1 visitor dead, 2 injured after being swept into ocean by large surf on Oahu’s North Shore

[@julielock5963]

OK, I live here, our ocean is no joke in the winter. These people were tourists and tourists have absolutely no clue what our ocean is like. She's a beast and she's just warming up getting ready for big wave season.

[@Jasmine215100]

Yes, I had always heard that off the island of Oahu in the winter, you should be wary of the strong ocean swells! It might be impossible to swim through them!

[@hollyshantara]

Respect the ocean 🌊

[@MockeyMokey9958]

Yes thank u

[@Airestotle09]

Almost died there in 2014, havent gone back since. Those swells are no joke

[@leelunk8235]

SNOWFLAKE

[@leelunk8235]

SNOWFLAKE

[@lovely-mk4rt]

@@leelunk8235ahole

[@tapeworm6093]

@@leelunk8235scrub

[@tapeworm6093]

@@leelunk8235scrub

[@rtyhhas]

RIP...52 now ,I use to surf big waves now i walk the beach. Please be aware .The surf is no joke

[@tapeworm6093]

Co 90’ Kaua’i high!

[@josebro352]

"He bust his stick he shred so bad. You dangerous haole! Better you go home."

[@sams7635]

RIP 💔 I was swallowed by the waves in 2022..lost all consciousness for a minute..hubby rescued..those waves scare me

[@paradise6606]

I almost died here. And I was born and raise in Hawaii. Do not swim North Shore. Crazy waves.

[@cak813]

I spent my childhood at a beach club in Atlantic Beach, New York. We listened to the lifeguards and if there were warnings not to go in the ocean for any reason, we didn’t. People must respect the ocean.

[@Eskayel0077]

Respect the oceans power

[@lokahi27]

Hawaii s beaches can turn just like that. Born and raised in Haleiwa and saw unfortunate incidents at the beach tourists and even some locals who got in currents and such. Please heed all the warnings. RIP on that man and condolences to his family.Hope his companions heal up fast.

[@AtortAerials]

@@lokahi27 the lady who was 72 just died too. So two people dead because they simply have no idea so sad. I watched people lose their lives there on their honeymoons and stuff...I remember a hurricane swell at Sandy's tourist didn't listen to lifeguard warnings next thing they trying to bring him back to life with his wife watching him take his last breath on the beach. Then they many times want to blame the lifeguards so crazy. If they had real videos on the flights over seriously showing examples of people losing their loved ones and lives I think it may wake some people up and prevent this....yet they still don't. Talk about not touching monk seals and honu too. Touch on respect for the islands make it help everyone.

[@Sanity_Faire]

@@AtortAerials smart idea and simple

[@dontbugme7362]

i was visiting from CA a couple years ago and went out body boarding at the break just north of pipe...3-4 foot max. It only took a couple waves to see I was in a different environment than anything CA offers, even 8-10 foot Newport. The speed and power is just different. I swim in 8-10 ft here, I'd NEVER do that on Oahu. The Ocean will make any man her bitch.

[@A-FrameWedge]

Sorry, 8 to 10 foot Wedge has more power than 3-4 foot North Shore, and Iived there for years going to college at UH, and grew up across the Bay from the Wedge and surfed both when big.

[@RichardKawelo]

Visitors to Hawaii during the winter. DO NOT GO TO ANY NORTH FACING beach to swim. VERY DANGEROUS.

[@patricialongo5870]

Go back to Waikiki and check the surf report.

[@martingriggs6362]

I have visited Honolulu twice. The first time years ago you could access the North Shore with no problem. The morning I left they closed the roads to the North shore because the waves were 60 feet high, and reaching the road. The next time I visited which was about 2 years ago, there were housing complexes everywhere in front of the North shore.

[@gatina7713]

As a child I was swept away by a wave along with my mother and family friend. Everything was calmed. We were peacefully sitting by the rocks and bam!!!! It came out of nowhere. We are alive by a miracle. We were badly scratched by the rocks. The water was forceful and did not want to let us go. It shaked us from side to side banging us against the rocks. As if the water was sort of possessed. It was awful.

[@alainvosselman9960]

So sad. Been swept away myself one time in Spain.. no joke. If you don't live near the ocean and you know little about ocean's behavior, it's best to wait 20minutes, look at the ocean even if you think it is a calm day- before taking a swim.. especially on a deserted beach !!!! Energy travels through calm waters as well...and when it reaches the shores it just lifts up the water up to 10 or 15 foot !!!!! Those waves don't make a sound until it's too late.

