State boating officials are reminding residents to be careful and follow the rules while out on the water this holiday season.

Roy Yanagihara, acting O'ahu district manager for the Department of Land and Natural Resource's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, said one of the most important things to remember is stay away from the water if you've consumed alcohol. He said it doesn't matter if a person is operating a vessel, swimming or just walking along the shoreline.

"We want all boaters to operate their boats safely, and swimmers likewise," Yanagihara said. "We want anybody going into the ocean to know that alcohol can affect people's behaviors and ability to swim."

He said the state is hoping to raise safety awareness in light of the recent reports of fights, drinking and littering on the popular Kane'ohe Bay sandbar. This summer, the sandbar — a 3-acre patch of sand that is exposed only during low tide — was the site of two free concerts that attracted hundreds of people from around the island.

The state and Coast Guard will be patrolling the sandbar area this weekend, Yanagihara said. But he said all boaters should be careful and he passed along a few reminders: