Huge Waves in Hawaii Leave Two Tourists Dead, One Hospitalized

Two people are dead and a third was hospitalized after powerful surf swept three tourists into the ocean this week at a popular beach in Hawaii known for its powerful swells.

The incident occurred just after 8 a.m. on Monday at Ke Iki Beach in Pupuke, on the north shore of Oahu ; a stretch of beach that does not have a lifeguard tower. Hawaii News Now reports that the three victims were a 72-year-old woman and 41-year-old woman who were both visiting from Oklahoma and a 63-year-old man who had a California driver's license.

Emergency personnel were unable to revive the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The two women were both taken to the hospital in serious condition, and the 72-year-old woman was later pronounced dead.

Honolulu Ocean Safety estimated that the waves were six to eight feet high at the time, with swells reaching up to 18 feet. A lifeguard had been posting no swimming signs along the shoreline when he heard people yelling for help. Lifeguards quickly swam out to rescue the distressed swimmers, but unfortunately it was too late.

Honolulu Ocean Safety Lt. Kerry Atwood noted that while Ke Iki can be a peaceful beach, swells can be unpredictable and dangerous.

"So people can come to the beach, and it looks like it’s a calm, great day for swimming. But in fact, we could have 10-foot surf that day, and they just have not seen a set," Atwood explained. "We’d like people to stay on the beaten path, and that means we don’t want people venturing out to some of our secluded areas, like our Ke Iki area that does not have a permanent lifeguard tower."

The nearest lifeguard tower was about half-mile down the beach at Rock Piles, but there were signs posted in the area warning of the dangerous swimming conditions that were evidently hard to miss.

"View the surf from a beach park that has a permanent lifeguard station. Abide by our warning signs. Stay back from caution tape, and, most importantly, listen to your lifeguard," Atwood added.