While unguarded ocean areas like Queen’s Bath at Princeville are dangerous, the highly populated places on Kauai are deadly as well.
Poipu Beach, for instance, has the highest drowning ratio on the island — 41 people drowned there from 1970 to 2012, according to Chuck Blay, who researched the subject.
Compare that to the seven who drowned at Queen’s Bath and the 29 that drowned at Hanakapiai Beach in the same time period.
“The factors that make a beach dangerous are the conditions and the number of people there,” said Dr. Monty Downs, president of the Kauai Lifeguard Association. “Some of our South Shore beaches may be low on the conditions scale but very high on the number of people there.”
Surrounded by resorts, restaurants and shops, Poipu Beach is an epicenter of activity and a great spot to watch fish, which people often feed while they snorkel.
And that activity is one of the most dangerous things you can do in the water, according to data from the Hawaii Department of Health, which studied ocean deaths statewide from 2005-14.
That data shows 69 total drownings on Kauai from 2005-14, with 75 percent of them being visitors. Of those, 21 were swimming, 16 were snorkeling, three were diving and the rest were doing some other activity.
That means 30 percent of ocean drownings on Kauai in that eight-year period happened when people were swimming and 23 percent of drownings happened while snorkeling.
Unguarded beaches are just as deadly as places like Poipu, Downs said. Even though there aren’t as many people in the water, there’s no one to intervene if trouble arrives.
“Unguarded North Shore beaches in winter can have rough conditions and dangerous currents,” he said. “Guarded beaches, of course, also have these conditions, but there are lifeguards there.”
Hanakapiai Beach and Lumahai Beach are two beaches he highlighted as some of the more dangerous beaches on Kauai. Both are unguarded.
The majority of drownings on Kauai happen to visitors to the island, which is why KLA, the county and the state are all working to educate visitors before they arrive and when they’re on the island about the dangers.
“With visitors we can cite a lack of awareness of conditions, lack of knowledge of what to do and what not to do if you find yourself caught by a current and pulled out, and pre-existing medical conditions,” Downs said.
Residents sometimes get into trouble on the ocean as well, and Downs said some common factors in those tragedies are high-risk activities like big-wave surfing and night diving.
“The participants may have great experience in these activities, but they are still at risk,” he said. “As with driving, alcohol can be — and is — a factor.”
Jim Jung, vice president of the KLA, likes to remind people that ocean safety is primarily their own responsibility, and suggests reading KLA’s Kauai Beach Guide for safety tips.
He recommends basics like learning how to swim and always staying near a lifeguard, swimming with a buddy and learning how to recognize rip currents, as well as learning what to do when caught in one.
“Shore breaks can pound you into the sand and cause serious injuries. Reef breaks can hold you underwater longer than you can hold your breath,” he said. “Enjoy our wonderful ocean recreation (but) your safety is your responsibility.”
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Jessica Else, environmental reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
