High surf advisory for east-facing shores

A high-surf advisory along east-facing shores from Kauai to Hawaii island is in effect until 6 a.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s windy and choppy,” said Keola Parker, who has been bodyboarding at Sandy Beach for eight years. “It’s not the greatest day, but I hope to go out and have fun.”

The surf, reaching 5 to 8 feet, resulted from a combination of strong tradewinds generated by high pressure building to the north and a disturbance passing south of the islands.

“There are very strong rip currents, dangerous shore break, and high rate of injury here,” announced a Sandy Beach lifeguard over the loudspeaker. A second lifeguard was seen sprinting down the beach and quickly diving into the water to rescue a woman stuck in a rip current near the shorebreak.

Though the long-awaited summer swells bring an adrenaline rush for experienced surfers, bodysurfers and bodyboarders, lifeguards at Sandy and Makapuu beaches are faced with an inundation of beachgoers, many of whom are not used to the conditions.

“We’re good swimmers, but there’s definitely a rip current,” said Lalelei Mata’afa, a bodyboarder at Makapuu Beach. Mata’afa, a water polo player from Maui, said that she and her brother, Matai, have been coming to Makapuu Beach their whole lives. “Read the signs and listen to the lifeguards … they know best,” she said.

Beachgoers, swimmers and surfers should expect strong breaking waves, shorebreaks and strong longshore and rip currents to make swimming difficult and dangerous on the east-facing shores. They are advised to listen to warnings from Ocean Safety officials and exercise caution.