Surf tapers to 4-8 feet
By Allison Schaefers
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was one of the biggest swells of the decade. But it was over by today.
Surf as high as 15 feet pounded the south shore of O'ahu yesterday, and lifeguards working off Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches rescued 400 people and assisted 800 more in a 12-hour period.
The surf is still up today with waves ranging from 4 to 8 feet, but the swell is on a downward trend, said Tim Craig, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service.
Lifeguards said while the big surf was typical for summertime on the south shore, in places such as the popular Waikiki surfing spot Castles, conditions rivaled the infamous Kamehameha Day swell of 1995, where surf topped out at 30 feet in places.
"It was certainly one of the largest swells ever," said Jim Howe, operations chief of the Honolulu City and County Ocean Safety Division. "At Castles, some of the waves were comparable to the Kamehameha Day swell."
The surf seemed larger at Castles than on other parts of the south shore because waves were largely concentrated in Waikiki and conditions were exaggerated by high tide in the afternoon, Howe said.
While many experienced swimmers and surfers chose to ride the waves, no one drowned or was injured, Howe said.
"However, we did count 130 broken boards," he said.
Throughout yesterday, lifeguards stayed busy, pulling hundreds to shore who were were exhausted, suffering cramps or who lost equipment in the water. Others were treated for cuts and bruises, and many inexperienced swimmers were warned away from the surf on south and eastern beaches.
Before noon yesterday, a swimmer, a surfer and four boaters had been rescued between Diamond Head and Point Panic. Lifeguards working near the China Wall surf break off Portlock rescued more than 75 people throughout the day, said Ocean Safety Dispatcher Rob Miller. At notoriously rough Sandy Beach, everyone was ordered out of the water.
Lifeguards said they rescued two swimmers and assisted 100 others who got caught in the rip tide back to shore. A man at Point Panic who washed into the rocks early yesterday was rescued, and an off-duty lifeguard brought in a surfer at Publics off Waikiki. "The guy was floating for 20 minutes before he was rescued," said Capt. Paul Marino of the Honolulu City and County Ocean Safety Division.
The U.S. Coast Guard also fished four people out of the water after a 14-foot pleasure skiff capsized around 7:40 a.m. near the Ala Wai Yacht Club. The effort went smoothly, and the boaters were out of the water and back at the boat ramp by 7:53 a.m., said Petty Officer Wesley Stech. The Fire Department righted the boat and towed it to the Ke'ehi Boat Harbor.
As the day progressed, most boaters heeded advice not to leave the harbors, Stech said, and the Coast Guard reported no more boating incidents as of 6 p.m.
The number of rescues didn't seem to faze local officials, who had geared up for the massive surf. More than 20 lifeguards were posted at towers, on rescue watercraft and on hotel balconies watching to make sure swimmers stay safe, Marino said.
