PROTECTING THE LEGAL INTERESTS OF INJURED HAWAII RESIDENTS AND VISITORS SINCE 1973

Watch out for these dangers during your Hawaii vacation

On Behalf of | Apr 16, 2019 | Personal Injury |

A tropical destination is commonly a dream vacation for most people. This is what draws millions of people to Oahu and the other Hawaiian islands every year. Between snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking and surfing, adventures abound in Hawaii. However, even in paradise, there can be dangers lurking around the corner and nothing ruins a vacation quite like suffering an injury.

While some dangers, such as natural disasters, are unavoidable, there are others that you can take precautions to avoid. Here are a few dangers you should be aware of the next time you travel to Hawaii for a dream vacation.

Waves and currents

Swimming in clear blue waters is part of the allure of traveling to Pacific islands for a vacation. However, water is a powerful force and can be very dangerous. Large waves can catch swimmers by surprise, especially with tourists who are unfamiliar with the area.

If you swim in an area where the waves are large, they could send you crashing into a shorebreak and easily result in broken bones. However, waves are not the only danger you could encounter during a swim in the ocean. There are currents that run under the surface that also pose a threat. Some currents, like a rip tide, can quickly pull you so far out to sea that you could end up in serious trouble. Instead of fighting against the current, the best thing to do is to wait for it to weaken and then start swimming back to the shore.

Rock walls

In many areas, there are rock walls that the people have built to block large swells coming in from the ocean. Most of these walls consist of large boulders that constantly have waves washing over them. Since the rocks never really have a chance to dry, they can become covered by algae and be very slippery to walk on. While it might seem like a good idea to walk out onto one of these rock walls for a picture, even a small wave can easily knock you down when the footing is questionable.

Cliff trails

Hiking is another popular activity for tourists visiting Hawaii. Many people follow the trails to scenic lookouts to take in the full beauty of the landscape. Unfortunately, a lot of the trails become very narrow and have steep drop offs to either side. These types of trails are dangerous even for experienced hikers, especially if the weather is less than ideal or there have been recent rains that have made the trek muddy and slippery.

While hiring a guide is often the best option when you are visiting these kinds of tropical destinations, accidents can still happen due to someone’s negligence or recklessness. If you have suffered an injury due to another individual’s or business’s poor judgment while on vacation, you might be able to take legal action and receive compensation for the damages.

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