Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 47 minutes ago
Read the story: civilbeat.org/2026/01/hawaii-to-step-up-anti-drowning-efforts
For 12 years, the Hawaiʻi Task Force on Beach and Water Safety sat idle.
Meanwhile, some 800 people died in the waters off of these islands. No new beach warning signs went up. And the burden of preventing these tragedies fell on counties and residents.
In July, we reported the task force stopped meeting and Hawaiʻi did little to combat drowning.
But as Caitlin Thompson reports, the state is now planning to revive the task force — “a huge win,” as one lifeguard said.
Read the story: civilbeat.org/2026/01/hawaii-to-step-up-anti-drowning-efforts
For 12 years, the Hawaiʻi Task Force on Beach and Water Safety sat idle.
Meanwhile, some 800 people died in the waters off of these islands. No new beach warning signs went up. And the burden of preventing these tragedies fell on counties and residents.
In July, we reported the task force stopped meeting and Hawaiʻi did little to combat drowning.
But as Caitlin Thompson reports, the state is now planning to revive the task force — “a huge win,” as one lifeguard said.
