Updated at 3:02 p.m., Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Strange surges, currents close Hanauma Bay
Advertiser Staff
Hanauma Bay closed today after lifeguards reported strange currents and surges in the bay, apparently due to the earthquake in the Kuril Islands.
"The water level would drop several feet in a few minutes, then come back," said Libby Char, director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.
Ocean safety administrator Ralph Goto said it was a unique occurrence.
"The water gets sucked out of the bay, exposing the entire reef, then surges back in," he said."It's like one cycle of high and low tide, which usually takes six to eight hours, happened in a matter of minutes."
Lifeguards closed the the beach in the morning, then decided to close the entire park at noon as the surges continued.
