By Sarah Burchard
9 April, 2026
Photo by Marco Garcia.
Hawaiʻi is currently facing a severe, yet completely preventable, drowning crisis. Despite having some of the most capable watermen and waterwomen in the world, Hawaiʻi has the second-highest resident drowning rate in the country behind Alaska. It's the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1 to 15 and the leading cause of injury-related death for visitors. If you're planning a trip to Hawaiʻi, that should make you pause, because although visitors make up less than 15% of Hawaiʻi's average daily population, they comprise the majority of drowning victims across all age groups. Visitors have eight times the drowning fatality rate compared to local residents.
In 2023, a group of bereaved families, in collaboration with the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, formed the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition with a mission to reduce drowning in Hawaiʻi and increase equitable access to water safety education.
"Everyone assumes that Hawaiʻi's strong ocean-going culture means that we all are able to swim. In reality, those most closely connected to this culture, Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, are drowning in higher numbers, especially the young," according to the coalition's research.
Photo by Matte Cimbo via IG.
Jessamy Town Hornor is a co-founder of the coalition. In 2016, her husband Mark Hornor and three daughters arrived at Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail for an afternoon of hiking down to the tidepools. The couple had taken their older daughters there before and it was a place they felt like they knew and understood. That day, unbeknown to Mark, the tail end of a storm was occurring offshore.
Mark and the kids were playing in the tidepools when the tide shifted. A wall of water, one of Jessamy's daughters said looked to be "a house high," crashed in front of them, sweeping her 6-year-old daughter Mina out to sea. Mark jumped in after her and more giant waves followed. A young local man pulled Jessamy's older daughters out before they were swept away too. Neither Mark nor Mina survived.
This tragic story is unfortunately one of many. This is why it is so important to understand the risks of enjoying Hawaiʻi's beautiful beaches and the precautions you can take to stay safe or be of assistance in a dire situation.
"I don't think we're very good at assessing risk," Jessamy said. "We have to give people the tools to assess risk."
A rescue tube at Hanalei Pier on Kauaʻi. Photo courtesy of Rescue Tube Foundation.
One of her recommendations is looking for rescue tubes and beach access numbers. If you are at the beach after hours, or with no lifeguards around, and something happens, you'll need to know where to tell the 911 dispatcher to find you. Rescue tubes help save not only someone who is drowning but the person who has jumped in to save them as well.
"Our visitors have even less of a sense than locals do when they come in and they're going to these places that are just so complex," Jessamy said.
Shark's Cove, North Shore O'ahu. Photo by Shutterstock.
Sarah Fairchild, executive director of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, said snorkeling is a risky ocean activity that people perceive to be safe. The coalition reported that 91% of all snorkeling victims in Hawaiʻi are visitors. Fairchild recommends getting familiar with your equipment and not going out too far if you're not a strong swimmer.
You should also take into consideration the season. During winter, North Shore swells surge. For example, Sharks Cove, a popular North Shore snorkeling destination on Oʻahu, may be safe in the summer but dangerous during the winter months. During this time of year, the calmer waters on the South Shore are more suitable for snorkeling and swimming.
There is a growing concern around full-face snorkel masks. The theory is that carbon dioxide does not adequately escape the mask, causing snorkelers to re-breathe their own exhaled CO2. This concern is significant enough that the Consumer Safety and Protection Committee recently issued its first recall of a full-face snorkel mask model, citing possible carbon dioxide backup after receiving multiple complaints and a lawsuit.
The other issue with the masks is that if water gets inside them, or the swimmer begins to panic, they're difficult to pull off quickly. Lifeguards report seeing swimmers struggle to pull the masks off their faces in distress. In one observed incident in Waikīkī, a lifeguard had to jump into the water to rip a full-face mask off a stunned swimmer who was unable to remove it himself.
Photo by Valeria Venezia via Shutterstock.