[@Spance-er]

Even some very skilled and experienced surfers have close calls when their surfboard leash breaks. Awareness of rips and energy conservation techniques are absolutely crucial to survive getting sucked out.

[@SandDabs]

"When in doubt, don't go out"

[@gophukyurselvs3621]

I was just swimming there last weekend with my 7 year old. There’s a lot of people who don’t belong in the water even on normal days. It’s crazy how fast things can change in Hawaii. You’re literally in the middle of the ocean once you get swept out to sea

[@AtortAerials]

It’s called knowing the surf report and conditions. Which of course 99% don’t. It can be 2 foot fun with a 40’ swell pumping in and people all clueless.

[@MarieB114]

Just like how we say wait 5 mins and the weather will change. It’s the same with the ocean here, it can be calm and then a freak swell will roll in.

[@AtortAerials]

@@MarieB114 you never enter the ocean without watching it for at least 30 minutes especially if you don't have the ocean experience.

[@AtortAerials]

People will never learn or listen. Lived 5 minutes from Keiki for 10 years this type of stuff happens almost daily in Winter people die constantly visiting the islands….it demands your respect people. Watched many lose their lives there people think it’s a playground.

[@shacktime]

Grew up on Oahu. Heard this all the time. Also been surfing over 45 years. I trip on how many people are so clueless about the power of the ocean. They worry about sharks yet don’t even know that hundreds of thousands of people drown every year.

[@sharon22669]

I live on the New Jersey shore. We went to Hawaii in June, and the waters are completely different. I went with respect for the ocean. The temperature caught me a little off guard. I expected it to be warmer.

[@tapeworm6093]

R.I.P. for the poor visitor 😢

[@gophukyurselvs3621]

@@tapeworm6093 happens every year and they never learn.

[@tapeworm6093]

I’m from Wainiha, and Lumahai has claimed thousands of lives.

[@tapeworm6093]

@@JackFromWyomingstay in your lane mainlander. Supporting a rapist felon identifies the quality of your character. DJT is a detriment to middle and lower classes. He will dismantle all educational funding. Tear down affordable care act, as well as the environmental protection agency. And take away the rights to a woman’s own body. He will appoint all his family and friends to office, just like last time…disaster. And if you talk economy, everyone knows he inherited one of the best economies ever. 💙💙💙💙💙 listen to more Buckethead!! 🎸

[@tapeworm6093]

@@JackFromWyomingwould never think otherwise!!

[@tapeworm6093]

@@JackFromWyomingas long as Trump stays out of office we’re good!!

[@NormalPersonActivities]

So sad. Beaches in Hawaii are nothing like the mainland, tourists need to be cautious when being at the beach here

[@stevo3938]

Nothing like the mainland 😂 cause it’s not the same place! USA annexed Hawaii! It’s like if they decided to go overpower New Zealand, then called it an American state.

[@NormalPersonActivities]

​@@stevo3938 dunno what you are yappin about. Ive talked to many tourists so think they can handle themselves on hikes or beaches here because "they are experienced in hiking or go to the beach a lot in the mainland" Secondly I have absolutely 0 clue what you are yapping about in the second half of your comment. Are you okay?

[@stevo3938]

@@NormalPersonActivities 😂 MAINLAND is what I’m yapping about! Hawaii is obviously nothing like the USA, as it’s literally thousands of miles away. Thus, making your comments on USA being the mainland to Hawaii, sound rather ridiculous.

[@NormalPersonActivities]

@@stevo3938 Congratulations you were able to point out that Hawaii is different then mainland. Doesn't change the fact that many who visit the island don't think so. My original comment is reinforcing beach safety, and then you start rambling on on a red herring about annexation and then new zealand. You are the one that sounds ridiculous and in your own world. I would refrain from making any more comments to avoid looking even more then an absolute fool.

[@stevo3938]

@@NormalPersonActivities then mainland… righto mate. You sir, are an idiot. I highly doubt you can even swim.

[@OperationHawaiiana]

the swells are early this year. will make up for the summer calmness

[@awboat]

Closest I ever came to dying was on the Big Island and a big wave came in. I barely made it back to shore. I remember yelling to another guy I was bobbing around with, LOOK BIG WAVE!!!. I was closer to shore and got tumbled. And tumbled, and tossed. I was a whitewater paddler/raft guide and had swam some narly rapids, but his was something different. I had enough sense left saying "body surf to shore" and somehow I got tumbled up onto the sand. There was no one around. When I came back up to where my wife was hanging, reading a book, she had no idea what just happened.

