Thanks hawaiifanatic. I appreciate how you stay on top of this stuff and post these articles. These stories are so sad, but making travelers aware of the dangers is important.

Bill

Just want to say that I also appreciate you bringing this information to our attention, Hawaiifanatic.

ttt

veddy important info!!!!
topping

Yes, this was a real sad story.

I just posted a friendly word of advice to someone who was bringing a large group of middle schoolers to the Big Island. They were asking a question on snorkeling locations. The first thing that came to mind was this story that just happened last week.

For anyone coming to our beautiful islands here... please make sure you are aware of the rip tides and strong currents that we have here. Most days that are not that bad, and all locations are different than others... but from time to time, unfortunately, we that live here get to hear the sad news of someone drowning that was on vacation here.

Watch for signs posted about the water's situation that day (strong currents, box jellyfish, etc).

Take good care and caution, and enjoy the splendor of this place. We want to see you have a great vacation.

Aloha

DavidinHawaii
www.HowToDoHawaii.com

I would also encourage everyone to explore the safety links found in the left column of this website as part of your pre-trip research....

http://www.survivingparadisehawaii.com/

dear hawaifanatic -

thanks so much the article! this is one of the most important "travel tips" for all of us.
I might add,
*ALWAYS SWIM AT A LIFE - GUARDED beach,
*swim with a friend,
*follow warning flags,
*AND ask the life guards about the rip currents at the beach before you go in.

I am a very strong swimmer, but I always do the above - I have the most respect for mother nature. The waves can be extremely powerful - even a 2-3 footer.

And as Eddie would say, Never turn your back on the ocean!

I actually had a strong wave rip a big slit in my one piece suit. The location of the tear was not conveinent and made exiting the water very embarrASSing.

Excellent advice nanabee. Spot-on.

ttt for Pierre.

Sadly, another visitor is missing off of a Kauai beach. He was swept out to sea at Larsen's beach. You cannot be too careful about swimming in the ocean, and especially so on east/north Kauai beaches.

Here's a news link for this latest incident. This visitor from the state of Washington probably had no idea what he was getting himself into.

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2007/06/25/news/news04.txt

For one thing, Larsen's is not a guarded beach. Only swim at guarded beaches....

http://oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu/beachlist.asp

Larsen's has channel in the middle of the reef that creates a very strong current that can suck you out to sea. If you snorkel there, stay away from that channel.

Here's a diagram that mentions the strong tidal current in the channel....

http://www.teok.com/Drownings/larsensdrown.html

Here's a more complete. A high tide and rising swell caused conditions to change rapidly....

http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/26/news/story03.html