While many guys did not work on the Federal-State-County Holiday of Veterans’ Day, these three divisions, Police, Fire and Ocean Safety Officers were ready and able to assist an ocean user in distress off the coast of Waipuilani Park this afternoon (11/11/13) in Kihei.
Maui News Article for 11/12/13:
Crews aid surfer, paddleboarder
November 12, 2013
Two people were rescued from waters off Kihei on Monday after they had trouble making it to shore.
One rescue occurred at 11:18 a.m. fronting the Maui Beach Vacation Club on South Kihei Road after a woman couldn’t stand up on a stand-up paddleboard because of windy conditions, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga. He said an ocean safety officer aboard a personal watercraft picked up the woman about 400 yards offshore and towed her to shore. No medical attention was needed for the Lahaina woman, who was a first-time stand-up paddler in her 20s.
At 1:13 p.m., an ocean safety officer aboard a personal watercraft retrieved a 41-year-old windsurfer who was about 800 yards offshore fronting Waipuilani park and the Maui Sunset Resort after breaking his rig, Mainaga said. He said the windsurfer had been paddling for more than an hour trying to make his way in. The man didn’t need medical attention but was “very tired,” Mainaga said.
Article Photos
Firefighters and police officers meet in front of the Maui Beach Vacation Club during the rescue of a female stand-up paddleboarder Monday morning. The woman was picked up by an ocean safety officer on a personal watercraft about 400 yards offshore and towed to the beach, a fire official said.
The Maui News / BRAD SHERMAN photo
Kihei firefighters responded to both calls.
