16 thoughts on “This Spot Where Visitors Keep Dying In Hawaii”
Ben Y
“Anini has no lifeguard and is reef protected but not always calm. There can be strong currents, and if you are on the north end, there is a channel through the reef. The safest place is the south end, which is typically calm.”
Anini Beach is on the north side of the island and runs east to west. It’s a bit confusing to refer to the north and south ends of the beach. For the sake of warning visitors, it would be much more helpful to include an annotated satellite image of the beach, which makes the channels much more clear.
Isn’t Anini beach north facing? Seems like better directions for safe swimming would indicate the east end or west end versus north or south. Not sure what you mean by your directions.
We snorkeled at Anini beach once and while we did not have any issues with snorkeling, we did come back in to shore and find some of our belongings gone. Not a place I would recommend hanging out.
This is a good time to give a Huge hand to the lifeguards all over the island! As a seal volunteer, I have spent many hours at Poipu on watch with my favorite marine mammals and have witnessed, up close, the LG’s there pull 3 people from the water who were unresponsive, one lady was so blue from lack of oxygen that I was sure she was a goner, but those LG’s were able to resuscitate each one of those 3 swimmers/snorkelers and pull them back from the brink! I salute them and feel Kauai needs So many more of them!!
It is easy to see the channel on Google maps. When the tide goes out, the flow/current through that channel is strong and takes you into deep water. I had that happen on Lawa’i Beach with my wife, and it was very scary. So, check with the snorkel stores, know the tides, and observe others in the water. There is almost always one or more places to safely snorkel on the islands. Be safe and smart!
I am always so sad to see another Anini snorkel death. As a north shore property owner, I know Anini well, including the strong current in the main channel. You risk getting swept away if you snorkel near the channel. The risk is much greater if you go on a high-surf day. People should know that!
Why no class action lawyers suing the state for negligence?
Imagine the State claiming they can’t afford $100 a day for a lifeguard at Anini beach? Highest hotel taxes in the US and no regard for the life of tourists.
Shameful.
There obviously could never be such a lawsuit, because it wouldn’t stand up in court. State of Hawaii didn’t designed the beaches and is unable to control occurrence, the tides on the weather. The state of Hawaii, or any other state cannot possibly be responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone who decides to go into to the ocean. Common sense is an expectation for all of us. Mahalo for your kokua.
Mahalo. Excellent advice. A local also gave me this good advice. When you go to the beach – any beach – resist the urge to “jump right in”. Instead watch the people in the water especially the locals. Where are they? How far out? What are they doing – swimming, snorkeling, boarding? Also watch the waves. Waves have patterns – so many waves to a set, then a lull, then waves again. And finally – most importantly – don’t keep you back turned to the waves. This does many people In especially people who ignore the signs & lifeguards, climb the rocks and then turn their back to the waves to get that “perfect selfie”. Instead they get hammered by a wave they didn’t see coming and end up severely injured or worse.
Snorkeling at Anini felt calm and wonderful until I stuck my head up and realized I was far – FAR – from where I thought would be, where I wanted to be. For some reason, I didn’t panic but I was darn close!
“Anini has no lifeguard and is reef protected but not always calm. There can be strong currents, and if you are on the north end, there is a channel through the reef. The safest place is the south end, which is typically calm.”
Anini Beach is on the north side of the island and runs east to west. It’s a bit confusing to refer to the north and south ends of the beach. For the sake of warning visitors, it would be much more helpful to include an annotated satellite image of the beach, which makes the channels much more clear.
Isn’t Anini beach north facing? Seems like better directions for safe swimming would indicate the east end or west end versus north or south. Not sure what you mean by your directions.
Mahalo…..
I would also say, If you’re not a good strong swimmer stay out of the ocean. The ocean is not a swimming pool.
We snorkeled at Anini beach once and while we did not have any issues with snorkeling, we did come back in to shore and find some of our belongings gone. Not a place I would recommend hanging out.
This is a good time to give a Huge hand to the lifeguards all over the island! As a seal volunteer, I have spent many hours at Poipu on watch with my favorite marine mammals and have witnessed, up close, the LG’s there pull 3 people from the water who were unresponsive, one lady was so blue from lack of oxygen that I was sure she was a goner, but those LG’s were able to resuscitate each one of those 3 swimmers/snorkelers and pull them back from the brink! I salute them and feel Kauai needs So many more of them!!
With snorkeling incidents, pay attention to those full-face masks. There seems to be a carbon dioxide build-up inside the mask. Stick to the old kind!
It is easy to see the channel on Google maps. When the tide goes out, the flow/current through that channel is strong and takes you into deep water. I had that happen on Lawa’i Beach with my wife, and it was very scary. So, check with the snorkel stores, know the tides, and observe others in the water. There is almost always one or more places to safely snorkel on the islands. Be safe and smart!
I am always so sad to see another Anini snorkel death. As a north shore property owner, I know Anini well, including the strong current in the main channel. You risk getting swept away if you snorkel near the channel. The risk is much greater if you go on a high-surf day. People should know that!
Why no class action lawyers suing the state for negligence?
Imagine the State claiming they can’t afford $100 a day for a lifeguard at Anini beach? Highest hotel taxes in the US and no regard for the life of tourists.
Shameful.
There obviously could never be such a lawsuit, because it wouldn’t stand up in court. State of Hawaii didn’t designed the beaches and is unable to control occurrence, the tides on the weather. The state of Hawaii, or any other state cannot possibly be responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone who decides to go into to the ocean. Common sense is an expectation for all of us. Mahalo for your kokua.
Mahalo. Excellent advice. A local also gave me this good advice. When you go to the beach – any beach – resist the urge to “jump right in”. Instead watch the people in the water especially the locals. Where are they? How far out? What are they doing – swimming, snorkeling, boarding? Also watch the waves. Waves have patterns – so many waves to a set, then a lull, then waves again. And finally – most importantly – don’t keep you back turned to the waves. This does many people In especially people who ignore the signs & lifeguards, climb the rocks and then turn their back to the waves to get that “perfect selfie”. Instead they get hammered by a wave they didn’t see coming and end up severely injured or worse.
Hi Tom.
Thanks. We appreciate your suggeststions and your 100 comments to date!
Aloha.
Snorkeling at Anini felt calm and wonderful until I stuck my head up and realized I was far – FAR – from where I thought would be, where I wanted to be. For some reason, I didn’t panic but I was darn close!