Lifeguards reported a heavy influx of jellyfish in Waikiki and Ala Moana with more than 120 people stung Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the Ocean Safety Division said lifeguards counted 1,060 jellyfish in Waikiki, 241 at Ala Moana Beach Park and 125 at Pokai Bay on the Leeward Coast.
Lifeguards treated about 120 people with vinegar for stings in Waikiki, and three people were stung at Ala Moana.
Lifeguards verbally warned beachgoers about the jellyfish and put up warning signs.
About 40 people reported stings at Hanauma Bay on Monday, and lifeguards closed the beach there. Officials will review the jellyfish situation today before deciding whether to reopen the popular snorkeling beach.
Maui firefighters assist 2 couples in water rescues
Maui firefighters assisted two visitors from North Dakota and two others from Canada in two separate water-related rescues Monday.
The first occurred at about noon when a Fargo, N.D., couple overturned in a kayak about 250 yards offshore from the Kahana Outrigger hotel in Lahaina. Ocean safety personnel on a rescue watercraft helped to right the kayak, then brought the woman to shore. The man was brought to shore with the kayak. The couple, both 60, were uninjured.
Four hours later Napili firefighters spotted two Canadian men on a single stand-up paddleboard about 400 yards offshore and drifting south with the tradewinds. Ocean safety personnel on rescue watercraft brought one of the men to shore at Napili Bay. The second man and his equipment drifted farther south and were brought in at The Sands of Kahana. Neither man, both in their 50s, required medical attention.
Injured hiker airlifted to safety
A 30-year-old visitor from New York injured her ankle while hiking Maui’s Bamboo Forest Trail on Monday afternoon and had to be airlifted by the Maui County Fire Department and transported to a hospital.
The woman was with a group of hikers when she lost her footing, injuring her ankle around 2:30 p.m.
Firefighters hiked 20 minutes to reach the woman. She was airlifted by the Fire Department’s helicopter to a pasture landing zone and from there was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center for treatment.
