Rescue at Sunset Beach

Paul Smith is a manger at Cholo’s Mexican Restaurant and teaches Yoga. His classes range from 30 – 60 people. Paul is originally from California, where he surfed in places like Mavericks. He has lived on the North Shore of Oahu for 20 years now. Here’s his story.

That Tuesday after my class I drove to Sunset Beach. It was good surf. There were about four or five guys paddling out when I got there so rather than follow the crowd I ran down shore to paddle out form Mothers Beach through the inside surf was about four to six feet ( 10 – 15’ faces) about 2/3 of the way out. I see this guy floating on his board (to the left).

 

At first, I didn’t think anything of it. You know, maybe he just got a long ride in and was kinda just resting. Then I saw a wave hit him and he got knocked off his board. At this point I was still about 50-60 yards away and I was thinking this guy doesn’t know what’s up. His board was floating in front of him and if he wasn’t careful it was going to hit him. I hollered “Hey man watch out for your board!” and then a third wave broke right on him and took him down. The wave tumbled him to the inside. That’s when I realized something was definitely wrong and this guy needed help. I paddled after him trying to get to his board which was tumbling with him attached to the leash.

When I got there he was still under so I reached down and pulled him out. He was all purple in the face. There was foam coming out of his mouth and it was obvious that he had taken in a lot of water. Looking up, I decided to paddle him across the inside towards the lifeguard tower. I needed to get some help and that was the quickest way. So I tried to put him on his back on his board, but he kept falling off. So I laid him face down and started moving him towards help. I was doing everything I could to get attention: yelling, waving my arms, but we were still a long ways from the tower. Then I could see Kyle the lifeguard in the tower, sitting up. But he hadn’t seen us yet. A couple of surfers paddled to us and asked what they could do to help. So I asked them to yell for help with me to get the tower’s attention.

Then another guy helped me by putting two boards together and getting the victim (Peter) on his back. We checked for a pulse, but couldn’t find it. At this point I could see the lifeguards were on the way, so I started yelling at Peter to hang on help was coming. By now it had been several minutes before anyone else saw us and helped so he was like my kid, you know? I couldn’t let him die. By this time Kyle was on his way with the paddle board. I thought I could paddle Peter in on it, but he fell off the board again. Kyle took over at this point and laid Peter face up on the paddleboard. Then Kyle lay on top of Peter and with the help of the other guys in the water got him to shore. When they got him to shore several surfers on the beach helped Kyle Pao carry Peter to the tower, where the lifeguards immediately began CPR. The lifeguards on duty were Kerry Atwood, Tom Jenny, Victor Marcal, Matt Sack and Dave Yester.

Peter was barely showing any signs of life, it looked as if he had been under water too long and might not make it; the guards did not give up. Everyone kept assisting with CPR and getting the water out of his lungs and breathing life back into him. Finally the EMT’s arrived with the ambulance and took over. The medics hooked Peter up to the machines and found a slight pulse. Peter was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital where the doctors did all they could – the waiting game started. Over the next day or so Peter’s vital signs improved and the doctors removed the air tubes as he started breathing in rhythm. By the second day Peter could recognize his family and by the third day he was speaking clearly. Peter was lucky, thanks to Paul Smith’s determination in getting him on his board and to the lifeguards – he survived.

Ho’okipa

Drive along Maui’s north shore on any day surf’s up with a brisk trade wind and you’ll wonder why a plethora of photographers are aiming1000 mm lenses at the water. Pull into the cliff top or beach parking lot and you’ll likely see superstar windsurfers doing back flips on the breakers while TV crews in helicopters shoot footage for the Extreme Sports channel. Mix in the traditional local surfer crowd who’ve been catchin’ waves at Ho’okipa since they were keiki’s and it’s clear why they call this place the world’s water sports Mecca.

Alien Algae Cleanup Efforts

Algal blooms on coral reefs are becoming increasingly common worldwide and can decimate coral reef ecosystems by overgrowing corals and decreasing biodiversity. In Hawaii, blooms of benthic (bottom-dwelling) algae are increasingly common due to the introduction and spread of several non-indigenous algal species.

These alien species are often unpalatable to native grazers and capable of successfully out competing corals even in low nutrient environments. Without the development of effective removal and educational outreach programs, these algae will continue to spread throughout the State, directly threatening the survival of Hawaii’s coral reefs, which comprise 85% of the coral reefs of the U.S. In Hawaii, marine systems are an estimated 25% endemic and support almost all facets of life, including cultural heritage, social activities, and economic stability. Alien algae are a threat to this important part of the Hawaii ecosystem.

Waikiki Clean-up Events
The Aohe Limue or alien algae cleanup events are designed to educate the public about the problems of invasive species in the State. These are large-scale removal efforts of the invasive alga, Gracilaria salicornia, with volunteers from the local community, including individual community members, local school groups, extra-curricular activity groups, and other local community service groups. The events inform the public about the threat of introduced species by having them participate directly in removing mats of algae from the reefs in Waikiki. The volunteers see first-hand the destruction the algae is creating on the coral reef ecosystem here in Hawaii. The events include resources from many entities working together to ensure volunteers are getting the most out of the experience.

The process of the events is as follows:
There are three stations for volunteers to help with in the removal events, as in-water help, onshore help, and as sorters.

