For Hawaii Beach Safety Week, which continues through Aug. 4, Honolulu Ocean Safety officials are highlighting safety measures for hikers, photographers, selfie-seekers and others whose encounters with the ocean may be entirely unplanned.

Officials placed special emphasis on the Ka Iwi coast, where the majority of rescues for unplanned ocean entry occur.

“Look at the weather reports,” advised acting Ocean Safety chief Kurt Lager at a news conference held Wednesday at Lanai Lookout. “If it is windy like this, it’s probably not a good day to go along these (Ka Iwi) ledges or the coastlines. If the rocks are wet that probably means waves are crashing onto the rocks. We want you to stay up where it is dry, well away from the ledges.”

The Ka Iwi coastline is considered particularly dangerous because of its unguarded beaches and strong currents. Many of those rescued in the area did not plan to go into the ocean and were not dressed for swimming. Some did not know how to swim. In some instances, people were attempting to take selfies or other photos and either fell off rocky or slippery ledges or were knocked into the ocean by large waves.

Last year, Ocean Safety personnel responded to 129 incidents along the Ka Iwi coast. As of July 17, there have been 85 incidents this year.

In the last four years, four hikers died after falling or being knocked into the ocean at Rock Bridge.

The challenge Ocean Safety faces in keeping Oahu beachgoers safe each year is immense. In 2017, the department recorded 1.23 million “minor first aid” events that required Ocean Safety response but no subsequent involvement from Emergency Medical Services and 1,318 “major” incidents in which EMS care was needed. There were 16 drownings in waters off Oahu last year.