5 islands warned of high surf till Monday

A third swell this week has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a high-surf warning until 6 p.m. Monday for the north and west shores of Oahu, Molokai, Kauai and Niihau, and the north shore of Maui.

Surf of 20 to 30 feet is expected today on the north and west shores of Kauai and Niihau and the north shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui, the National Weather Service said. The western shores of Oahu and Molokai can expect surf from 15 to 20 feet, the weather service said.

The swell is forecast to peak today.

Surf has been at advisory levels since Christmas Eve, when the first of three swells arrived.

The swell will cause hazardous surf and beach conditions today through Monday afternoon, forecasters said. "Expect ocean water occasionally sweeping across … beaches, very strong breaking waves and strong rip currents."

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is also warning of dangerous conditions near Sunset Beach as the high surf is causing erosion, and debris, concrete, trees and boulders are washing ashore.

"We are advising the public to avoid the area starting from the western-most side of Sunset Beach Park to Rocky Point area during this period of high surf," said DLNR Director William Aila.

Man gets 15 years for gambling and meth

Federal prosecutors in Honolulu say a man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for running an illegal gambling business and for dealing meth.

Lawrence Tuitele was also sentenced to five years’ supervised release on Friday. Prosecutors say the 57-year-old’s criminal conduct spanned his entire adult life and that he’s never held a legitimate job.

In a plea agreement with the government, he pleaded guilty to charges including operating an illegal gambling business and methamphetamine distribution.

Shark sightings prompt closure of Maui beach

Shark sightings near shore closed Fleming Beach in Kapalua, Maui, Saturday.

Ocean Safety officials said a hammerhead was seen about 5 to 10 yards offshore at about 9 a.m. and again at about 11:15 a.m.

Lifeguards closed the beach for about two hours after each sighting. Lifeguards also posted warning signs and advised beachgoers of the closure.

Safety officials said they would evaluate the situation every two hours before deciding if the beach should be reopened.

There have been eight shark attacks on Maui this year, two of them fatal. Most involved tiger sharks, not hammerheads.

Paddleboarder safe after being blown to sea

Maui fire officials say a stranded stand-up paddleboarder who was blown out to sea by strong winds has been rescued.

The 21-year-old woman visiting from Boston was picked up by a sailboat off Lahaina on Friday afternoon, the Maui Fire Department said.

Capt. Paul Haake said she was part of a group of six friends who had rented paddleboards near the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. The other five made it to shore but had lost sight of the woman, he said.

The rental equipment vendor reported her missing to lifeguards at Hanakaoo Beach Park at 2:25 p.m. A lifeguard on a Jet Ski started a search and requested help from the Fire Department, which dispatched a rescue boat and helicopter.

Soon after, the rescue team was notified that the Coast Guard received a call from the sailboat Bliss that they had picked up the woman, who was unhurt. The search was called off at 3:10 p.m.