PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2023
Contact: Mahina Martin (808) 868-6014
County of Maui reopens beach parks
Ocean Safety Officers conduct multiple rescues
The County of Maui will open Baldwin Beach Park, Ho'okipa Beach Park and Kuau Bay Beach Park on Thursday morning, after the parks were closed Wednesday due to a large northwest swell. Minor flooding occurred Wednesday morning in the parking lot of Kuau Bay Beach Park, but no major damage was reported from the swell.
In West Maui, County of Maui ocean safety officers on rescue watercraft from D.T. Fleming Beach Park and Hanakao'o Beach Park worked together to make multiple rescues Wednesday.
While responding to a 911 call about swimmers being pulled into a riptide in high surf at 10 a.m. at Napili Bay, an ocean safety officer from D.T. Fleming Beach Park rescued two boogie boarders at Honolulu Bay in surf of 15 to20 feet, according to the County of Maui Fire Department.
An ocean safety officer operating the Hanakao'o Beach Park rescue watercraft made two rescues in response to 911 calls Wednesday. One was for snorkelers in Napili Bay at 1:30 p.m. Another occurred at 2:45 p.m., when the ocean safety officer recovered a board and located a surfer who was separated from the board in high surf.
At Kanaha Beach Park at 10:12 a.m., an ocean safety officer on rescue watercraft assisted a standup paddler who was waving for help after losing a board in surf of 25 to 30-plus feet on the outer reef fronting a lifeguard tower. The paddler was assisted to shore.
A high surf warning issued by the National Weather Service remains in effect through 6 p.m. Thursday, with surf forecasted to gradually begin lowering through the day Thursday. Ocean safety officers will be stationed in high surf areas Thursday for extended hours until dark.
The public is advised to remain cautious of ocean conditions and stay away from the shoreline along affected coasts.
The County of Maui thanks the public for its patience during the time Baldwin, Ho`okipa and Kuau Bay beach parks were closed out of an abundance of caution in light of forecasted conditions with potential impacts to those shoreline areas.
# # #