Big waves approach from the north

The National Weather Service has issued a high-surf advisory for the north shores of Oahu and the neighbor islands, starting at 4 p.m. today.

The west shores of Oahu, Kauai and Niihau will also be affected, the weather service said.

On the north shores, surf of 8 to 12 feet is expected late this afternoon, with peak heights between 25 and 35 feet tomorrow. Even larger waves can be expected on the outer reefs, the agency said.

Surf along the west shores of Oahu will build to heights of 6 to 8 feet late this afternoon, rising rapidly tonight, with peaks of up to 18 feet tomorrow.

Surf on the Big Island should be about 15 feet.

This swell will diminish Wednesday night but will be quickly replaced by an even larger one, keeping waves high through 4 p.m. Thursday.

The advisory means high surf could produce rip currents and localized beach erosion.

The large north-northwest swell is being generated by a powerful low-pressure zone passing north of the islands, the weather service said.

Feds pick marine reserve co-manager

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has appointed Thomas Edgerton co-manager of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Edgerton is currently the monument manager at the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona.

The agency said Thursday that Edgerton is due to join counterparts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in jointly running the monument beginning next month.

Edgerton has worked for several Interior Department agencies during his 29-year career, including the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife.

The monument stretches some 1,200 miles across the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.