risk of drowning in Hawaii as we are surrounded by the ocean and many locals’ lifestyles involve water activities and going to the beach to swim. In addition, many condos have pools, and more condos are being built giving more people access to pools,” says Amber Smith, owner and swim instructor at Wiki Wiki Swim School. by Stephanie Lopes Living in Hawaii, the glistening Pacific Ocean provides a plethora of recreational activities: swimming, surfing, boating, fishing, snorkeling, building sandcastles and much more. However, the water also poses several risks. In fact, drowning is “the fifth leading cause of fatal injuries among Hawaii residents with an average of nearly 40 deaths per year,” according to the Hawaii Department of Health. “There is a serious 134 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2025
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