Maui firefighters rescue paddle boarders
Maui firefighters rescued a California couple that was stand-up paddling boarding today after strong tradewinds blew them out to sea off West Maui.
Firefighters were notified just before noon that someone saw the couple waving for help from about 300 yards off Kahekili Beach Park, said Maui Fire Department spokesman Ed Taomoto.
Responding firefighters spotted the 28-year-old man and the 27-year-old woman with binoculars while the couple was about one mile from shore and being blown out to sea, Taomoto said.
Lifeguards on a personal watercraft reached the pair and brought them back to Kahekili Beach Park.
Taomoto said 25-mph tradewinds pushed the couple offshore.