Heavy winds, waves
keep rescue teams
busy off Oahu

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By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

East Honolulu Ocean Safety officials said they had a spike in water rescues yesterday after a three-day weekend of big surf and high winds. Lifeguards said waves reached heights of 15 feet, and winds blew up to 40 knots, or 46 mph.

As ocean conditions eased yesterday, lifeguards said more people braved the water and got hurt.

"The thing is, they're venturing out into still-hazardous areas," said Acting Ocean Safety Lt. Ron Bregman.

Bregman said that on Saturday and Sunday, ocean currents swept bodyboarders from Sandy Beach to Halona Point just past the Blowhole.

Strong currents were also a factor about 9:30 a.m. yesterday when two scuba divers were swept about half a mile from Lanai Lookout to the mouth of Hanauma Bay. Ocean Safety officer Ryan Reasoner pulled both men out of the water with his jet ski.

"One guy was a complete novice, and the other guy, it was his second time scuba diving," he said.

An ambulance took a 45-year-old California woman to the Castle Medical Center at 1:30 p.m. after lifeguards said she turned her back to the ocean at Makapuu and was knocked off the rocks.

Honolulu firefighters assisted two kayakers yesterday visiting the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai. The kayakers were knocked off the rocks on the back side of the left island.

Fire officials said a male suffered head wounds and a gash on his knee, while a female suffered minor injuries.