Alaska Woman Rescued in Rough Waters at Hāna’s Koki Beach

Image: Chris Archer/ Koki Beach

By Maui Now Staff

A 75-year-old woman from Anchorage, Alaska was rescued in waters off of Koki Beach in East Maui after she became stuck in rough waters.

The incident was reported at 1:08 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

Fire officials say a crew from the Hāna station arrived on scene about 10 minutes later and spotted a woman clinging to the rocks about 30 feet from the shoreline.

Firefighters walked down a cliff area and swam out with a surfboard to retrieve her, said Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto.

Air-1 was dispatched due to the large surf and rough ocean conditions, but once the woman was brought to shore, the department helicopter was cancelled.

According to Taomoto, the Alaska woman was with a Maui woman when the incident occurred.  The two reportedly went swimming about a quarter mile north of Koki Beach, when ocean conditions turned bad.

Maui FSO Taomoto said the Maui woman made it to shore and called for help while the Alaska woman clung to the rocks until firefighters arrived.

Authorities say the Alaska visitor suffered only minor scrapes and declined medical treatment.