Female Visitor Dies After Being Pulled From Waters in Mākena

A female visitor died after being pulled from waters at Poʻolenalena Beach, also known as “Chang’s Beach” in Mākena on Thursday morning.

The incident was reported at 11:18 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017.  Kīhei firefighters responded to the area for reports of a female pulled from the ocean.

Two ocean safety lifeguards from Mākena Beach Park arrived at 11:24 a.m. and took over CPR from bystanders on the beach. Paramedics and firefighters arrived a short time later and continued advanced life-saving measures; however, despite all concerted efforts, the woman died at the scene, according to department reports.

Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said the woman was reportedly standing in the water near shore and was overcome by head-high sized shorebreaks. She became unresponsive and beach onlookers eventually pulled her out of the water and began CPR.

Authorities say the woman was a visitor in her 60’s. Her hometown was not available.

It was one of two water accidents that fire and ocean safety crews responded to in South Maui within the span of an hour on Thursday. In the other incident, a male visitor was transported to the hospital in critical condition after being pulled from waters at Wailea Beach.