Another danger beachgoers should know about is how to spot a rip current. This is an area in the ocean where water is moving but waves are not breaking. The water looks deceptively calm, which attracts swimmers who are trying to avoid big waves. In this case, the rip current will rapidly pull swimmers offshore, far from the beach. If the swimmer panics and tries to swim straight back to shore against the current, they become exhausted — a leading factor in drowning.
Look for depressions in the sand where large swells have pulled sand away from the shoreline. In these traps, sometimes called "mushroom rips," the incoming water might only be ankle- to knee-high, but as the water collects and rushes back out to sea to equalize, it can quickly swell to waist- to chest-high, powerfully sweeping people off their feet.
Water safety experts emphasize that if you are caught in a rip current, you should not fight it. Instead, the best survival strategy is to remain calm, relax and float. Allow the current to carry you away from the beach until it eventually releases you, then swim diagonally back to shore.
Fairchild recommends checking the Surf News Network before heading out. In addition to the surf report, you can find conditions for sailing, snorkeling and other water activities.
It's not just the ocean we should be cautious around. While 83% of all drownings occur in the ocean, 58% of child drowning deaths happen in swimming pools, and one-third of all pool drowning victims are under 7 years old. Most hotel pools do not have lifeguards on duty, so the responsibility lies with you.
Always be aware of your nearest beach access number. Photo by Marco Garcia.
This year, there is a resolution circulating in the state Legislature to adopt the coalition's Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan — a comprehensive roadmap designed to keep residents and visitors safe in, on and around the water.
One of the plan's recommendations is identifying "Hot Spots," locations with high numbers of drowning incidents, and "Black Spots," which are areas with extreme, deceptive hazards like China Walls and Makapuʻu Tidepools on Oʻahu and Queen's Bath on Kauaʻi, and ensuring there are lifeguards and proper signage with explicit warnings.
Jessamy cautions about the danger of seeing places like these on social media, which make them look appealing to visit but don't convey their risks. "I think we're all aware that people do silly things for social media," she said. "It's not worth taking the risk if you're out of your comfort zone or your knowledge area."
Hawaiʻi's beaches and ocean are one of the biggest draws for travelers visiting the islands. There are many tour guides and instructors on each island ensuring guests can enjoy the water without getting hurt. When you are on your own, it is important to remember the ocean here is powerful and although it may look safe, there are still risks.
"Even if you are from the mainland or a different part of the world and you feel really comfortable in the lake or the bay or the river where you're from, the conditions are very different here," Fairchild said. "You shouldn't expect that you will be as competent in the water."
Fairchild said she's heard too many stories about travelers going back home without a loved one they came with. She just wants everyone to be safe so they can enjoy their vacation and go home with happy memories.
Photo by Marco Garcia.
"Safety Starts on the Sand": Observe the ocean for several minutes before entering. Check live conditions, warnings and safety levels at hioceansafety.com and surfnewsnetwork.com.
Swim at Lifeguarded Beaches: Going to a lifeguarded beach is the single most critical step a swimmer can take.
Locate Rescue Tubes and Access Numbers: Take note of the yellow public access rescue tubes located at many beaches. They are designed for bystanders to throw to distressed swimmers to avoid double drownings. Additionally, note the numbered beach access signs so you can give 911 dispatchers your exact location in an emergency.
Beware of "Dry" Rocks: Never turn your back on the ocean. Rogue sets of large waves can sweep over coastal ledges and tidepools even when the rocks appear completely dry.
Don't Fight a Rip Current: If caught in a rip current, do not panic or try to swim straight back to shore. Relax, float and wait for the current to release you before swimming diagonally back.
Heed Local Warnings: If a local resident advises against swimming or jumping in a certain spot, listen. It is not an insult, they are trying to protect you.
Wear a Life Jacket: On tour boats and stand-up paddleboards, wear a life jacket even if the tour company says it's optional.
"When in Doubt, Don't Go Out": These are words to live by that could save your life.
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