Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
See the full list of top causes of drownings for Hawaiʻi residents: civilbeat.org/2025/07/this-deadly-o%ca%bbahu-beach-reveals-the-challenges-facing-hawai%ca%bbi-lifeguards
The number of Hawaiʻi residents who die each year is surprising, even to lifeguards.
And the danger is not limited to inexperienced swimmers or surfers chasing Hawaiʻi’s notorious big waves.
While many public education campaigns on drowning target tourists, experts say the state hasn’t done enough to help locals.
In 2005, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health set a goal to get the per-capita drowning rate for residents down to 0.9 per 100,000 to be in line with national targets.
In 2020, after decades of failing to reach that goal, the state increased it to 2.2 drownings per 100,000 people. But the state continues to fail to reach its targets.
See the full list of top causes of drownings for Hawaiʻi residents: civilbeat.org/2025/07/this-deadly-o%ca%bbahu-beach-reveals-the-challenges-facing-hawai%ca%bbi-lifeguards
The number of Hawaiʻi residents who die each year is surprising, even to lifeguards.
And the danger is not limited to inexperienced swimmers or surfers chasing Hawaiʻi’s notorious big waves.
While many public education campaigns on drowning target tourists, experts say the state hasn’t done enough to help locals.
In 2005, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health set a goal to get the per-capita drowning rate for residents down to 0.9 per 100,000 to be in line with national targets.
In 2020, after decades of failing to reach that goal, the state increased it to 2.2 drownings per 100,000 people. But the state continues to fail to reach its targets.
