HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.007 2016-2018 PI COUNCIL
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Murashige, Laura
From: Leona Noni Roberts <nonidolphin@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 2:46 PM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Subject: Res. 49-17 LIFEGUARDS AT KUA BAY (Manini'owali) RECEIVED X."
J Time t3:00 PM By
Date 02W. 24, ZorT
Leona "Noni" Roberts
31 Puako Beach Dr
Kamuela, Hawaii 96743
mobile 769-0785
nonidolphin@hotmail.com
Res. 49-17 LIFEGUARDS AT KUA BAY (Manini'owali)
I know I don't just speak for myself when I say:
I'm tired of putting my life on the line and giving my precious time when a lifeguard is needed at Kua Bay.
I've had to save over 100 people from drowning or injury at Manini'owali (aka Kua Bay). This is an
understatement, not an exaggeration.
The fact of the matter is, this isn't my responsibility yet most water/surf savvy folks who frequent Kua Bay
always have to do lifeguard duty while there, yet PEOPLE DIE and PLENTY GET HURT because we're in the
water, not watching from shore, busy, and not always there!
Having no lifeguards at such a popular beach is government irresponsibility!
Some rescues are VERY MESSY. Sometime I'm hurt while saving someone else. I've been lucky that most
injured or drowners have "their people" take over once they're on shore so I can get back to doing what I
came to do but it takes a lot of energy to rescue someone. Some days there's a constant flow of rescues and
sometimes somebody dies.
Some SERIOUSLY INJURED people don't have people with them.
One example I can document because the woman got in touch to thank me:
November 13, 2015, Rebecca Steiner from California was a young, single mother of 3 small children. The
physical therapist was visiting Big Island alone to teach a program of special classes. She fractured her ankle
and leg in medium-small surf.
Jan War, who works at OTEC and heads up the Kona Ironman swim and I got her in, then I held her leg
together until the ambulance and paramedics arrived. They were busy and took an unusually long time to get
there.
When Rebecca began to show signs of going into shock, I wrapped her in my new collector's "Big Island
Bodysurfing" beach towel. Unfortunately, like my time and energy, I never got my towel back.
The whole event took nearly two hours. I was stressed out and exhausted but very happy to have saved
Rebecca. She said she wouldn't have made it in on her own. Her injuries required subsequent surgeries,
screws and hardware. 1, 7
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It seems that more and more people, mostly tourists/visitors, get hurt or die at Kua Bay.
Some residents and most visitors lack knowledge of the ocean or surf etiquette, don't know how to navigate
the impact zone and are clueless to the danger they're in and get hurt.
Some are so unknowing that they tell their kids, water can't hurt them! I've had to warn people far too often
about their behavior in the surf, telling parents that surf isn't a carnival ride just because their child is on
a boogie board. Many won't listen and too often, the kids get hurt.
Citizens such as myself and unknowing visitors are put into dangerous and aggravating situations. This kind of
thing put's everyone in the vicinity at risk with tourists and locals, constantly getting bonked, hurt in collisions
with people, boogie boards, the ocean bottom, rocks, even footballs, etc. Don't be fooled. The seemingly
soft sandy bottom is like concrete on impact!
Some people who can barely swim in a pool get sucked out into the ever changing current and hammering
surf. Some who were warned are embarrassed, but most folks are happy to get saved; However, impromptu
volunteers aren't always at hand
AND
TOO MANY PEOPLE wind up HURT or DEAD at KUA Bay!
Come on! How many more people need to die there?
Please post a lifeguard at Kua Bay as soon as possible!
Sincerely,
Leona "Noni" Roberts
Hawaii State Bodysurfing Association: FBI Representative
International Bodysurfer: Wahine Representative
Heart& Soul Handboards: Representative
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