Large waves in Haleolono Harbor Sunday morning swamped 10 canoes and sent a Kailua woman to the hospital before the start of the Women’s Molokai to Oahu canoe race, Maui County officials said.

The woman, from the Kailua Canoe Club, complained of pain to her shoulder and ribs and was taken to Molokai General Hospital, officials said. Crews rescued a total of 30 people from the harbor, and no other injuries were reported. Of the 10 canoes, officials said nine went on to start the race. One was damaged and had to be towed back to shore by event boats.

A call came in around 7:45 a.m. reporting that five canoes were swamped in the harbor, but that number was increased to 10 canoes when rescue crews arrived at 8:38 a.m. 

Six firefighters and two personal watercraft from the Hoolehua and Kaunakakai fire stations assisted in the rescue.