swimmers from the ocean and flying them back to the beach.

The department contributed 53 firefighters to the rescue effort, which included four engines, two ladder trucks, two rescue trucks, a fireboat and a helicopter.

"The chief doesn't want to put a price on it because there was no unusual cost associated with it," said Capt. Kenison Tejada, department spokesman.

"We don't want the public to get to thinking that we are caught up in costs. We are there to work for the people."

Many volunteers, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Waikiki Yacht Club, helped bring swimmers to shore.