Visitor Dies in Possible Drowning in Ka’anapali

By Maui Now Staff

Ka`anapali Beach. Photo courtesy of HVCB.

Maui police responded to the beachfront of Mahina Resort at about 9:22 a.m. on Monday, July 14 in regard to a possible drowning.

Witnesses said they saw a woman floating face down approximately 25 feet from shore, and pulled her out of the water.

Police say they arrived to find a bystander conducting CPR on the unconscious female.

The victim, identified as Patrice Smith, 67, from Denton, Texas, was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition but was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

The area has seen numerous ocean-related fatalities recently; mostly older visitors. The most recent was on June 25 when Eugene Chu, 63, of San Barnadino, California died in the “Black Rock” area of Ka’anapali.