HO IKE I KE KAI (TO UNDERSTAND THE SEA)

Year Published: 1971

Creator: National Archives

Format: 16mm/video file

Description: Department of Defense PIN 700313 HO IKE I KE KAI (TO UNDERSTAND THE SEA) THIS PROGRAM POINTS OUT THE LOVE AND RESPECT WITH WHICH NATIVE HAWAIIANS REGARD THE SEA SURROUNDING THEIR ISLAND OF OAHU, AND THE REASONS WHY VISITORS TO OAHU'S 57 MAJOR BEACHES SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN ENJOYING WATER SPORTS IN HAWAII. THE NARRATOR, A PROFESSIONAL SURFER AND WATER SAFETY OFFICER, POINTS OUT THAT THE SEA SURROUNDING THIS ISLAND PRODUCES MORE POWERFUL, FASTER AND LARGER WAVES THAN MOST SWIMMERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED ELSEWHERE. DESPITE WARNING SIGNS, OVER A TWELVE MONTH PERIOD LIFEGUARDS HAVE MADE 750 RESCUES, MOST OF WHOM WERE SERVICE MEMBERS AND TOURISTS. EVEN HIGHLY EXPERIENCED SURFERS USE EXTRA CAUTION ON THE NORTH SHORE OF OAHU. THE PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES POTENTIAL DANGERS OF BOARD AND BODY SURFING, WIND SURFING, SNORKELING AND SCUBA DIVING DUE TO A VARIETY OF WAVES, RIPTIDES, CHANNELS, ROUGH WATER, SHORE BREAKS AND RIP CURRENTS. ALSO POINTS OUT THE BEACHES WHICH ARE SAFE FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON BEACHES IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND VIEWERS ARE WARNED OF MARINE LIFE WHICH COULD BE POISONOUS TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. MOST WATER ACCIDENTS OCCUR BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE. IN HAWAII IT IS NECESSARY FOR ANYONE WHO CARES TO PARTICIPATE IN WATER SPORTS TO TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE SEA.