[@joiab11]

Bravo to that lifeguard! Sorry for the man

[@garypalmer5441]

Sad people don't understand what the ocean can do

[@MediaMaverick_]

Never turn your back to surf.

[@flipper184]

Be careful.

[@illustr8rjoe]

I was stationed on Oahu for four years, and we NEVER went swimming at North Shore. There were plenty of safer spots around the island to enjoy

[@kennytam864]

Very sad

[@chiefsnarlsnortz1610]

Wow 🤩 north shore is dangerous in wrong time of year!

[@cstonmstorm7074]

Kei ki used to be my favorite beach when I used to live in Hawaii. ❤ So sad 😢

[@rayo1371]

that's nasty looking surf ( i am a long time boater, diver and surfer and it is scary stuff)

[@workingTchr]

Every beach in Hawaii is either shore break or no-break. And _soft_ sand. It's nothing like Calif or the East Coast where you can walk out 50 yards into the water on hard sand.

[@hoosierplowboy5299]

I have seen the high surf on North shore...it's no joke...

[@darlenemc3586]

The ocean is strong!

[@bfallahi]

Spent several weeks surfing in Costa Rica, thought I had a pretty good handle on it until I tried to surf here (off season), almost died. Also haven't been back.

[@leelunk8235]

SNOWFLAKE

[@lovely-mk4rt]

@@leelunk8235stop it. Ignorant comment

[@leelunk8235]

@@lovely-mk4rt SNOWFLAKE

[@anthonylove821]

I live by the ocean and every summer it’s the same situation. People coming to visit the shore area think it’s okay to go swimming when no lifeguards are at the beach… it’s just a decision of common sense over plain ignorance. If you don’t heed the warnings, you’re at your own peril.

[@johnthomasdesign]

Maximum respect due to the ocean. Ikaika no hoi i ka moana! E akahele!

[@Matty-e8l]

Hail from Oz ✌️ Have surfed most of my life .. worked as a lifeguard and swim teacher on an off ova the years ... CAnT stress the importance of teaching kids ! everyone !!! how to SWIM !!! Never turn yr back on ol Huey ! Stay safe and enjoy ...

[@donnaturk955]

Listen to The lifeguards and the Hawaiian locals. I went to Hawaii and the waves are a totally different situation than any other beach. I am from California and I understand. Waves and water, currents etc, However, I am smart enough to know that when you go to a completely different environment, you pay attention. So I will thank the lifeguards and the locals for helping me. When I was there!💙💦🐬

[@tomwhitaker2074]

Closest tower is up the beach at Ke Waena, way too far to do any good at Ke Iki.

[@SolarHarvestSolutions]

I used to body surf there, got pounded into the sand by a breaking wave about 50 feet offshore, almost not here

[@RossellaPerry]

Strong current , difficult to handle .

[@jumboclat]

The Hawaiians put no swimming signs everywhere yet these tourists don’t listen natural selection at its finest. Even if it’s 1 ft the ocean is a beast and can wake up at any minute and swallow you whole.

[@popawheelie488]

No video of this incident with all the phones out there? No cameras from all those homes up there?

[@Brockton153]

No and no.

[@leonardkellum6984]

I swam for an hour 1 day, went back to the same spot and got whipped up in a few minutes, crawled out and was done, that was Ocean city, Md.

[@curtisogle4333]

The ocean is never, on vacation Hawaii is beautiful but people drown every year there. Many taking pictures and swept in. Never turn your back to the ocean. Always know the local conditions and current hazards. Read the signs posted. When in doubt stay away. If you’re not in shape Ie; waterman/ swimmer, get real and know your limitations. Very sad day for sure. The ocean does not care, it just is

[@cameddy4081]

What ??? Listen to your life guard ?? But I watched Laird Hamilton do it !!! Thanks for all you guys do !!🙏

[@elmert5]

Obey beach signs.

[@etothelij]

Next time read the signs.

[@williamkane6155]

Happens all the time,rwo people drowned in one week when we stayd on the North Shore some years ago,one was a local.

[@MM-vv8mt]

He moʻolelo kahiko ia ma Hawaiʻi nei ka mū ʻana o nā haole i ke kai.

[@SpaceRanger187]

Not the waves fault

[@nextari]

Nobody calls it Waimay Ahbay.

[@lanedaw811]

I would say there are idiots, it’s false/winter in Hawaii, high waves and don’t turn your back on waves, stop being stupid.

