#ocean sports

A subadult humpback whale was freed from a life-threatening entanglement of rope and buoys during a NOAA-led team response on Tuesday off Hawaiʻi Island’s Kona coast.

“Seeing these other events unfolding and other things that are happening on our island and our state, these kids should be allowed to compete. I understand entirely, keeping professional events at bay, those draw large crowds…but I don’t think these kids should be punished – for lack of better words – because of the size of these professional events, because their events don’t draw the same amount of crowds,” said Walsh.

The 32-mile ocean crossing tests the endurance and daring of men and women as they cross the treacherous waters of the Ka’iwi Channel from Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai to Maunaloa Bay on the south shore of Oahu.