Schofield Barracks soldiers were stunned Saturday to learn that two fellow soldiers had drowned during what was to have been a pleasant pre-holiday outing along Oahu’s scenic windward shore.
Word of Friday’s deaths had not yet made its way to all Schofield soldiers, many of whom are spending time away from the Wahiawa base during the extended Labor Day weekend. And the Army still had not released the names of the victims pending notification of the next of kin.
But Pfc. Caleb Lessard, 20, and Spc. Frederick Eder, 21, expressed shock at the news and wondered aloud whether those involved had just returned from a year’s deployment to Iraq, as had they.
"This is just terrible to see," Lessard said. "And if this happened to some of our guys who just came back … just for a swim."
Interviewed in Wahiawa, Schofield Capt. Shane Alfred Davey said the drownings are an unfortunate tragedy and that he feels bad for the families of those who died. But Davey, who was not speaking in an official capacity, said soldiers ultimately need to be responsible for themselves.
He noted that Schofield soldiers are given frequent briefings about potential risks they could encounter while traveling around Oahu.
"If you’re going to be out and about, take responsibility for yourself," Davey said. "Know your limitations and execute accordingly."
A group of soldiers had walked from Kualoa Beach Park to Mokolii Island, also known as Chinaman’s Hat, about 1 p.m. Friday.
On the way back, the tide was rising and the current was strong, police said. A 26-year-old man who eventually made it back to shore, apparently uninjured, was leading the group when he heard the others call for help and saw them struggling to stay afloat, police said.
Kayakers in the area helped three of the individuals back to shore. Two of the victims, a man and a woman, were taken to the hospital, where the 27-year-old man died. The woman, 29, was listed in stable condition.
A third man, also 26, was reported missing and a short time later was found in the water by ocean safety personnel. He died at the scene.
"It’s just sad," said Joseph Ries, a camper at the beach park who helped the woman onto shore. "I could see if there was a lifeguard there, maybe it would have been better."
City lifeguard Lt. John Hoogsteden said lifeguards staff the park seven days a week only during the summer when children are out of school. When school starts, they are on duty only on the weekends.
"We staff as best we can, when the park is busiest," he said.
Four signs, however, warn about the strong currents at the beach: "You could be swept away from shore and could drown."
Hoogsteden said people might not realize Mokolii is about a half-mile from shore, and that anyone not comfortable going through the ocean for a mile round-trip shouldn’t attempt it. The reef also has pockets in which one could sink into deeper water, he said.
He urged people to go in the water only if lifeguards are present and to talk to lifeguards if they have doubts about their abilities.
Kalani Mendez, 45, of Kahaluu said he’s been diving in the area since he was a boy and has been swept out by the current, which dragged him to the other end of Mokolii.
During a tide change, a mass of water flows out to the channel, and anyone caught in the current has to ride it out, he said. He suspects the swimmers hit a deep pocket in the reef, panicked and wore themselves out while trying to fight the riptide.
"The current out there is real bad, especially the tide changes," he said. "They was inexperienced. They never know what kind of waters they was getting into."
Lessard, the Schofield private, said that before his deployment he and a friend had made a similar walk from Kualoa to Mokolii. He said the waters were calm.
Eder, the Schofield specialist, said he and some other friends also visited Kualoa once and he could have joined some who made the swim/walk to the island. But he had some alcohol and therefore did not feel comfortable going in the water, he said.
