2 Maui teens die on raft trip

A Maui high school is in shock following a weekend tragedy

MAKAWAO, Maui » The bodies of two Maui friends who loved to go exploring and swimming together were found Sunday in an irrigation ditch in East Maui.

Lucille Smith, 13, of Wailuku and Cherie Hurd, 14, of Haiku planned to go "rafting" in a Haiku area Sunday morning, family members told police.

Police Lt. John Jakubczak said one body was found in Lowrie Ditch east of Haiku and West Kuiaha roads at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday by a passer-by. The other body was found in the area several hours later.

Family members told police their daughters had failed to return home after going rafting in the area known as "Tubes" in Haiku.

Friend Molly Roman said the two girls loved to explore and swim and were planning to go to a new swimming area.

Roman, who attended King Kekaulike High School with the two girls, said Hurd lived near Tubes and that Smith and Hurd swam often.

"They're really good swimmers," she said.

Police said a preliminary autopsy indicates the two girls apparently drowned, and there was no evidence of other significant injuries to either of them.

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GARY T. KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM Molly Roman held a photo yesterday of her friend Lucille Smith, 13, one of two Maui girls who drowned Sunday in an irrigation ditch.

MAKAWAO, Maui » Molly Roman says her two best friends, both "really good swimmers," wanted to go to a new swimming area Sunday morning.

"I was supposed to go with them, but instead I went to Hana," said Roman.

The bodies of her friends -- Lucille Smith, 13, of Wailuku and Cherie Hurd, 14, of Haiku -- were found Sunday in an irrigation ditch in East Maui. Family members said the two planned to go rafting Sunday morning.

Police Lt. John Jakubczak said one body was found in Lowrie Ditch, east of Haiku and West Kuiaha roads at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday by a passer-by. The other body was found several hours later in the area.

The ditch is part of the East Maui Irrigation system that collects stream water to irrigate sugar cane fields, police said.

Police said a preliminary autopsy indicates the two girls apparently drowned, and there was no evidence of other significant injuries to either one.

Family members told police their daughters had failed to return home after going rafting in the area known as "Tubes" in Haiku.

Roman, who attended King Kekaulike High School with the two girls, said Hurd lived near Tubes and that Smith and Hurd swam often.

"They're really good swimmers," she said.

Roman said Smith, a ninth-grader, wanted to be a photographer and actress, and Hurd, a 10th-grader, wanted to be a singer.

"They're my two best friends. ... We'd go on little missions and adventures," said Roman.

Roman said the last time she saw them was at a football game at the high school. "They drove me home from the game," Roman said.

Principal Susan Scofield said many teachers were unaware until yesterday about the deaths.

She said teams of counselors from other schools were called in to help students cope with the loss of their friends.

Scofield said the counseling was to take place in the library but was moved to a larger space at the gym when she realized the number of grieving students totaled close to 100.

"A lot of students have been affected by this, so that tells me they had a lot of good relationships with their peers," Scofield said.