FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Water from the high surf washed over the road yesterday at Laniakea, leaving sand and debris covering the roadway. Civil Defense volunteers Clifford Hirayasu, left, and Melvin Kiboda kept watch over the area.
Big Isle man dies High surf caused the drowning death of a West Hawaii man and led to the evacuation of 25 people on Oahu's North Shore yesterday, officials said.
in surf off Hookena
High surf also leads to 25 evacuations
from Oahu’s North ShoreBy Rosemarie Bernardo and Rod Thompson
rbernardo@starbulletin.com | rthompson@starbulletin.comThe National Weather Service had predicted waves as high as 50 feet would hit early yesterday, but the surf peaked at about 30 feet, with some 40-foot rogue waves reported on the North Shore, officials said.
The Big Isle man drowned after being caught in the strong current off Hookena, South Kona, according to the fire officials. In differing accounts, Fire Department rescue personnel said the man, from Captain Cook, was standing in shoreline surf when the 3:47 p.m. accident occurred, while police said he was swimming.
The man attempted to swim back to shore but became exhausted in a rip current, fire officials said.
Six surfers in the area brought the unconscious man to shore and initiated resuscitation, they said. Fire Department paramedics were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at Kona Hospital.
The identity of the Captain Cook, South Kona man was withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
On Oahu's North Shore, salt and silt covered roads after high surf washed over some parts of Kamehameha Highway and forced some evacuations.
"The water was wrapping around our shop. ... We had some huge sets coming over the rock wall," said Eric Basta, who started cleaning up debris around Surf n Sea Inc., at Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa about 20 feet from the shoreline, about 3 a.m.
"It (the cleanup) was a futile effort," said Basta. "Just when you think it was under control, it started again."
National Weather Service officials continued a high-surf warning on the northwest shores for all islands except the Big Island. Waves reached 25-30 feet yesterday, later subsiding to 20 to 25 feet, said lead forecaster Roy Matsuda of the National Weather Service. There were observations of a 40-foot rogue wave at Waimea Bay, Matsuda said.
Today, the high-surf warning is expected to be lowered to a surf advisory of no more than 15- to 20-foot waves, he added.
The waves slamming the area between Waimea and Sunset Beach are believed to be the highest Oahu has had in the last three to five years, said John Cummings, spokesman for the Oahu Civil Defense.
Civil Defense officials informed residents along Ke Nui, Ke Waena and Ke Iki roads to evacuate their homes due to high surf Saturday night. Shelters were opened at Liliuokalani Protestant Church in Haleiwa, Sunset Beach Church of Christ and the Waialua Recreational Center.
Despite big waves that started washing across Kamehameha Highway from about 2 to 6 a.m. yesterday, some residents decided to stay home.
"It never really threatened our particular area," said Gary Quinn, who lives along Ke Waena Road.
"We have all been through this before. We knew if it was going to be really bad ... that it would be the time to get out," said Quinn, who has lived on the North Shore for more than 20 years.
Kelli Tenis, who lives near Chun's Reef, decided to spend the night at a friend's house in Haleiwa after her roommate told her of the high surf. "My driveway looked like the beach," said Tenis after returning home yesterday.
Sand, tree branches and someone's slippers swept over her driveway, Tenis said. "It was a mess."
Cracks were observed along the cinder block stilts of her house, she added.
Twenty-five people stayed at the various shelters, said Jocelyn Collado, spokeswoman for the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross. A number of people who stayed at the shelter were campers evacuated from Kaiaka Bay and Mokuleia beach parks, said Cummings.
Shelters closed about 7:10 a.m. after Civil Defense reported it was safe for residents to return home.
Dolores Cook of the state Civil Defense said two homes along Ke Nui and Ke Iki roads were damaged from the high surf. Also, damage was reported at the Anahulu Bridge and a rock wall near Surf n Sea Inc. No injuries were reported, Cook said.
Parts of Kamehameha Highway were closed between 3:45 and 6 a.m. yesterday as city workers cleared the roads covered by rocks, debris and sand. A backhoe was used in some areas to clear the debris.
No rescues were reported along the North Shore yesterday.
National Weather Service
Hawaii Red Cross
State Civil Defense
