Three surfers at the popular Honolii surf spot just north of Hilo had to be rescued Thursday after they ran into trouble shortly before 3:27 p.m. 

The three male surfers were struggling with strong flows from Honolii Stream and rough conditions that were picking up because of the passing storm, said Hawaii County Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry Lum.

“The water conditions werenʻt the best,” Lum said. “They had the river current and rough seas.”

Lum said lifeguards from Honolii used boards to paddle out to the surfers to assist them, and a fire department helicopter was dispatched to pluck the surfers out of the water. The lifeguards then paddled back to shore with the surfersʻ boards, Lum said.

There were no injuries, and ages for the surfers were unavailable, he said.