A storm system south of the state rapidly intensified into a tropical storm early Saturday and could become a hurricane by the time it nears Hawaii island on Monday, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
Meanwhile, a female visitor from Korea apparently drowned in waters off Waimanalo Beach Park as hazardous surf prevailed along north and east shores across the state.
According to Ocean Safety spokeswoman Shayne Enright, lifeguards responded to two people in distress about 70 feet offshore and roughly 100 yards to the left of the lifeguard tower.
A lifeguard was able to bring one of the two — identified as a male visitor from South Korea in his 20s — safely to shore. Lifeguards and Honolulu Fire Department rescue personnel searched for the second person, a woman in her 20s, and located her close to shore to the right of the tower. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred around 3 p.m.
On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a high-surf advisory for Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island effective until 6 p.m. today. Surf along north shores is expected to reach 12 to 16 feet. Eastern shores could see surf of 6 to 10 feet.
Beachgoers are cautioned to expect strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents that could make swimming difficult and dangerous.
The conditions prompted Ocean Safety officials to close Hanauma Bay beach on Saturday. Ocean Safety personnel will evaluate the surf today to determine if the beach is safe to reopen.
Weather and surf conditions could worsen as the first of two tropical cyclones approaches.
At 5 p.m. Saturday, Tropical Storm Oho was 435 miles south-southeast of South Point and about 630 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, moving east at 7 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 345 miles from the center.
Oho is expected to turn west-northwest today and then turn back toward the northeast tonight. It is expected to become a hurricane by Monday morning, forecasters said.
Farther south from the islands is Tropical Depression Eight-C. At 5 p.m., Eight-C was about 1,160 miles southwest of Honolulu, moving north-northwest at 2 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
The depression is making a counterclockwise loop and will turn to the west-northwest with increasing forward speed in the next 48 hours, the center said.
Eight-C is the 13th tropical cyclone in the Central Pacific in the record-breaking 2015 season. The previous record of 11 tropical cyclones was set in 1992 and tied in 1994.
The weather prompted Maui County officials to cancel until further notice Monday’s county community budget meeting, Community Development Block Grant application workshop and the Molokai Employee Recognition Luncheon.
