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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 9:58 a.m., Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Beachgoers heading back to the water

Advertiser Staff

 

A Honolulu Police Department helicopter hovers over surfers off Waikiki's Kuhio Beach to warn them of potentialy dangerous conditions.

RICHARD AMBO I The Honolulu Advertiser

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Officer Duane Hookano advises Kuhio Beach visitors about the potential for rough water conditions.

RICHARD AMBO I The Honolulu Advertiser

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Police lifted a two-hour warning and began allowing swimmers and surfers to go back in the water at Kuhio Beach Park in Waikiki at about 9 a.m.

Officials at the O'ahu Civil Defense Emergency Operating Center gave the all-clear to resume water activities across O'ahu after a series of at least four water recessions and surges occurred at various beaches on O'ahu and Kaua'i.

Despite the all-clear, lifeguards at some beaches on O'ahu are continuing to report significant water level fluctuations.

Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department, said that at about 9 a.m., there were reports of ocean water surging up over Kamehameha Highway in the Chun's Reef area of the North Shore near Hale'iwa.

In addition, water in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor was reported to have receded about four feet and then swelled back again moments later, Cheplic said.

Water at the the Wai'anae Small Boat Harbor dropped about 20 inches before coming back to the previous level, Cheplic said.

The possibility of strong currents and potentially rough conditions brought about by the 8.3 magnitude earthquake near Japan early this morning prompted officials to issue a warning to stay out of the water between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

A tsunami watch for the state was lifted around 5 a.m. The earthquake generated a series of small tsunamis off the shores of Japan, but were far smaller than originally anticipated.

Honolulu Police officers walked along the Waikiki shorefront, asking surfers and swimmers to stay out of the water as a precaution.

Officials monitoring Hale'iwa Harbor reported that the water receded about five feet at about 8:10 a.m. and that a surge refilled the bay a few moments later.

A second, potentially larger surge was expected to hit the harbor about 10 minutes later.

On Kaua'i a surge hit Nawiliwili Harbor, Civil Defense and police officials said. The U.S. Coast Guard Station at Nawiliwili Harbor reported that at about 8:35 a.m. a tsunami surge swept into its parking lot at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, Civil Defense officials said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

  • Here's the website address for Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/