Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

High surf fails to
reach new bypass road
at Waimea Bay

Surfer lost in big Pipeline waves

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

Despite continual high surf at North Shore's Waimea Bay today, the 1,000-foot long Menehune Connector bypass road remained.

Yesterday it was nature's threat, today it's man's assault on nature that is expected to grab the attention of Waimea Bay watchers.

Kiewit Pacific workers were expected today to begin chipping with crowbars on the cliff face above Kamehameha Highway, closed since a March 6 rockfall. The contractor will use a man lift to bring workers within reach of the crumbling surface, beginning a process expected to take two weeks.

No explosives will be used during the current attempt to knock loose boulders down, said Department of Transportation Director Kazu Hayashida. The department is collecting information, cost estimates and construction time tables on alternatives for re-opening Kamehameha Highway. "Regardless of which of the three options we choose for the long-range solution, these loose rocks must come down first."

Yesterday, hundreds lined the beach and roadside to watch 10- to 12-foot surf offshore and an occasional inshore wave that licked close to the temporary roadway across the sand.

The road, which was opened Saturday morning, was never really threatened yesterday, said Oahu Civil Defense Director Joe Reed, standing by last night with a half-dozen volunteers ready to close the road if it is threatened.

The surf advisory continues for the north shores of all islands affected by a winter swell generated by a storm off the Aleutian Islands. Another high surf set with possible 18-foot waves is anticipated for Thursday, according to Water Safety Division officers.

Traffic hummed along at about 20 vehicles per minute in each direction late yesterday during the first pau hana rush hour in two weeks on that stretch of shoreline.

A few potholes in the temporary roadway were to be filled early this morning, meaning a brief halt in traffic, said Darren Makaiwi, a state Department of Transportation road inspector stationed at the scene. "The road is holding up strong," he said.

Makaiwi said he was a little dismayed at "the feeling here that people want it washed out. People cheer when water comes close up on the beach."

"That's the thrill factor," said Scott Aiko of Hauula, who body surfed in the lively shore break. "But if they have to drive all the way around the island again, they won't be cheering."

Waimea lifeguards helped a few swimmers back to shore during the day. They were held on duty for an extra 90 minutes last night because of an anticipated late afternoon peak in the waves.

Lifeguard Kerry Atwood said the east side of the bay, which the temporary road crosses, "is a very dangerous stretch, the water can change in a matter of hours. It could undo in an instant all the work they did in a week."

Said Makaiwi, "If the road's damaged, we'll just replace it...and brace for the next wave."

---

Surfer lost in
big Pipeline waves

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

The search continues today for a North Shore surfer believed to have drowned in 15-foot Banzai Pipeline waves.

The 27-year-old surfer, who shaped surfboards at Country Surfboards, wiped out on a large wave and became unconscious around 4:30 p.m. yesterday, officials said.

His surfing friends tried to bring him into shore on his board, but another large wave hit them all and they lost him, said Honolulu fire Capt. Richard Soo.

"This is a body recovery at this point," Soo said.

Honolulu Fire and the Coast Guard both searched by helicopter unsuccessfully for the surfer until sunset.

Specialty divers called in by the Fire Department searched underwater but had only 5 feet of visibility, Soo said.

The search was suspended until first light today.

"That's the ultimate price you pay for surfing," said Marcelo Pacote, manager of Country Surfboards, who considered the drowned surfer a good friend for three years.

Pacote, who had been surfing yesterday, said the waves were stronger than usual. Another friend of his nearly drowned at the same time, he said.

"Nature was playing pretty rough. It takes you and it don't let you go," Pacote said.

The victim had family in California and a girlfriend he planned to marry.

"He had a chick. He had the boards. He had everything going for him," Pacote said. "But maybe he discovered a better life. All we do is surf and work. There's got to be more to life than surfing and working."