A high-surf warning remains in effect at least through this afternoon for the north and west shores of Oahu, Kauai, Niihau and Molokai and the north shores of Maui.
Surf of 25 to 35 feet on Friday was expected to drop to 16 to 25 feet today along the north and west shores of Kauai and Niihau and the north shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui. The west shores of Oahu and Molokai can expect surf of 15 to 20 feet, the National Weather Service said.
Surf of 8 to 12 feet also is expected along the west shores of Hawaii island until at least 6 p.m., the weather service said. In Kailua-Kona, that combined with a high tide at 5:30 a.m. could mean waves washing over Alii Drive.
MAUI
Shore reopens with carcass gone
State officials have reopened a stretch of shoreline on Maui after the remains of a dead humpback whale disappeared from view.
The Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve on Maui’s southwest coast was reopened Friday after it was closed Dec. 30 when the dead whale washed ashore.
Officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the area because carcasses often attract sharks to the near-shore waters.
The agency says in a statement that the carcass is essentially no longer detectable because of shark and fish feeding as well as tidal wave action.
Officials warn there could still be increased shark activity in the area because some remains could be in the water and out of sight.
HAWAII ISLAND
Man’s death off Kona reviewed
An autopsy was ordered Friday in connection with a possible drowning in Kona.
At 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive man in waters off Kua Bay.
When officers arrived, beachgoers were attempting cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Fire/rescue personnel took the man, identified as 57-year-old Brad O’Gara of Amboy, Wash., to Kona Community Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m.
Police do not suspect foul play.
UH-Hilo aviation plan delayed
A decision on a long-awaited, four-year aviation program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has been deferred.
The Board of Regents’ Committee on Academic and Student Affairs, meeting Thursday, will take up the matter again in February or March, UH officials said.
If approved, the proposal would go to a full board vote and ultimately be implemented under “provisional status.”
Programs with provisional status can accept students and offer classes, said Matthew Platz, vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH Hilo. If successful they’re continued on a permanent basis.
The campus estimates 20 resident students will enter the program each year. Those students would graduate with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical sciences and immediately be eligible for a range of jobs, including military pilot, bush pilot and flight instructor.
