HAWAI'I KAI — About a dozen people who use Maunalua Bay shared horror stories last night about near-misses and accidents that have occurred in the popular recreation area because of speeding boaters and other users who don't pay attention to the rules of the ocean.

They were among about 75 people who turned out for a town hall meeting at Hahaione Elementary School to discuss safety concerns in the bay and come up with ways to address these problems.

The meeting was sponsored by state Rep. Gene Ward, R-17th (Kalama Valley, Queen's Gate, Hawaii Kai), following an incident on Oct. 4 that killed a 17-year-old Kalihi boy.

Keahihoku Lum, a Farrington High School student, died after he was run over by a fishing boat in Maunalua Bay. Lum and two companions were diving in an area off China Wall near Portlock Point when the accident happened.

The operator of the boat stopped to give aid and brought Lum and a second injured diver to shore. Lum died a short while later; the other diver has recovered from his injuries.

The divers reported that they had "diver down" flags attached to floats that they towed behind them. But it was unclear at the time whether the divers were near a boat channel or if the boat was outside the channel.

TEARFUL PLEA

Laura H. Thielen, chairwoman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, declined to comment on the case last night because she said it remains under investigation.

Several members of Lum's family attended last night's meeting and wore picture buttons of Lum. Lehua Lum, Keahihoku's mother, made a tearful plea to the group to increase safety measures in the bay so a similar accident never happens again.

"I don't want anybody's child to ever have to go through what my baby went through," Lehua Lum said. "He didn't even have a chance to survive this. He was pretty much taken instantly. I saw that when I saw his wounds. When I got to the hospital he was already gone. I just don't want anybody else to suffer, and if I can help make a difference, I will be that person to make the difference."

Mike Beyer, a Kuliouou resident, said he uses the bay often and that many times he's been at risk from people on personal watercraft. This past Sunday, Beyer said he decided to stay out of the water to avoid a "pack of jet skiers looking for waves to jump" just off Portlock.

"It looked like they were out of control," said Beyer, 36. One rider fell off the water craft after jumping a wave, which led Beyer to think, "Wow, they really don't know what they're doing."

He said one problem is he wrote down the rider's car license plate number, but didn't know who to report the incident to.

ENFORCEMENT ISSUE

Many in the audience echoed Beyer's concerns and said that enforcement is the biggest issue in the bay. Many have compared the waterways with a freeway, where if no one is enforcing the rules, no one is going to obey them.

Thielen said one of the problems is that DLNR has just 100 enforcement officers statewide who cover not just the ocean, but also state lands all the way to the mountaintops.

She said many times officers will receive a complaint, but by the time they get to the scene the offenders are gone.

Thielen encouraged the group to get involved and join a "Makai Watch" for the bay that is similar to the Neighborhood Watch security programs. That way the community can serve as the eyes and ears for state law enforcement officers, she said.

"That's part of Makai Watch that we need to strengthen so that we can have someone follow up on with an investigation," Thielen said.

SLOW TO RESPOND

Deane Gonzalez shared a story of how a boat slammed into his vessel on Easter Sunday and cut his anchor line. Gonzalez, 65, and a dive buddy were in 60 feet of water and more than a mile offshore and Gonzalez was forced to make an emergency ascent and swim to retrieve his boat.

He said he filed a report with DLNR, but said he's frustrated at the snail-like pace that he said the state is moving on his case. Gonzalez said he's still waiting for a report from DLNR.

"Somebody tried to kill me and I'm pissed," Gonzalez said. "I know you guys are overworked and under-budgeted, but you need to respond to the public."

Ed Underwood, administrator of DLNR's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, said he would look into the matter.