Man dies, swept away by large wave at Kaena Point

HONOLULU (AP) — Emergency officials say a man has died after he and two other fishermen were swept out to sea by a large wave at Kaena Point State Park on Oahu.

Emergency Services Department spokeswoman, Shayne Enright, said in an email that lifeguards on rescue watercraft recovered the man’s body Monday. He has not yet been identified, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports (https://bit.ly/1WhV0kx).

The two other men were swept away and thrown onto rocks. They were both taken to a hospital in serious condition.

Enright said the men disregarded warnings about the dangerous surf conditions. They had been fishing when they were swept away by a wave more than 10 feet high, she said.

A high surf warning is in place for north and west shores on Oahu, Kauai County, Maui and Molokai.

Kaui County is warning beachgoers not to swim at north shore beaches west of the Hanalei Pavilion because of the high surf and dangerous ocean conditions. Forecasters said surf was rising up to 30 feet Monday on the north shores.

“Expect ocean water occasionally sweeping across portions of beaches, very strong breaking waves and strong longshore and rip currents,” forecasters said. “Anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death.”

A 33-foot sailing vessel ran aground in high surf at Hanalei Bay Monday. State officials said the vessel’s owner, Randy Perez, was leaving the bay when the motor died. Perez was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Land and Natural Resources said salvage removal of the sailboat will begin after the surf dies down.