Three rescued after kayaks land on reef
Firefighters rescued three people after one kayak took on water and another became stuck on the reef Thursday night off Olowalu, a fire official said.
Lahaina firefighters responded to the 8:15 p.m. alarm after the group called for help by cellphone, said fire Capt. Paul Haake.
Firefighters made contact by cellphone, then used lights and yelled out to establish the location of a man and two women, who had launched for an evening paddle aboard two kayaks, Haake said.
In the darkness and with a low tide, the kayaks became stuck in exposed reef features. One kayak took on water and was abandoned.
A firefighter was sent out on a rescue board to contact the victims and assess the situation. The firefighter was able to negotiate through the coral features and tow all three people to the shoreline about 200 yards away at about 9 p.m., Haake said.
He said the three were cold and tired but uninjured.
A fishing vessel located the abandoned kayak and brought it to shore along Honoapiilani Highway.
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Kula woman is shoplifting suspect
A Kula woman was arrested Thursday after she walked out of a Kahului store without paying for more than $400 in merchandise, police said.
Bail was set at $1,000 for Julia White, 48. She was charged with second-degree theft.
White was arrested at 1:12 p.m. after a Walmart security officer saw her behaving suspiciously in the store and placing merchandise in her bag, police said. She left the store without trying to pay for the merchandise, police said.
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High-surf advisory for Molokai, Maui
A high-surf advisory has been posted for north- and west-facing shores of Molokai and for north-facing shores of Maui until 6 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Surf is expected to rise to 15 to 20 feet along north-facing shores and to 10 to 15 feet along west-facing shores. Surf is expected to grow larger tonight.
A distant low-pressure system in the North Pacific several days ago generated a northwest swell that will remain large through today. A second low-pressure system that passed the islands Thursday will reinforce the current swell late today.
It's possible that the advisory may be upgraded to a warning, the National Weather Service said.
The high surf will produce large breaking surf and significant shore break as well as dangerous rip currents.