[@shangerdanger]

keikis will kill you. i've almost died there. bad swimmers do not belong anywhere near.

[@IIISentorIII]

So you are a bad swimmer, ok.

[@erikh9991]

I was on Kaui near PoiPoo and that beach is on a cliff. I almost got swept away because my feet were not touching sand.

[@debrawalton2366]

It really doesn't matter if it's in Poipu on Kauai or everywhere else in Hawaii. Especially winter swells, if there's no locals in the water, a tourist has no business in the ocean. If there are no lifeguards in sight or signs posted, keep your feet on dry land. PERIOD!

[@shangerdanger]

@@IIISentorIII no... i was surfing and it was double overhead and the current dragged me towards the rocks. i had to rip my leash off and swim to safety

[@NormalPersonActivities]

@@IIISentorIII Many professional bodyboarders from all over the world have had life threatening injuries in Keikis, apparently they are bad swimmers too

[@Boris_Chang]

Being a lifeguard in Hawaii is a serious occupation.

[@briseboy]

How interesting. One fine day rather long ago, 3 sailors were swept away in the Waimea shorebreak, one unconscious, another dead, the third never found. On another occasion, 3 young females walking on the long untracked ( waves had washed away all footprints, and time between sets of large waves are typically long) beach in the Ke Iki, Ke Waena, Ke Nui, were also disappeared by the ocean when a set came in. The far outside reefs there cause big swells to break, seemingly innocuously, far away. But houses there have been known to have been turned into hollow carports, at elevations higher than the beach sand.

[@karenouye]

Its very dangerous! Been there!

[@makoa143ify]

😢 so sad.

[@marioahu5000]

Theyneed to warn the people coming from the mainland on the airplane. The do not realize the strength of our ocean.

[@UziMusic]

You could warn everyone every day some some would still go out, they die in aus swimming with huge unmissable beach closed signs everywhere

[@MichaelBranch-km4rh]

They used to do it on the plane but the tourism authority thought it was too scary so they stopped. My regular beach is a dangerous one and the tourists there have no idea. Just like the lifeguard says they will look between sets and think its safe, or see other clueless people out and then swim out. But there are freak sets almost every time I'm there.

[@jumboclat]

Man this comment makes so sense because everywhere in north shore they have HIGH WAVE ADVISORY or no swimming saying oh they should warn the mainlanders That’s a flat out lie they have so many signs saying don’t swim or when in doubt don’t go out

[@marioahu5000]

Not the first time

[@wjatube]

Those Northern shore beaches are playgrounds for the locals for a reason. Because they grew up there and respect the waters. The island isn't that big if you wanna swim that bad drive around to the East and head South.

[@pinkrollergirl]

They need to educate this to people on all major airlines. I know they do some sort of video for folks flying in, but is the ocean safety mentioned? Also why not a life guard tower at Keiki Beach?

[@Matty80822]

jesus on the north shore while we enter winter? do some minor research at least...

[@Barbara-u5h]

Ive been in n shore at a beach, the waves are very strong. When waves break, they slam all the way pay to the parking lot .kids were being swept into the ocean,adults were grabbing kids. This was 40 yrs ago!! Got worse!!?

[@californianorma876]

The Pacific is not! 😢

[@geneziogenezio3299]

PEOPLE LOVE TO TAKE A CHANCE I DON'T, I LITERALLY WOULD NEVER EVER GET INSIDE THAT BEACH THE WAVES ARE STRONG AND HUGE...I DON'T EVEN GO INSIDE THE WATER ANYMORE WHEN I AM AT THE BEACH BECAUSE CAN BE DIRTY, CAN HAVE SHARKS, HUGE WAVES ETC. RIP.

[@jimthompson717]

All Caps means you are 6O plus.

[@lovely-mk4rt]

@@jimthompson717lol

[@lovely-mk4rt]

We can’t see as well as when we were in our 20’s.

[@Paddee-q4e]

Advertising aimed at tourists never mentions that there are dangers. My friend believed the hype and thought that she could just wander into the giant waves.

[@jorgecarson9133]

Full moon spring tide is no joke

[@suebrown2238]

Just been watching the new tv series hi surf rescue was it filmed around there condolences to the man family

[@ptrtng6307]

Tourists, waves and rocks. 🤡☠️ Respect the ocean people.

[@poppyrowland1385]

Bonsai pipeline is just down the road from this beach.

