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Lambda Aloha Kauai
Larsen's Beach Safety Page
| Larsen’s Beach beautiful, But Proving Deadly By Dr. Monty Downs, Emergency Room Physician, Wilcox Hospital Posted: Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 - 11:25:39 am HST Source: The Garden Island Newspaper Ka-ume ka-iwa, the beautiful beach between Moloa‘a and Kilauea, derived its modern name, Larsen’s Beach, from the manager of the Kilauea Sugar Plantation in the 1920s. Larsen’s has claimed two lives in the last few months. One was a visitor from Bellingham, Wash., who left behind a pregnant wife. The other was one of our fine local young men. Tough to take for the families, obviously, and also for ocean safety advocates and professionals who are trying to make things better. We can’t change the strong rip current that lurks at the very section of the beach that appears the most inviting for swimming. This one sandy spot is surrounded by coral reef that extends right up to the shoreline. The sandy spot, just a few dozen yards wide, is sandy precisely because it serves as the outlet for all the water that surges over the reef along the beach. Water Safety Task Force co-chair George Simpson is a very strong swimmer; but while snorkeling in the area with power fins, he was barely able to make progress against the current that wanted to take him out to sea. One of my doctor colleagues did get swept out a few years ago. He realized that he couldn’t fight the current, and so he worked his way back to shore further down the coast, stumbling in over the reef itself, arriving on the beach cut up and with his feet full of vana spines. But he was alive. We also can’t take away the beach’s allure, its classic Hawaiian beauty. Nor should we take away its access: An unpaved old cane road that traverses private properties. The last thing we need is for more of our beautiful Kaua‘i spots to be taken away from us. And what we can’t do is eliminate the public’s desire for adventure, for seeking out places that are off the beaten track. Writer Michael Ghiglieri’s best-seller called “Off the Wall” describes various ways in which people have made fatal decisions in back-country locales during visits to Yosemite. Some of the people he describes were drunk and stupid. The vast majority were sober and intelligent and just seeking adventure without good information about what they were getting into. In light of all these obstacles, I often feel like we’re sitting ducks, with our next family catastrophe guaranteed. And in a way this is true, but this doesn’t mean we just give up. What are some things we can do? Well, we must take away, in the case of visitors and residents alike, the impression that you can safely get in the water at Larsen’s, no matter how inviting it looks. “The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook” is the Lihu‘e Borders’ perennial No. 1 seller. The book highlights Larsen’s as “a real gem,” saying: “This place can be a snorkeler’s paradise. Lots of coral and fish in shallow, crystal-clear water greet the eye. One thing that can be very cool — if you’re careful — is to get in the water at the southeast end (where the trailhead is) and let the current take you toward (but not into!) the Pakala Channel.” Russian roulette anyone? This advice suggests floating along with the current and enjoying the beautiful snorkeling sights, but make sure to get out before the current turns and takes you out to sea. The advice should read: “This is a beautiful beach for beachcombing and strolling and a picnic, but do not go in the water. There is a notorious and deadly rip current that is waiting to sweep you out to sea, and there are no lifeguards anywhere nearby.” Period. Other highlighted “gems” in this book include Hideaways, Queen’s Bath and Kipu Falls, all of which are unguarded, often dangerous and have proven deadly. To the book’s credit, it does contain numerous passages accompanying each of the “gems” that talk about safety and warn about unpredictable conditions that can cause danger. Furthermore, I, an emergency room doctor, recognize that I work in a stilted setting, where I see the horrors and not the thousands of people that do have a great time at these locations. But how many thousands of great times does it take to balance out a family catastrophe? I’m not wise enough to have that answer. I’m very pleased to report that another very popular publication, 101 Things to Do on Kauai, does not mention Larsen’s or Queen’s Bath or Kipu Falls. I’m also pleased to report that, on occasion, I anonymously wander by concierge and activity desks and listen to their staffs’ ocean safety advice as they talk with clients. Either they’re recognizing me and putting on their best front, or they’re doing a really great job of educating. Thank you to each and every one of you. You don’t get the reward of finding out who stayed out of trouble because of you, but I promise you that your good work is logged in the universe’s big book. We can improve at spreading good information, such as “swim near a lifeguard,” by referring guests to several resources already in place. First and foremost is www.kauaiexplorer.com, our County Beach Safety brochure, our car rental Drive Guide, our hotels’ welcome packets, and, most of all, our people. Some might prefer the format of the state-sponsored ocean safety Web site, www.oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu. We’re always searching for more tools, and I’m currently working actively with the governor’s office trying to figure out how to get incoming airlines to run a short ocean safety video. (Hawaiian Airlines does this already). Thanks to the aloha of our Lihu‘e airport manager, we will soon have an ocean safety banner in each baggage claim area, and we hope this will catch peoples’ eyes for just the moment that it takes to understand that there are safety issues they need to consider. I believe that our biggest challenge now isn’t so much creating new tools as getting out the tools we already have on a daily basis. In future columns I will be taking a more detailed look at how to meet this challenge. In the meantime, enjoy the beach at Larsen’s — but don’t swim or snorkel there! • Monty Downs is an emergency room doctor at Wilcox Memorial Hospital. His column appears every other Wednesday and will return to the Wednesday slot, July 25. |
| Larsen's Beach has nearly claimed the lives of several of our local family who are experienced and strong swimmers. If you are there, and see someone in distress in the water, Call 911, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HELP (Or you could easily drown as well) - Even Experienced Locals WILL NOT TRY TO HELP distressed swimmers in the water (we all know better). If you get in trouble in the water, signal for help, but don't expect anyone from the beach to come to your assistance, Help most likely will arrive from the North, on a Jet Ski or small boat. Do Not Waste Energy trying to swim back to shore. Stay away from the rocks as best you can. Swim South along the shoreline if you have a mask, snorkel and fins, or if there is no one on the beach to call for help. We DO NOT SUGGEST SWIMMING HERE |
| Please read this information and be flying back home in your seat after your Hawaii Vacation. Otherwise you could be flying back home via Air Cargo. |