Hazardous surf pummels shores, swimmers across state

High surf generated by a large northwest swell Saturday prompted the closure of popular beaches on Hawaii island and Kauai, complicated efforts to retrieve the bodies of two drowning victims in waters off Kauai, and kept Ocean Safety personnel on Oahu busy with numerous rescues and preventive actions.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources closed Hapuna Beach at Hapuna Beach State Park Saturday morning after ocean surges were observed breaking far up shore.

DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said in an email that waves of 10 to 12 feet were pushing water as high as the vegetation on the northern end of the beach and reaching some lifeguard towers.

Kauai County’s Ocean Safety Bureau closed Ke‘e, Haena and Pine Trees beaches Saturday, and allowed only limited swimming at Hanalei Pier because of dangerous ocean conditions.

Kauai fire rescue personnel retrieved the body of one of two visitors from San Francisco who drowned after being swept out to sea on Friday.

A rescue helicopter recovered the body of 46-year-old Adam Griffiths after it was spotted in waters along the north shore around 9 a.m. Crews continued to scan the ocean for 47-year-old Brian Baker along the north shore coastal area from Kilauea Lighthouse to Pilaa Beach.

The aerial search for Baker extended roughly one-half mile offshore until about 2 p.m. without success, fire officials said. Crews tried to use a personal watercraft, but it proved ineffective in the choppy waters and the search was discontinued by late morning. It is scheduled to resume this morning.

"We extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims," said Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr., who is in Washington, D.C., attending the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors. "This is a terrible tragedy and our entire community mourns with you."

Fire officials said the men were traveling with three other friends and exploring the rocky coastal area south of Kalihiwai Bay late Friday afternoon when Baker was swept into the ocean by high surf. Griffiths dove in to assist Baker and was also overcome by high surf, officials said.

A woman in the group called for help at 5:10 p.m., which set off a joint rescue effort by the Kauai Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, officials said.

By the time emergency personnel arrived, the men were floating face-down in the water.

The initial recovery effort was called off at 6:35 p.m. due to darkness and high surf.

"These tragedies are tough on our emergency responders, but they do what they have to do in order to address the situation in a manner that is safe and with the utmost compassion for the victims," Carvalho said.

On Oahu, Ocean Safety personnel performed five rescues and took 2,815 preventive actions on north and west shores.

The most serious case involved a visitor in his 50s who got into trouble near the shoreline at Waimea Bay as waves of roughly 20 feet rolled in. Lifeguards pulled the man out of the water and paramedics transported him to a local trauma center in serious condition.

A 40-year-old man died Friday after being pulled from rough surf in Makaha. The medical examiner’s office identified him as Eassie Miller of Waianae.

The National Weather Service warns that hazardous surf will likely continue through the weekend.