The husband and wife had been watching waves from the rocks when a large wave crashed into the rocks, knocking the two into the water shortly after 11 a.m., Kaua'i police said. The wave also knocked the couple’s 11-year-old son onto the rocks, but bystanders pulled the boy to safety, police said.

Lifeguards were able to pull the couple out of the water and begin CPR. But the couple did not respond and were pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy was turned over to Child Protective Services. The names of the man and woman were not released yesterday.