WAIANAE, Hawaii — Kahe Point Beach Park, also known as Electric Beach, has a new lifeguard tower. Tower 40 was installed on Thursday and conducted its first rescue later that afternoon when two people got into trouble just offshore, according to the City and County of Honolulu.
“Our lifeguards provide a watchful eye over the shorelines across Oahu, and they are some of the best watermen and women in the world. We are thrilled to be able to expand their ability to keep beachgoers safe to a new location on the Waianae Coast,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a release.
“Anyone who takes to the water at Electric Beach can now do so with the same extra layer of security that our outstanding lifeguards provide at many other beaches across the island,” he said.
This new beach location serviced by an Ocean Safety lifeguard tower is the first in 11 years. It will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
There are now 42 lifeguard towers around Oahu. A list of City and County of Honolulu beaches and parks with lifeguard towers and a map are available online.
Honolulu City Councilmember Andria Tupola’s district includes Kahe Point Beach Park. She added $125,000 to fund the new tower into the city’s budget.
“From neighborhood board advocacy, adding it to the city budget, council approval, ordering the stand, and installation, this project moved in about a year,” said Tupola. “I’m so grateful for this much-needed lifeguard stand and pray that more ocean safety presence will help save lives.”
The same type of lifeguard tower model installed at Kahe Point Beach Park is also on order to replace four older towers around the island in the next few weeks, with an additional six more to come later in the year.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.