In anticipation of enormous waves reaching heights of up to 50 feet, state and county officials Tuesday shut down beaches on Oahu’s North Shore and the Waianae Coast through 6 a.m. Friday.
Authorities shut down the Keawaula Beach section of Kaena Point State Park and Waimea Bay at 5:30 p.m.
"We don’t want anyone stuck in the parking lot if there’s a surge," city Ocean Safety Division spokeswoman Shayne Enright said. "We’re asking people not to risk their lives. That jeopardizes lifeguards’ safety."
Enright said Ocean Safety officers were asked to report to work at 7 a.m. today, two hours earlier than normal.
State Civil Defense spokeswoman Shelly Ichishita said residents on Ke Nui Road near Sunset Beach have been apprised of the dangerous surf conditions.
"We’ve been keeping an eye on the situation," she said.
Professional surfer Paulo Mauro, who has been staying at a shorefront home on Ke Nui Road with his wife and baby, said the big-waves forecast is scary.
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>> Waimea Bay Beach Park
>> Keawaula Beach section of Kaena Point State Park
>> On Kauai, all north shore beaches, from Anahola to Kee Beach Precautions
>> Watch for sand and seawater washing over coastal roads.
>> Do not enter the water, and heed warnings from lifeguards and emergency personnel.
>> Ensure boats are securely moored.
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Mauro said Tuesday night that his family has everything in plastic waterproof bags if they have to leave quickly.
He said residents of Ke Nui were installing plastic tarps along the sand area and putting up sandbags near their homes in preparation for the high surf.
"I don’t think it will help in a big way. It will help a little," he said.
Melvin Kaku, director of the city’s Department of Emergency Services, said the National Weather Service has described the high surf as a once-in-10-years event.
"What increases the hazard is the forecasted wave heights in combination with the long duration these swells will be impacting our shorelines," Kaku said in a prepared statement Tuesday.
"The long duration means that ocean waters will pile up in the surf zone, allowing the larger waves to impact farther into beach areas. This battering effect can cause increased shoreline erosion and damage to homes and infrastructure as well as blocking coastal highways with sand, debris and water."
Emergency Services officials said residents and visitors traveling on coastal roads and highways should be careful of sand and seawater that might wash across roadways.
Officials said people along affected shorelines need to exercise extreme caution, avoid going into the water or near the ocean, and heed all warnings from Ocean Safety lifeguards and emergency personnel.
The high-surf warning, which was scheduled to take effect early this morning and run through sunrise Friday, covers the north- and west-facing shores of Oahu, Kauai and Molokai; the north shore of Maui; and the west shore of Hawaii island.
North shore beaches on Kauai were scheduled to be closed this morning.
Forecasters expect surf on the north- and west-facing shores of Kauai and Niihau and the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui to reach 40 feet to 50 feet. Surf on the west-facing shores of Oahu and Molokai is expected to reach 20 feet to 30 feet, while the west shore of Hawaii island is expected to reach 12 to 18 feet, according to weather officials.
Civil Defense volunteers have been going door to door to beachfront homes on the north and west shores to let people know about the potential dangers tied to the surf. Groups that work with the homeless who live on beaches have also warned them they might need to evacuate.
"It’s going to be a hazardous and dangerous environment for the next few days. We don’t want anyone to get hurt or injured, or even killed," said John Cummings, spokesman for the city Department of Emergency Management.
