Hawaii Island Drowning Deaths Spur Warning

Twice as many people have drowned on Kaui so far this year compared to all of last year.

And, that has the Kauai Fire Department chief issuing a cautionary message, especially to tourists.

The Garden Island reports that Chief Robert Westerman said Monday at a Fire Commission meeting that all the victims this year have been tourists. He says baby boomers are aging but still very active, and sometimes long trail hikes and ocean currents are more than they can handle.

Westerman says Kaui can continue to pursue its education program to get out its message in an effort to reduce the number of people who drown.

Officials on Monday identified a woman who drowned last Wednesday at Popipu Beach. She was 71-year-old Wendy Anderson of Colorado.