#ocean safety maui

In commemoration of Hawaiʻi Water Safety Day on May 14, Ocean Safety officers were recognized for their work in responding to 355 ocean rescues in Maui County last year. This included 245 rescues using watercraft, attending to 257 cases involving beachgoers in need of medical assistance, and 40 that required ambulance service. In 2024, Ocean […]

On April 6, 2025, Maui County’s Ocean Safety Bureau extended their lifeguard services to 10-hour shifts to better protect beachgoers, per the Department of Fire & Public Safety.

A High Surf Warning kept Maui’s Ocean Safety Officers busy over the weekend, on both the North Shore and the Upper West side of the island, with Jetski operators remaining on-duty until sunset as a precaution.

A kayaker who was fishing about three-quarters of a mile offshore in Olowalu on Monday morning was rescued after he was unable to return to shore due to winds.

American Medical Response reminds beachgoers of lifesaving tips to stay safe while enjoying the ocean.

Ocean Safety crews on Maui used rescue watercraft to make multiple rescues Wednesday as an XL swell peaked along the north and west facing shores.

Large surf on the North Shore of Maui has kept Ocean Safety Officers busy over the last couple of days. Rescues were reported at Kanahā, Hamakuapoko Point, Nāpili Bay, and DT Fleming Beach.

A windsurfer who had collapsed at Kanahā Beach Park in Kahului on Maui was transported to the hospital after regaining a pulse.

Rescue crews helped two windsurfers and one kitesurfer to shore in three separate incidents at Kanahā Beach in Central Maui on Thursday afternoon.

Lifeguards responded to 32 rescues in a single day at Kanahā Beach Park. North shore ocean safety captain Keola Brown said lifeguards just want to fair compensation so that they can support their families.

Supporters want the committee to fund an arbitration award for Maui Ocean Safety officers. Maui is the only county in the state that has yet to approve funds.

The contract includes a 17% increase in wages because of the employees’ reallocation to a new bargaining unit. In Maui County, approximately 50 ocean safety officers will be affected.

Ocean drowning is the leading cause of fatal injury among visitors to Hawaiʻi, accounting for nearly half of the total of all fatal injuries, according to officials with the State Department of Health.

“We appreciate the reports, and also our residents’ willingness to help clean up the debris,” said Ward. “Please continue to report debris, especially large quantities, unusual items, large items and materials that may be hazardous.”

Maui’s Colin Yamamoto was promoted to the rank of battalion chief of ocean safety for the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety.

Ocean safety officers on Maui are urging the public to exercise caution today after 16 people were rescued from high surf conditions on Friday, county officials said.

The four-class series is offered for both commercial tour operators and members of the community and includes educational information on Hawaiʻi’s unique marine environment, local conservation efforts, and ocean awareness basics.

Patricia “Aunty Patty” Nishiyama of the group Nā Kūpuna O Maui called the use of thrill craft in the area disruptive, saying the activity creates “noise pollution,” and is “an extreme danger” because of multiple conflicting uses of near-shore waters.

Mayor Arakawa provides a positive look at the New Year on Maui, recapping his efforts at stabilizing the economy, discussion of projects producing jobs for residents, and plans for making government more efficient.

The Charter Commission advanced a proposal to shift the current annual budget to a biannual budget, giving administrators and department heads more time to develop and carry out budget plans.