Big Island high surf pounded south-facing shores Wednesday, sending waves over the Kailua-Kona seawall and forcing multiple closures as a powerful south-southwest swell peaked.
Shortly before noon on Aliʻi Drive, diners at The Fish Hopper Kona watched towering sets crash into the shoreline across the street. A video posted by the restaurant captured water overtopping the seawall and soaking pedestrians and cars.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu said surf along south-facing shores of Hawaiʻi Island had built to 10 to 14 feet, just shy of warning levels. A high surf advisory, originally set to end at 6 a.m. Thursday, was extended until 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4.
“Mother Nature is putting on a jaw-dropping display of raw power in Kona,” a mid-morning post from World Weather said, describing swells slamming the coastline and water surging over seawalls.
One beachgoer who arrived at Kailua Bay around 11 a.m. hoping for a light swim decided against it after seeing the conditions, estimating wave faces up to 20 feet, although forecasters held to 10 to 14 feet for the advisory.
Big Island high surf prompts closures and cancellations
The south-southwest swell also disrupted plans ashore and at sea. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America skipped its Kailua-Kona stop Wednesday, which led to at least one on-island event cancellation.
The Kona Choral Society and Windward Oʻahu Choral Society called off their noon concert at Mokuʻaikaua Church in downtown Kona.
Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reported closures of four popular West Hawaiʻi parks because of hazardous surf: Kahaluʻu Beach Park, Laʻaloa Park, also known as Magic Sands, Old Kona Airport Beach Park, and Kohanaiki Beach Park. Officials said updates will be provided as conditions change.
Ocean safety and emergency personnel remained on high alert. Forecasters urged the public to stay out of high surf zones, heed lifeguard guidance, and use extreme caution.
Boaters were advised to watch for surfers and bodyboarders using harbor channels. Periodic wave runup across typically dry roadways was possible around the afternoon high tide along south shores.
Swell timeline and what’s next for Big Island high surf
Forecasters said offshore buoys late Wednesday morning showed the swell at 6 to 7 feet with 17-second periods, with nearshore buoys around 6 feet. The Big Island high surf was expected to hold into part of Wednesday night, then ease to 7 to 10 feet by Thursday morning and drop below the 10-foot advisory threshold by Thursday afternoon.
Surf should settle to moderate levels Friday, June 5, and fade by Sunday, June 7, with a smaller south-southwest pulse early next week.
A separate, medium-period north swell is due Thursday, peaking Friday before easing over the weekend. North shores were forecast at 2 to 4 feet through Thursday morning, rising to 3 to 5 feet Thursday afternoon.
East-facing shores are expected to build to near seasonal averages by Friday and hold into early next week.
As the swell peaks, safety officials repeated familiar guidance: when in doubt, do not go out.
