Kite Surfer Rescued in Waters off Kīhei

A 63-year-old man from La Jolla, California was rescued after his ankles became tangled in his kite lines while kite surfing in waters off of Kīhei on Monday afternoon.

Adding to the trouble, fire officials said, the kite got caught in the current and the man couldn’t swim in.

The incident was reported at 4:55 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015 about 300 yards offshore of the Maui Sunset Condominiums in Kīhei.

Beach goers reported the incident after observing  the kite go in the water, and told authorities that the surfer unable to get the kite back up.

Firefighters on a surfboard attempted to bring the man in, but were eventually assisted by a Kahului crew aboard a rescue watercraft that successfully brought the man to shore at 5:50 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said the man told rescuers that he was an experienced kite surfer and he has never had something like this happen.

Crews responding to the scene included firefighters from Kīhei and Rescue 10 from Kahului.