Private Boat Rescues Kayaker off Ukumehame

West Maui firefighters and ocean safety lifeguards responded to a kayaker who called 911 for help, saying he couldn’t make it back to shore and was about a half-mile off of the Ukumehame area in West Maui at around 1:13 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Lahaina firefighters arrived on scene at 1:30 p.m. Offshore winds blowing more than 30 mph with heavy white caps and mist on the water surface made it difficult for fire crews to locate the kayaker.

The kayaker was eventually spotted roughly 300 yards off of Papalaua State Wayside Park. Crews noticed a boat nearby and through VHF radio communications, requested their assistance in picking up the kayaker.

At 1:39 p.m., the boat brought a male in his 40’s and his kayak aboard and took him back to the Maalaea harbor. The man was a Lahaina resident and did not require any medical attention.

Air 1 and an ocean safety rescue watercraft responded along with Lahaina firefighters but were cancelled after the private boat was able to rescue the kayaker.