A Wailuku couple was rescued safely after their outrigger canoe broke in two when it was walloped by a large wave Saturday about a mile offshore from Keawakapu Beach on Maui, firefighters said.

The 55-year-old man and 56-year-old woman were trying to swim and pull the canoe pieces to shore when they were spotted by a kayaker, according to Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto, spokesman for Maui’s Department of Fire & Public Safety.

The kayaker brought the woman to the beach and went back to help the other paddler before Wailea firefighters arrived with a rescue watercraft at 5:03 p.m., he said.

Firefighters found the kayaker and the man trying to tow the swamped and broken hull about 300 yards offshore. They brought everyone to the beach by 5:30 p.m. No one was injured.

The Air 1 helicopter was dispatched after initial reports of a distressed boat at 4:45 p.m., but Wailea firefighters had the parties nearly ashore by the time it arrived.