JAMM AQUINO / DEC. 26
Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards charge into high surf to rescue a surfer in distress at Ehukai Beach on Oahu’s North Shore in 2024 North and west shores of most islands are under a high surf warning from Saturday noon through midday Monday.
Dangerously large waves of up to 45 feet are expected on most north shores this weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a high surf warning through noon Monday.
The warning, which begins Saturday at noon, covers the north shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui, where waves are expected to peak between 35 to 45 feet, and for the west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai, which could see 20- to 30-feet along waves.
“Expect ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches, coastal benches, and lava flows creating the potential for impacts to coastal properties and infrastructure, including roadways,” the warning says. “Powerful longshore and rip currents will be present at most beaches. Large breaking waves and strong currents may impact harbor entrances and channels causing challenging boat handling.”
Ocean safety officials are urging the public to stay away from the water in the affected areas and to heed all warnings from lifeguards. They say that such powerful surf could cause serious injury or death, and that standing to close to the shoreline to watch the waves is dangerous.
Officials also advise the public to be prepared for road closures, and to postpone entering or leaving channels affected by the high waves until the surf subsides.