One boat sank, several beaches around the state were closed, and state facilities on Hawaii island sustained minor damage from high surf that is expected to stick around statewide until 6 p.m. Saturday.
The high-surf warning is in effect for north and west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai; for the north shores of Maui; and for the west shores of Hawaii island.
Waves grew to 25 to 35 feet Thursday on Oahu’s North Shore but were expected to fall to 20 to 30 feet Friday. South Shore waves were expected to hit 15 to 20 feet Thursday night, lowering to 12 to 18 feet Friday.
It was not clear whether the swell caused a tugboat to sink Thursday afternoon off Barbers Point.
Crew members aboard the 95-foot vessel, Nalani, called the Coast Guard for help at 3:13 p.m. and said they were taking on water, said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle.
Molle said the 10 crew members and pilot were conducting sea trials about 2.5 miles off Kalaeloa when they ran into trouble.
"The boat completely sank in approximately 300 feet of water," Molle said. The crew waited for help in the water.
A good Samaritan vessel or vessels responded and rescued the overboard crew, then transferred them to a Coast Guard boat that arrived later. The Coast Guard boat took the crew to Sand Island at about 6 p.m., Molle said.
No one was hurt.
Molle said the Coast Guard was grateful for the assistance and that the outcome could have been different if the good Samaritans had not been available.
"They were able to save 11 lives," she said.
Meanwhile, large surf damaged a lifeguard tower on the north side of Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area and a waterline, cutting water to the bathrooms, said Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman Deborah Ward.
The surf dumped mud and rocks in the parking lot at the north boat harbor in Kawaihae on the west side of Hawaii island. A waterline at the boat harbor was also damaged by surf, knocking out water to the bathrooms, which had mud covering the floors.
Surf also tore out planks from a pier at the boat harbor and may have caused that pier some structural damage, Ward said.
Several beaches and state parks were closed because of the surf, Ward said.
State and county beaches were closed on the west side of Hawaii island on Thursday, Ward said.
The closed state parks included Hapuna Beach, Lapakahi State Historical Park and Kekaha Kai State Park.
Officials will assess surf conditions before opening the parks Friday.
On Oahu officials closed the Waianae side of Kaena Point State Park because high surf was pushing water across Farrington Highway, Ward said.
Spectacular waves drew thousands to Oahu’s North Shore, and lifeguards and emergency services personnel were busy around the island.
With 12- to 15-foot surf in Waikiki on Thursday, the Honolulu Emergency Services Department said outer surf spots saw consistent waves, with sets coming in "one after another."
Waikiki lifeguards found themselves helping with broken surfboards in the South Shore swell, which resulted in 84 rescues and 378 preventative actions. There were 22 rescues on the Leeward Coast, where surf reached 20-30 feet at Makaha. There were 17 rescues in 6-foot waves at Sandy Beach.
On the North Shore there were five rescues Thursday and 695 preventive actions.
Surf is expected to increase slightly late Friday and into Saturday.
