Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 18 Recap: Flowback
Friendships and emotions are put to the test on Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 18, “Flowback.”
Working on the North Shore team is rewarding but doesn’t pay well. To help his coworkers and avoid moving back home, Kainalu is developing a property with affordable yurts for himself and the other lifeguards.
He envisions a space where they can all live comfortably without financial strain. Proud of his progress and eager to see the project completed within a month, Kainalu takes his father to the site to show him the plans.
While supportive, his father is also realistic, pointing out that a project of this scale cannot be completed in such a short time. To prove his point, he takes Kainalu to a site he has been working on for 16 years — a community of affordable housing for low-income families.
Kainalu may believe his plan is solid, but his father reminds him that even well-structured projects encounter setbacks.
Uncertain about where he will live while the yurts are under construction, Kainalu meets Hina for drinks.
After 18 episodes of tension, she finally admits her feelings for him and begs him not to move in with Rosie. Surprised by her confession, Kainalu is also rightfully frustrated. He has spent months trying to take Hina on a date and flirting with her, only to be rejected each time.
Determined to move on, he found happiness in a new relationship, and only now does Hina decide to be honest about her feelings. Calling her out on her hurtful behavior, Kainalu walks away, leaving viewers to wonder what will happen to their friendship.
Meanwhile, Will is having a rough day. His morning starts with being served legal papers by his ex-fiancé’s father, who is suing him for the money lost when the wedding was called off.
On top of that, he is still struggling with whether to report Vince after seeing him dealing drugs at a house party.
As if to confirm his suspicions, while working the guard tower with Laka, a clearly drugged man approaches them, looking for Vince. He claims this is their usual meeting spot. When he realizes Vince isn’t there, he leaves, raising Laka and Will’s suspicions.
Hours later, while patrolling the beach, they come across a van emitting a horrible smell. Looking inside, they find the same man, unconscious from an overdose. Acting fast, they attempt to revive him while waiting for EMS.
Watching the man being taken to the hospital, unsure if he will survive, Laka urges Will to report Vince before anyone else gets hurt.
Will, wanting to give Vince a chance to come clean, confronts him directly, urging him to tell Jennings about his drug dealings—both in general and while on duty — or Will will do it himself.
Vince is unfazed, claiming Jennings will take his side due to their long-standing friendship. He warns that Will, with his so-called “anger issues,” will be the one to lose his job.
Unwilling to let this slide, Will chooses to do the right thing. He tells Jennings everything, including Vince’s drug activity and his own past mistake of assaulting a drunk man while on duty. Jennings believes him but suspends him while investigating the matter, leaving Will’s future on the team uncertain.
On a brighter note, Em takes a step toward giving back to the community by volunteering as a surf instructor for the Veteran Surf Initiative program. While searching for a veteran to partner with, she meets Max.
The two, an unlikely pair, quickly form a close bond as they share their vastly different traumatic experiences. Em struggles with her relationship with her mother and Will, while Max grapples with the pain of being shot four times in battle and losing his best friend.
Despite their gruff and reserved personalities, their friendship teaches Em an important lesson: life is unpredictable, and everyone carries unseen burdens.
Their connection reminds her to appreciate the people in her life and be grateful for what she has because no one truly knows what another person is enduring.
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What did you think of this episode of Rescue: HI-Surf? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Rescue: HI-Surf airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX.
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Gracie Lowes
Gracie Lowes is an entertainment journalist, public relations specialist, media personality and influencer. She graduated from both the Public Relations and Journalism programs at St. Clair College. Her Journalistic work includes; entertainment news stories and editorial write ups, red carpet interviews, radio segments, as well as movie, television and music reviews.