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10 canoe paddlers rescued just north of Kahului Harbor

Maui firefighters rescued a crew of 10 paddlers Friday evening after their double-hulled canoe was swamped about a half-mile north of the entrance to Kahului Harbor, a Fire Department official said Saturday.

A distress call from a paddler came in at 5:09 p.m., and firefighters arrived at the scene at 5:23 p.m., said Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto. Firefighters aboard the department’s Air One helicopter and a rescue watercraft responded to help the paddlers abandon the canoe and return to shore.

All 10 paddlers were airlifted to the harbor’s west breakwater near the Kahului Boat Ramp by 6:30 p.m., Taomoto said. There were no reported injuries.

A crew in a rescue boat launched and attempted to locate the abandoned canoe to tow it back to the harbor, but firefighters were unable to find it in darkness and rough seas, he said.

“It was last seen floating just below the surface and drifting toward shore on the north side of the west breakwater,” Taomoto said.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified and issued a notice to mariners to warn them of the hazard, he said.

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