A high-surf advisory has been issued for Hawaii waters by the National Weather Service from this morning through Sunday evening.
The advisory said 6- to 8-foot-high surf was expected from 6 a.m. today to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The advisory warned swimmers, surfers and oceangoers about strong breaking waves and shorebreaks, as well as rip currents.
The weather service also has issued a high-wind advisory for Lanai and Kahoolawe and the Big Island’s Kohala area through 4 a.m. Sunday.
Small-craft advisories for the main Hawaiian Islands remain in effect through 6 a.m. Sunday, including a gale warning for the Alenuihaha Channel.
Gusty tradewinds are expected through the holiday weekend as a new surface high passes north of the state, the weather service said. Low clouds and showers are expected to accompany the trades.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Land off-limits due to dengue
HILO >> Hawaii island’s ongoing dengue fever outbreak is prompting officials to close state lands near Milolii village and Honomalino Bay.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Friday the closure is necessary for public safety because experts are calling Milolii a dengue fever outbreak “hot spot.”
The announcement comes after county officials closed Milolii Beach Park so crews could conduct mosquito control and pesticide treatments.
Officials say that as of Friday there were 181 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease across the island.
Big Isle school to get building
Kohala High School is one step closer to getting modern science and technology classrooms at its Kapaau campus, West Hawaii Today reports.
The state Department of Education concluded Wednesday that constructing a science and technology building that will provide enhanced classroom space for high school students will have no significant environmental impact.
The state-funded project is needed to modernize the high school campus to meet DOE classroom standards, education officials said. Construction could begin as early as fall 2016.
Brent Suyama, DOE spokesman, said design work should be complete early next year and $8 million has already been secured for the project.
“The building cannot come too soon,” said Fern White, an English teacher who also advises the school’s robotics team, which recently earned one of six slots to attend the VEX Robotics World Championship in April.
