Update: High surf already proves deadly with apparent drowning as warning for Big Island’s west coast continues

This story was updated at 10:56 a.m. Jan. 7 with additional and corrected information.

Update at 3:57 p.m. Jan. 6: The high surf warning issued for the entire west coast of the Big Island has been extended until 6 p.m. Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu says dangerously large surf is expected to continue for at least the next couple of days along western shorelines and possibly beyond, with large breaking waves of 10 to 15 feet forecast from ʻUpolu Point in North Kohala to South Point in Kaʻū.

“A high surf warning means large breaking surf, significant shore break and dangerous currents exist that could cause injury or death,” said Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense in a Tuesday morning message.

High surf conditions already have proven deadly.

Big Island police are investigating an apparent drowning that happened Sunday at Wawaloli Beach, also known as OTEC Beach, in Kalaoa, after a man was swept out into the ocean off the Kona Coast.

Because of the high surf warning, Civil Defense advises:

• Kahaluʻu Beach Park, Kohanaiki Beach Park and Mahukona Beach Park are closed. Other beaches could close without any advance notice.
• Property owners, beachgoers and anyone else working, living or playing along the western shores should take necessary precautions.
• Heed all instructions of ocean safety personnel.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park in Hōnaunau is also closed until further notice because of the hazardous surf conditions and “resource damage.”

“The health and safety of our staff and visitors is always our No. 1 concern,” said the park Monday in announcing the closure.

Alanui Kaloko Road and the coastal trail from Kaloko Fishpond to ʻAiʻōpio Fishtrap at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park in Honokōhau also are closed until further notice because of the dangerous surf conditions.

Both parks are located or have trails and other features along the Kona Coast.

A large west-northwest swell built in Monday night and an overlapping extra-large northwest swell is expected to build in early Wednesday, providing reinforcement.

Surf heights will build far above warning levels by this morning and persist into Thursday.

National Weather Service forecasters remind the public to:

• Stay away from the shoreline along the affected coasts.
• Be prepared for road closures.
• Postpone entering or leaving channels affected by high surf until the warning conditions subside.

Stay up to date with weather conditions, watches, warnings and advisories by visiting the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.

You can also find more closure and hazard information at the online Hawaiʻi County Hazard Impact Map.

Update at 6:52 a.m. Jan. 6: Dangerously large breaking waves of 10 to 14 feet are continuing to pound western shores of the Big Island.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has extended the high surf warning in effect for the island’s entire west coast — from ʻUpolu Point in North Kohala to South Point in Kaʻū — until 6 a.m. Wednesday as warning level surf is forecast to continue.

Another reinforcing northwest swell will swiftly build in later tonight into Tuesday, and an even larger swell will build into the region from Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Surf heights from Tuesday into Wednesday will build far above warning thresholds, bringing significant and dangerous surf along west shores.

Expected impacts from the large breakers continue to be very high.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense advised Sunday that:

• Beach parks along the island’s west coast could close anytime, without notice, because of the high surf conditions. Kahalu‘u Beach Park, La‘aola Beach Park and Kua Bay in Kona were closed Sunday. No word yet if they will remain closed today.
• People should exercise caution when they are at any beaches or on any shorelines/coastlines along the west coast.

National Weather Servive forecasters again say ocean water will surge and sweep across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, potentially impacting coastal properties and infrastructure incuding roads.

Most beaches along the west coast will experience powerful longshore and rip currents, which will make ocean activities such as swimming very dangerous.

Large breaking waves and strong currents could also impact harbor entrances and channels, making handling vessels and maneuvers challenging.

The National Weather Service reminds the public to:

• Stay away from the shoreline along affected coasts.
• Be prepared for road closures.
• Postpone entering or leaving channels until high surf conditions subside.

Stay up to date with weather conditions, watches, warnings and advisories by visiting the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.

Update at 6:38 a.m. Jan. 5: Western shores of the Big Island are being pounded this morning as surf associated with a large to extra large swell moving through the islands peaks above warning levels, according to National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu.

Warning level surf is expected to continue through Monday afternoon, causing the weather service to extend the high surf warning in effect for the island’s entire west coast — from ʻUpolu Point in North Kohala to South Point in Kaʻū — until 6 p.m. Monday.

Dangerously large breaking waves of 12 to 16 feet are forecast today along western shores, decreasing to 10 to 14 feet Monday before another northwest swell swiftly builds in Monday night into Wednesday.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense reports that:

• Kahalu‘u Beach Park in Kona is closed because of debris and high surf.
• La‘aola Beach Park and Kua Bay in Kona also are closed.
• Other beach parks along west-facing shores could close anytime without notice.
• Exercise caution when at any beaches or on any shorelines/coastlines along the west coast.

Expected impacts from the large breakers continue to be very high.

Ocean water will surge and sweep across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, potentially impacting coastal properties and infrastructure incuding roads.

Most beaches along the west coast will experience powerful longshore and rip currents, which will make ocean activities such as swimming very dangerous.

Large breaking waves and strong currents could also impact harbor entrances and channels, making handling vessels and maneuvers challenging.

The National Weather Service advises the public to:

• Stay away from the shoreline along affected coasts.
• Be prepared for road closures.
• Postpone entering or leaving channels until high surf conditions subside.

Stay up to date with weather conditions, watches, warnings and advisories by visiting the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.

Original post at 10:39 a.m. Jan. 4: The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu issued a high surf warning for the entire west coast of the Big Island — from ʻUpolu Point in North Kohala to South Point in Kaʻū — in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday.

“A high surf warning means large breaking surf, significant shore break and dangerous currents could cause injury and death,” said Hawai‘i County Civil Defense in a Saturday morning message.

Forecasters say surf will rapidly build to 9 to 12 feet this afternoon then 10 to 14 feet tonight into Sunday along the island’s west shores with the arrival this morning of forerunners to the first of a series of large to extra large northwest swells expected this weekend.

The forerunners will build quickly down the island chain by this afternoon, peaking tonight and into Sunday.

Impacts from the high surf are expected to be very high.

Ocean water will surge and sweep across beaches, coastal benches and lava flows, potentially impacting coastal properties and infrastructure incuding roads.

Most beaches along the west coast will experience powerful longshore and rip currents, and large breaking waves and strong currents could impact harbor entrances and channels, making handling vessels and maneuvers challenging.

Civil Defense and the National Weather Service advise the public to:

• Stay away from the shoreline along affected coasts.
• Be prepared for road closures.
• Heed all instructions given by ocean safetyo officials.
• Postpone entering or leaving channels until high surf conditions subside.

Property owners along west-facing shorelines are urged to take necessary precautions to protect their properites.

Beach parks also could close without notice.

Stay up to date with weather conditions, watches, warnings and advisories by visiting the National Weather Service Honolulu forecast office website.