You’ve been lifeguarding at Hawaii beaches since 1987, and at Long Island before that. What makes Hawaii beaches different?
The bathymetry you find here is not mimicked on the mainland. By that I mean it drops off deeply and abruptly, enabling large waves to break close to shore and powerful rip currents to develop. Because we’re in the middle of such a big body of water, all those ocean effects are amplified when they reach our shoreline.
What most jeopardizes ocean safety for visitors?
What translates into problems for us is they overestimate their ability or they underestimate the power of the ocean. It’s easy to underestimate the ocean especially when it looks beautiful and calm; it’s warm, it’s sunny, it’s really inviting.
Hanauma Bay is a prime visitor destination that has a high rate of incidents. What should people look out for?
Hanauma Bay is, I don’t want to say a “hidden” danger, but it’s such a benign-looking place. It’s so accessible — you don’t even have to walk down, you can shuttle down. The sand is packed kind of hard, so you don’t have to expend a lot of energy plodding your way through deep sand. So, it’s really easy to get in the water and put your snorkel on and see all these fish. And it’s easy to aspirate a little water, and if you’re physically compromised, that could lead to a whole host of other conditions — including drowning. That’s why people should always swim with a partner. They should always speak with lifeguards. If they’re not comfortable using a mask and snorkel even though their friends are, they should get a little expert advice before taking off.
How can people find out the most current ocean conditions?
Always check with lifeguards. You can also check HawaiiBeachSafety.org, which gives conditions for specific beaches.
Tell us the truth about sharks in Hawaii waters.
Well, sharks are part of the ocean, and Hawaii is in the middle of the ocean. I’m not a shark expert, but what I’ve been told is that sharks do cover a big distance. So, if you see them one minute, they might not still be there the next. Sharks are predators, and they might be attracted to areas where there’s some biotic mass or some protein source for them to feed on… A couple things to be cautious of — don’t swim near harbors or after heavy rain where there’s a lot of runoff.
What’s the most thoughtful way anyone has ever said thank you for a rescue?
[One couple] got me a fancy clock. They said, “Here’s some time because you gave us some time.”
