A popular surf spot in West Hawaii will soon be seeing lifeguards thanks in part to a mother who has advocated for them since the tragic death of her teenage daughter last November.
“It’s my purpose to continue her memory and her legacy. She loved the ocean. She loved surfing. Pines was a second home to her,” said Rachel Able, mother of the young woman Lily whose life was taken that fateful day last year.
Kohanaiki Beach Park, also known as Pines, will be getting a lifeguard station after the death of the local teen surfer.
Her mother recounted the fateful day that changed her life when Lily succumbed to injuries sustained in a surfing accident at the popular West Hawaii spot.
“She was 2 months away from getting her driver’s license. I thought it was safe there but looking back, it was a false sense of security. I had a doctor’s appointment and I dropped her off. She asked me to get her a drink and switch some money into her bank account so she could buy a winter ball dress,” the mother recalled. “I was gone about 40 minutes. By the time I got back to Pines, the accident happened and the next thing I knew she was being flown to Queens.”
Lily Able was transported to Kona Community Hospital and subsequently transported to Queens Hospital in Honolulu.
Her mother then had to make a decision no mother should have to make. There was no brain function and life support was discontinued. She was only 15 years old.
“I just wanted to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone again,” said Able.
Her mother said it was her mission after her daughter’s untimely death to hold the county accountable for a safer environment at Pines.
Her activism has paid off.
“Not all of our county beach parks are manned by water safety officers,” Said Parks and Recreations Director Maurice Messina.
Messina was so moved by the woman’s story, he reached out to Mayor Mitch Roth to ensure this type of incident could not happen again in Hawaiian waters.
“Unfortunately a young lady lost her life to put the spotlight on this issue,” said Messina. “It was always about Lily and her story,” said Messina.
Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd said $120,000 for a tower has been allocated from this year’s budget.
“The tower comes out of CIP and funding for the salaries has been added to the Fire Department budget,” he said.
Kohanaiki will get five new lifeguards positions assigned to that beach, Todd said.
The fire chief also said they will be recruiting and hiring new positions this fiscal year to cover the positions.
Funding for the positions will continue past the fiscal year, ensuring the positions will remain filled.
“Although there is not a definitive timeline for the station and personnel to be activated, initial estimates are between six to nine months to get everything installed, positions recruited, and people trained,” said Todd. “With the number of residents and visitors at Kohanaiki each day, the need for a lifeguard presence is critical to the safety of the public.”