Visitor Rescued at Makena Landing After Becoming Separated from Kayak

Courtesy photo: Mark Takahama.

By Wendy Osher

Firefighters and lifeguards assisted a male visitor to safety after he became separated from his kayak in waters off of South Maui on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency responders were called to the scene of an unattended kayak reported at 2:06 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, about 100 feet from shore off of Makena Landing.

Crews from the Maui Fire Department’s Ladder 14 out of Wailea, and two lifeguards with Jet Ski 12 out of Makena Beach were notified by the Police Department’s Central Dispatch to respond to the incident, said Maui Fire Capt. Paul Haake.

Upon arrival at the scene, authorities say firefighters were informed by a bystander that the kayak was seen floating unattended in the bay fronting Keawala’i Church on the southern end of Makena Landing.

Jet Ski 12 was notified of the kayak’s location and headed to that area to secure the vessel and search for any victims.

Courtesy Photo: Mark Takahama.

According to Capt. Haake, a female party who was one of the persons from the unattended kayak made it to shore on her own, and called from a residence on the north end of the landing stating that the male victim was last seen on the rocky shoreline having difficulty climbing up to safety.

Lifeguards reportedly made contact with the male victim, brought him onto the jet ski’s rescue board, and took him back to the original launch area for ease of extrication.  Firefighters met the jet ski at Makena Landing and assisted the male victim onto shore.

Because the male victim was having difficulty breathing, he was loaded unto an ambulance and taken to the hospital, said Capt. Haake. While tending to the male victim, authorities say the female, who was a resident, showed up at the landing and required no medical attention.

The incident ended shortly after 3 p.m.