Kalani Vierra, the county’s ocean safety supervisor, reported the closure of beaches at Ha’ena and Ke’e on the North Shore yesterday due to waves in the 25-foot-face range. Today, he said, ocean safety officers would evaluate Eastside beaches, and possibly
Kalani Vierra, the county’s ocean safety supervisor, reported the closure of beaches at Ha’ena and Ke’e on the North Shore yesterday due to waves in the 25-foot-face range.
Today, he said, ocean safety officers would evaluate Eastside beaches, and possibly close them due to a large northeast swell expected to peak at noon today, he said.
Yesterday, he reported 10-to-12- foot faces, with bigger sets, at Kealia Beach, while Wailua Beach Park had breaking wave-face heights of 16 to 18 feet. Tow-in surfers were riding the outside cloudbreak at around 5 p.m., a rare sight on Eastside beaches.
Vierra said lifeguards had two reports of swimmers in distress yesterday on the Eastside; near Waika’ea, a kitesurfer had problems with his equipment and had to swim in, while Kaua’i Sands workers reported a swimmer in distress. Both made it to shore without help from lifeguards, he said.
The National Weather Service continued a high-surf warning for all north- and east-facing shores. The northeast swell is expected to reach 15 to 17 feet by this afternoon.
He advised the public to stay away from these dangerous ocean conditions until the swell subsides over the weekend.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