• Volunteers in the water include boogie boarders, snorkelers and longboarders. They help UH Scientific Certified SCUBA divers bring the algae from underwater to shore SCUBA divers remove algae from the ocean floor in 8-12 feet of water around sunken bins with floats as markers. The divers sit on the sandy bottom and fill burlap bags with algae. Snorkelers take the full bag from the divers and hands it to the boogie boarders. These volunteers then bring the bags to the surfboarders to be carried to shore. Empty bags are sent back via surfboard to the snorkelers who gives them to the diver.
• The second station is onshore where volunteers create a human chain to carry the burlap bags from the water’s edge to the recycling container. The bags are passed from person to person, which are then emptied by the algae sorters at the container. The empty bags are then sent back down the chain to the shoreline to be carried out to the divers. This process continues until the divers’ surface.
• The third station consists of volunteers who help sort through all the algae that is brought in from the water onto tables an algae found within the algal mass to be returned to sea. Once the algae have been sorted, volunteers unload the invasive algae into the recycling container and release the native algae and any critters back into the water.

Box Jellyfish

Attracted to these “ocean stingers” by their pink, blue or purple appearance? Well, don’t be. By just one sting, jellyfish can turn any fun trip to the beach into a bummer. Here’s some information that’s good to know.

Jellyfish are common in all waters. The Portuguese man of war is usually noticed by its large float and bright colors. But watch out! Their tentacles may even be as long as 165 feet! Each tentacle can contain millions of cells called nematocysts, which cause the stinging sensation. They eject a barbed thread and sometimes poison. Jellyfish don’t sting you consciously, though. The barbs are released when any object comes in contact with its tentacles. Even dead jellyfish can be a menace to beachgoers. These jelly fish are common at Waimanalo beaches like Bellows
or Waimanalo Bay Beach Park.

The other jelly fish you should be aware of are the Box jellyfish. These jelly fish are seen on our south shore beaches like Waikiki, they tend to visit the beaches 7-10 days after the full moon. The Box Jelly fish are harder to see, they have little color and their float can appear clear.

Jellyfish stings hurt without a doubt. They may be serious but rarely are lethal. Symptoms usually include a burning sensation, redness and welts, and swelling of lymph nodes. In uncommon cases they may induce anaphylactic shock and require hospitalization.

If you are stung by a jellyfish alert the lifeguard on duty. They can help you with any assistance you may need. Brush off any tentacles using an object; do not use your hands, because it may still be able to sting. Spray or pour vinegar over the wound to disable stinging cells. If vinegar is not available rinse the wound with sea water or a saline solution. You can also keep the area iced to minimize discomfort.

Makena Beach

Makena also known as Big Beach is considered one of the most desired beaches in Hawaii. The name Makena is derived from the word makâke which means “many gathered”. This name still suites the beach as families are known to pack a cooler, grab some beach toys and spend the whole day basking in the sun. Being one of the largest beaches on Maui you’re never left out on a nice spot to lay down your towel, there is always plenty of fun for everyone.

 

There are three separate entrances to choose from, but don’t become too concerned on choosing the right one as they are all connected and equally as entertaining. There are several new facilities out at Makena including portable toilets, paved parking, and several Mobile food stands in a variety from shave ice to fish tacos. Makena Beach is a State Park. Even though the beach is closed in the late afternoon, as a way to reduce unwanted incidents, it does remain open just long enough to admire a marvelous seaside sunset.

The waves at Makena can be very unpredictable. It is advised to use caution and always keep an eye out for those unexpected swells to come rolling in. Although funding has been approved for Lifeguards to patrol Makena this has not been implemented yet. You may see the experienced locals braving the large waves, but it is not advised that you follow with confidence as these waves can be fierce and there have been many serious injuries. However, don’t let this scare you off from visiting for there are many days when the water is calm and suitable for swimming. On days when the waves are too large to enter, and remember on these days the rip currents are strong, you may enjoy just lying on the beach and watching the experts in the water.

Rip Currents

Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

Rip currents can be killers. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths due to rip currents on our nation’s beaches exceeds 100. Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards.

The greatest safety precaution that can be taken is to recognize the danger of rip currents and always remember to swim at beaches with lifeguards.  The United States Lifesaving Association has calculated the chance that a person will drown while attending a beach protected by USLA affiliated lifeguards at 1 in 18 million. If caught in a rip current at an unguarded beach, how you respond could make the difference between life and death.

Escaping a Rip Current

Depending on its severity, you may be able to see a rip current from the beach. Strong rip currents disrupt incoming waves and stir up sand from the ocean floor. When you’re at the beach, keep an eye out for narrow, muddy streaks in the ocean where there aren’t any waves breaking.

If you get caught up in a rip current, it’s crucial that you keep your wits about you. Your first instinct may be to swim against the current, back to shallow waters. In most cases, even if you’re a strong swimmer, this will only wear you out. The current is too strong to fight head-on.

Instead, swim sideways, parallel to the beach. This will get you out of the narrow outward current, so you can swim back in with the waves helping you along. If it’s too hard to swim sideways while you’re being dragged through the water, just wait until the current carries you past the sandbar. The water will be much calmer there, and you can get clear of the rip current before heading back in.

If caught in a rip current:

Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
Never fight against the current.
Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle–away from the current–towards shore.
If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.

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