Where Are Hawaii’s Deadliest Beaches?

If you were to guess which Hawaiian beach was the site where most deaths have occurred recently, you might picture an isolated cove or a rocky inlet where the roiling surf seems to reach up and snatch unsuspecting beachcombers and carry them out to sea. Little would you suspect the popular and tranquil Hanauma Bay.

Yet, according to the Hawaii State Department of Health, Oahu’s most popular spot for snorkeling is also the deadliest beach in the state. In fact, 11 people died there from 2009 to 2013. Still, the fault may not lie with the locale as much as the activity many visitors are engaged in there: four other beaches with high numbers of drownings — 43 deaths over the same five-year period — are also favorite snorkeling spots.

The great irony is that most people drown in calm waters, engaged in an activity that seems anything but strenuous. For many uninitiated visitors, snorkeling seems like a relaxing pastime, which is why many choose it over surfing or scuba diving. But the unexpected exertion can lead to a cardiac event that tragically ends with drowning.

Adding to the irony is that Hawaii’s truly dangerous waters don’t cause drownings. Those waters do, however, violently toss body surfers, board surfers, divers and swimmers about, causing a greater number of spinal cord injuries that require hospitalization and sometimes result in permanent paralysis.

Confusing as it may sound, Hawaii’s deadliest beaches are not dangerous, and the state’s most dangerous beaches are not deadly. The common denominator, however, appears to be a failure to match a visitor with an activity that he or she can safely enjoy.

Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks, Attorneys at Law represents the families of drowning victims in wrongful death claims. To schedule a free consultation, call 808.524.1433 or contact our Honolulu office online.