Hapuna Beach on Hawaii island closed due to high surf

Hawaii island’s Hapuna Beach at Hapuna Beach State Park has been closed since Saturday morning because ocean surges are breaking far up on shore, a state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman said.

Waves are 10 to 12 feet high, but the water is going as high as the vegetation on the northern end of the beach and reaching some of the lifeguard towers, DLNR’s Deborah Ward said via email.

Lifeguards from Hawaii County Ocean Safety will inform DLNR’s Division of State Parks when it is safe to reopen the beach.