Warn tourists of dangers lurking in Hawaii waters
IF IN doubt, don't go out" is a common slogan here in Hawaii, but I've never heard a tourist say it. I'm surprised that many tourists go into the water even if they don't know how to swim. One of my friends was surfing at Waikiki and he told me that he was helping a German tourist surf. The tourist didn't even know how to swim, but there he was, out in the deep water, clinging to a rental surfboard and trying to surf.
I've heard too many stories about tourists getting caught in the water because they didn't know how powerful the ocean was. Heck, even I was tumbled at Sandy's once because I ignored the "strong current" warning signs and went into the water thinking I could handle it. Everyone -- even locals -- has stories about their adventures in the ocean. What's scary is that many tourists don't have the ocean experience that locals do, but they wade into the water anyway.
We need to educate tourists about ocean safety so we can prevent injuries and deaths. We also need to educate them about the environment so we can prevent pollution and damage to the ecosystem.
BEACHES AROUND Oahu have dangers such as rip currents, jellyfish, sharks, eels, coral, sea urchins and other wildlife. The most common dangers at Waikiki are rip currents and jellyfish. Many tourists aren't used to swimming in the ocean. Swimming in pools or lakes does not compare, mainly because the ocean has strong currents that can overwhelm inexperienced swimmers. Many people who are caught in rip currents try to fight and exhaust themselves. Many of those who visit Waikiki don't think to ask the lifeguards about the ocean conditions, but asking could prevent injuries.
In 1995, the number of visitors to Waikiki was 6,951,083, and 458 of them were injured that year. Wow, 458 injuries or deaths that could have been prevented through education. Lifeguards also could give newcomers advice about dangerous spots on the beach or in the water. Jellyfish usually show up about seven to 10 days after a full moon. Usually there are signs posted whenever jellyfish appear on the beach, but people still get stung. Eels and certain kinds of fish bite, which can cause serious wounds to their victims. Coral, sea urchins and sponges also are unsuspected dangers that can cause lots of pain, but how many tourists actually know that when many of them can't even swim?
A lot of the marine life in Hawaii is found only in Hawaii, which means that tourists often do not know how to behave toward the wildlife. Touching or feeding anything in the wild could damage the ecosystem. Seals have been known to crawl onto the beach at Waikiki; people like to crowd around them or feed them, which are both very bad ideas. They could cause animals to become dependent on people for food or associate people with food. Dolphins can be killed or injured chasing after boats for food.
Litter also is a big problem on the beach. Animals in the water can get caught or choke on trash left on the beach. Cigarette butts look like tasty food to birds and release toxins into the environment. Education is necessary if we want to keep the ocean clean and its inhabitants alive.
I propose we have an ocean safety video on every plane that lands here on Oahu. Passengers already view a video about what to do in case of an emergency, so it wouldn't be that difficult to insert an additional short video about ocean safety near the end of the plane ride. Some frequent fliers might not want to see the same video repeatedly, but it is worth the hassle if we can save some lives. Putting pamphlets or brochures in each hotel room also would help more tourists survive in case they are caught in dangerous situations.
It is everyone's responsibility that tourists get educated about our beaches and how to keep them clean. If too many deaths or the polluted environment drives off tourists, then we are all in big trouble. We need to protect our visitors and our land, before it is too late.
Sandra Ng is a freshman at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.