[@JT-py7ze]

The power of water one of the heaviest liquids on earth. 8.34 pounds for a gallon And there is thousands of pounds of water coming at you just in the place your standing. I learned it early in life living in orange county California the ocean is an angry little bastard sometimes

[@kevinedwards6093]

Damn nature, always messing with humans

[@soledadmonstabreh]

Safer beaches down the road

[@harrymiram6621]

Not at this time of year

[@pekelopoomaihealani7868]

@@harrymiram6621Trust me theres safer beaches than keikis at this moment

[@harrymiram6621]

@@pekelopoomaihealani7868...Trust me! There's better places to swim than Ke Iki/Ehukai/Sunset. I grew up in the area. And NS beaches are no place to learn how to surf, body surf, boogie board, SUP, etc. These people were knocked down/pulled in by 6-8ft Shore breaks! Mother Nature is no respecter of people. She NEVER plays fair!

[@wendolynlovelady4124]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@wellversedhealthyhealing9979]

I can only imagine how many crazy people would see the intense waves and then walk into the intense waves and not know what to do except for lose their lives..... I was on the Big Island recently and the water that comes against the land is so intense so verocious that nobody could survive it.... Mainlanders need to learn but Ultimately it's the island of Oahu's fault for not coughing up the money to have a lifeguard and put signs... many signs much closer to the water and not having signs at the airport, warning the visitors.... ,•••• It's truly is the Fault of who Governs the Island.☹️☹️

[@l82nite]

No respect for the ocean. No Swimming sign, and they still go. Just stupid. No one to blame but themselves.

[@scottgorman7166]

Its not, not respecting the ocean, its they just don't know the ocean!

[@Ciesiam]

The undertow is powerful.

[@crystalbluebutterfly]

The Pacific Ocean is no joke! I’m scared AF of it!

[@Jason-TheChad-Muska_circa1995]

Hold on can you expound on the cervical issue? That's something I've never heard a lifeguard say before.

[@tennysontableau]

This report and comments seem like a lot of bluster about the power of the ocean, but it might help more if someone explains in detail how one can be "swept away" and drown, even if they know how to swim. Laying it out in detail might be better when reporting things for people not familiar with it, or they will assume they can handle it. It's like all the car accident reports that don't explain how they happened. Mostly useless. (Okay, I'll go home now...)

[@FamiliarAnomaly]

If you don't live on Oahu don't swim on north shore - the end.

[@thatlovejones]

Seen it happened there many times. Tourists ignore the signs, have no clue about the power of the ocean, especially at Waimea, turn their backs to it and are gone out to sea in a heartbeat. Those rips are like raging rivers. So sad.

[@marinacam2755]

Only swim with fins if at all… ocean is no swimming pool!!!

[@robertwaid3579]

Sadly it was most likely those people's own fault for venturing too far out, toward the incoming swell? IT apparently wasn't their day too be going home again.

[@ScottSimmons-fn5dz]

Tourists =zero situational awareness

[@TripleNpple]

Bruh no lie current is nutz.... train your keikis condition them. Dont nurture fear but only respect for the ocean

[@kotiskaleb]

Terrible news 🥲

[@Katie-wo7vd]

this the one that happened few days ago at ke iki kine side. i saw them swept away on vid the day it happened. Waves is mayjah an no more people for watch ke iki side so idk. bumbai we gotta do more than the signs now days.

[@colonelkurtz2269]

Oklahoma. Tells me everything I need to know.

[@chiefsnarlsnortz1610]

Wow 🤩 north shore is dangerous in wrong time of year! Ever hear of Pipeline Surfing Tournament? It’s on the north shore! Sounds like posts from animal attacks in national parks! Yikes 😬

[@LilRadarOfficial]

If u ain’t been out there before don’t go out they preach out always tourist making sum wrong decisions .

[@seeddub3536]

Did she say Waime'a?

[@timbates2052]

30 years on the water taking out of shape, over confident, non-swimmers on snorkeling trips. My beloved ocean is an opportunist. She is hunting the weak at all times. If you exercise patience she will give you a way out. If you try to have your own way, or be forceful, or think for one second that you are in charge, she WILL kill you. The Ocean is not joking around.

[@polarbearsrus6980]

FAFO!!!

[@beachrose88]

all no common sense. stupidity

[@goji059]

it's only water, lol Darwin Award

[@MowgleeB]

This is about controlling something on some level. If the powers that be really cared, they'd be warning about all the people that have broken their necks at Magic Sands and Kua Bay, on the big island. Probably around 10 a year.