3 tourists apparently drown in Hawaii's surf

updated 9:12 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2008

HONOLULU - Two sisters-in-law were struck by large waves on the Kauai shore and were pulled out to sea, and a snorkeler also died over the weekend as high surf hit Hawaii.

The women were strolling along Queen's Bath in Princeville on Sunday when a large wave knocked one woman down and a second wave swept both women into the water, according to Clayton Arinaga, assistant Kauai police chief for patrol services.

One woman's husband tried to swim to them but had to turn back because of strong currents. Lifeguards weren't able to resuscitate the women, Arinaga said.

The National Weather Service had advised of high surf Sunday morning for north-facing beaches in Hawaii, including Kauai. The advisory lasts through Tuesday evening, and lifeguards have been warning people away from the water. The waves were expected to reach as high as 18 feet on Kauai.

"This weekend, we had large surf hitting the north side of the island," Arinaga said. "If you're not familiar with wave action at all, this would be a problem."

The women were identified as Heather Westphal, 33, of Washington, D.C., and Tonya Cataldo, 38, of Parker, Colo.

Earlier Sunday, a body surfer at a beach in Kapaa found the body of a snorkeler in the water. Arinaga said the man was 74-year-old Hiroaki Kinjo of Saitama Ken, Japan.

Drowning appeared to have caused all three deaths, but autopsies were scheduled Tuesday.

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