Link to worldwide dangerous waters article:
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/...r+Beaches+2008

At this link, there's an eyewitness account of the Queen's Bath drownings. It's the first reader posting below the article....

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...entry_id=31466

A truly tragic and heartbreaking account.

I am truly having difficulty getting thru the witness report, but I appreciate it and will eventually get thru it. Brings me back to my dayz of witnessing some scary things. Just glad the witness didn't jump in the water, which for some of us is the natural instinct.

Hell I was afraid I might lose mrlou trying to save a hound. We all rallied an the hound made it out of the current, but they really wanted to jump in to help.

I am thankful that the witness reported their experience.

Like I've said before, the more we talk about it....we will just never know what life we may have saved.

Kauaiexplorer.com is a fantastic website to check for the latest surf reports. I highly recommend bringing a laptop on you're vacation!

We've snorkeled at Larsons for years but it's a beach where you must understand the currents and where the channel of outflow is. When you get in the water there, you can literally feel the constant current traveling toward the pakala channel. If you get near this channel, there is little doubt you'll be swept out to sea. If you do not know where the channel is, DO NOT SWIM/SNORKEL THERE! In high surf the volume of water splashing over the reef has to go somewhere and, guess what, it goes out the channel but at a faster rate due to the volum of water. The faster the rate, the stronger the rip current. KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

there is no bad time to preach ocean safety....

ttt

I was in Kauai in 1988 with a boyfriend who had lived in Oahu. I never saw any signs warning of danger; perhaps they were there but I didn't see them. As I was frolicking in the waves, he said to me "you must be awfully confident because if you go out much further, the next stop is Australia". That sure got my attention!

Update and safety measures discussed in Garden Island newspaper today. Considering seasonal closures of Queen's Bath. Link below.

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2...d114440035.txt

Here is an excerpt from a letter to the editor by Christopher Waite of Kilauea....

As an EMS worker, the call to respond to Queen’s Bath occurs far too often. Extremity fractures, head injuries, life-long debilitating spinal injuries, heat exhaustion, heart attacks and death by drowning occur at an alarming rate. Extrications of injured people are extremely difficult and hazardous to rescue personnel. Extrication from the tidepool area involves 200 yards over rough, uneven, often slippery terrain. This recent event left two rescue/firemen in the ocean for over 30 minutes treading water outside the breakers. The fearless, highly skilled, water safety personnel are also put at extreme risk during rocky shoreline rescues.

Some 90 percent of the year, this rugged coastline is impacted by rough and uneven tradewind swell. Coastline conditions worsen during fall and winter months with deep open ocean swell trains expending tremendous amounts of energy on the rocky coast with no extra words of caution or warnings to unsuspecting visitors of these deteriorating conditions.

Exclusion of these hazardous sites in visitor information/guidebooks would be a start in the prevention of these tragic events. The promotion of these treacherous areas as “visitor destinations” has got to stop. To recommend and direct people off the beaten path to these dangerous sites is way out of line and recklessly misleading to visitors. I know I would feel horrible if I directed someone to one of these areas and they lost their life.

Haven't visited Hawaii so haven't yet read books about it. Hope the warnings are mentioned in Fodors! Such a trajedy-the women were from DC area.

A writer from Kauai just sent me this. Seems I am not alone in thinking it is the guidebooks to stop selling Queen's bath and being for progressive in the truth of ocean conditions and risks.

http://kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/...5778191848.txt

Rename the place, "Queen's Death Trap."

Watch the video...

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/10468/40/

and read the copy!

Instead of trying to duck responsibility, the guidebook publishers should solicit the input of the lifeguards for all of their books and edit accordingly. This would include removing any dangerous locations such as Queen's Bath or Larsen's Beach. I'm sure the books would sell just as well, even with these danger spots removed.

amen

Ditto.

Quite sad.

Kal....

?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8

back in your kennel now....

Ironically I have been emailing the editorial staff these past few days. We can make a difference and get the guidebooks to stop cashing in on pretty pictures of dangerous places.

good reading and discussion at ta

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ai_Hawaii.html

very very sad indeed...

'lou,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-wDP...eature=related

sharing tunes and sharing ocean safety and sharing aloha.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puelc...eature=related