Man Fighting Fish Rescued From Capsized Kayak

By Wendy Osher

Rescue crews on Maui responded to two separate ocean incidents on Sunday afternoon, August 21, 2011.

The first incident was reported at 1:23 p.m. on Sunday about a mile off-shore of Olowalu in the vicinity of Mile Marker 14 of the Honoapiilani Highway.

A 59-year-old Upcountry man told authorities that he was fighting a fish when his kayak capsized and sunk.

Crews from the Ocean Safety Division used a Jet Ski to bring the man to shore, where crews from the Maui Fire Department responded to assist.  There were no reported injuries.

In an unrelated incident, ocean rescue crews responded to assist a male visitor who had difficulty getting to shore on his stand up paddle board.  The incident was reported at about 1:50 p.m. near the Kaanapali Shores.

The 23-year-old man, from Staten Island, NY, was picked up by a private boat.  The man was then retrieved by an Ocean Rescue Jet Ski and taken to shore to awaiting crews from the fire and police department.

There were no injuries reported.  Conditions, authorities say were windy, at both locations.