Visitor Found Lifeless in Mākena Waters

Mākena, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

(Update: 8:04 a.m. 2/17/15; original post: 8:39 p.m. 2/16/15)

A 53-year-old visitor was found floating lifeless in waters fronting the Mākena Beach and Golf Resort in South Maui on Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, 2015, officials said.

The incident was the third ocean death reported on Maui on the President’s Day holiday.

Maui police have since identified the victim as Larry Robins, 53, of Spokane, Washington.

The Mākena incident was reported at around 3:08 p.m. when beach goers at South Maluaka observed the man floating.   Fire officials say the man was pulled from the ocean by bystanders and CPR was performed by a visiting firefighter from the mainland until Wailea firefighters arrived.

According to department reports, firefighters and paramedics were unable to revive the man at the scene.

Authorities say the man had been snorkeling with his wife at the time of the incident.  The cause of death is pending autopsy results.

Also on Monday, two teens from Kahului died in an apparent drowning incident in waters near Honokōhau Bay; and in West Maui, a New Jersey visitor was transported to the hospital in critical condition after being found floating face down in waters fronting the Kāʻanapali Beach Resort.