HANAKAPI‘AI — A 25-year-old visitor from Poland drowned yesterday morning while swimming at Hanakapi‘ai Beach, a county press release states, marking the fourth drowning death in two days on Kaua‘i as the season’s first major north swell rolled in. The
HANAKAPI‘AI — A 25-year-old visitor from Poland drowned yesterday morning while swimming at Hanakapi‘ai Beach, a county press release states, marking the fourth drowning death in two days on Kaua‘i as the season’s first major north swell rolled in.
The still-unidentified man hiked two miles in to Hanakapi‘ai Valley and decided to jump in the water upon his arrival at the North Shore beach, according to witnesses.
Within minutes, he was reportedly overcome by the strong current and swept out to sea.
Someone who saw the incident hiked out and notified lifeguards at Ke‘e Beach around 11:56 a.m.
Air-1 was dispatched to the scene after picking up three rescue specialists.
Ken D’Attillio of Inter-Island Helicopters said he spotted the victim, already floating, within 23 minutes of taking off from Princeville Airport.
Two lifeguards on a Jet Ski were sent out to the victim, about 150 to 200 yards from Hanakapi‘ai Beach, and brought him to Hanalei firefighters who were waiting in Zodiac-1, the press release says.
The victim was then transported via Zodiac-1 to Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei.
“We get these big swells, and people aren’t heeding (the warnings) and aren’t watching the ocean,” said D’Attillio, who described the victim as 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 with the look of a strong swimmer. “They’re just going out like it’s any other day and it’s not.”
The National Weather Service announced a high surf advisory on Sunday to remain in effect until today.
“A large north-northwest swell continues to produce above-normal surf mainly along the north-facing shores of most of the smaller Hawaiian islands,” states the advisory, posted on the NWS Web site. “Surf heights of 14 to 18 feet will continue along north and west facing shores of Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i.
“A high surf advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing large breaking waves, dangerous rip currents and localized beach erosion. Stay well away from the shore break and do not swim anywhere near the surf zone.”
Three visitors drowned in two separate incidents Sunday afternoon near Queen’s Bath in Princeville and Kaua‘i Sands in Kapa‘a.
• Michael Levine, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or via e-mail at mlevine@kauaipubco.com
