A deadly early winter swell began to decline Wednesday, but big waves closed Baldwin Beach Park on Maui’s north shore, six beach parks on Hawaii island, and a section of Kalanianaole Avenue between Kioea and Koloa streets fronting Hilo Bay.
Waves at Waimea Bay Beach Park on Oahu’s North Shore reached 25 feet Tuesday, but the peaks were declining by Wednesday afternoon, said Kerry Atwood, senior lifeguard at the park.
Chris Tesche, 32, of Kaneohe was swimming in Waimea Bay when he was hit by what he estimates was a 12-foot wave.
“It felt like my neck was about to break,” Tesche said. “I just did a couple of flips in the water, swallowed a little bit of water. I survived it. I didn’t think I was going to for the first minute under water, pretty much. It was a scary experience.”
The parking lot of Baldwin Beach Park in Paia was flooded Wednesday morning and the high surf washed sand up into the pavilion area.
Hawaii County closed six beach parks — Richardson, Leleiwi, Carlsmith, Kealoha, Onekahakaha and Coconut Island.
Hawaii County police said a combination of high tide and the large ocean swell created hazardous conditions on Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo. Traffic was detoured through Nene Street for area residents.
The National Weather Service expected surf as high as 20 to 30 feet Wednesday morning to drop to 14 to 18 feet Wednesday night, with 6 to 10 feet today on north shores. The 15- to 20-foot waves on west shores were expected to decline to 8 to 12 feet Wednesday night and 4 to 6 feet today.
A high-surf advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday for north and west shores of Oahu, Kauai County, Molokai and Maui.
Forecasters said a new swell will start to build this afternoon. Forecasters expect wave heights to rise to 12 to 16 feet late today on north shores and 8 to 12 feet on west shores.
Waves declined enough Wednesday morning to hold the opening rounds of the HIC Pro surf contest at Sunset Beach. The event is a qualifier for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
The surf turned deadly on Tuesday when three fishermen were swept into the ocean by a large wave at the Moi Hole at the end of the road in Kaena Point State Park.
Keith Hirata, 58, of Kapolei was fishing with two other men when they were swept off the rocks by a 10-foot wave.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of Hirata’s death was accidental blunt impact to the head.
A city official said the men were warned about the dangerous surf but disregarded the warnings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
