Leavitt Yamane & Soldner

Honolulu Accidents Rock the Boat on Safety of Local Parasailing

In the last year, two serious accidents in the waters off Oahu have put the local parasailing industry in hot water. Popular amongst visitors from around the world who visit Hawaii to take in the islands’ world-famous waters, the popular aquatic sport allows a person to be towed behind a vehicle – typically a boat – and glide in the air attached to a parachute-like contraption.

Last month two visitors from Palm Springs, California were seriously injured when their parasailing safety equipment malfunctioned off Oahu’s south shore. Accounts from first responders claim that the two men were being reeled in after a morning parasailing with Xtreme Parasailing when they were dragged in the water an estimated 1,000 feet before employees were able to bring them on board. The 68-year-old man involved in the incident died from his injuries a few days later.

While the Coast Guard is responsible for checking the safety of the vessels and their licensing, there are currently no regulations on place for parasailing equipment. The Coast Guard is in the process of investigating the accident and depending on the outcome, the company and boat captain could be found responsible and punished.

According to the Coast Guard there are voluntary safety regulations for parasailing companies, such as those shared by the Professional Association of Parasailing Operations and the Water Sporting Industry Association.

In May 2011, another “freak” accident off Kewalo Basin sent three visitors to hospital. A family from Utah – including a 32-year woman, her husband and eight-year-old daughter – were on a parasail when the line snapped. All three were dragged underwater for a short period of time by the parasail’s chute and the woman was taken to a nearby hospital.

The company operating the parasail, Hawaiian Parasailing, said that the line was less than one month old when it broke, and that the nature of the accident and failure of the safety line was unusual. In this case, the company offered to cover all medical bills, so the family did not intend to sue.

While many companies never experience an accident, parasailing is a dangerous sport. According to the Parasail Safety Council, the most common parasail accidents are caused by tow line separation from the boat, equipment failure, high speed water and deck landings, canopy rotation, line popping and whiplash.

Some tips to consider before going parasailing include:

• Equip yourself with information on what type of equipment is used in parasailing so that you can examine the equipment provided by the company and determine whether it is in proper working condition and not old or outdated.
• Prior to selecting a parasailing company, do some research to determine how long they’ve been in business and whether they’ve been previously involved in any accidents or issues.
• Plan on meeting with the staff beforehand to establish the team’s level of professionalism. You want to choose a company whose employees have you and your group’s safety as their top priority.
• Keep a close eye on the weather conditions before setting out. If the weather is windy or rainy you should postpone plans until the weather clears.
• If you’re not a strong swimmer ask to be fitted with a life jacket. In the event that you are thrown into the water, you’ll need this to help stay afloat until you can get pulled to safety.
• Ask lots of questions and pay close attention during the informational briefing prior to setting out. Know exactly what you need to do in the case of an emergency and the hand gestures that are required to signal an emergency.