An unusually large northeast swell wreaking havoc on the ocean for the last few days spread 20- to 30-foot waves from Kalapaki to Ke’e Beach and down the Na Pali Coast yesterday.
Life-long Eastside surfer John Kauo of Kapa’a said the swell is the largest he’s seen break along Kapa’a beaches.
“I’ve never seen it before like that all over the island,” said Kauo, who is a veteran surfer from the era of the return of surfing to Kaua’i in the 1940s and 1950s.
Kauo said the swell was coming from an unusual direction.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
Kauo, a waterman who worked at the Coco Palms Resort, said he was thankful that a retaining wall had been built along Kuhio across from the shuttered resort. He said the wall kept the surf from flooding Coco Palms buildings.
A benefit from the high surf is the opening up of the mouth of the Wailua River, Kauo said, which should alleviate high water problems upriver.
A high tide of near 2.5 feet (at 6:58 a.m. in Nawiliwili Harbor), and the large swells, were expected to combine to cause coastal flooding along the Eastside last night and this morning. A report from the Aliomanu area said the road there has been closed.
“The public is urged to take proper precautions to preserve life and property,” said Cyndi Mei Ozaki, County spokeswoman, adding that Kilauea Elementary School was opened as an emergency shelter at 5 p.m. last evening.
Also, the County of Kaua’i Ocean Safety Bureau closed beaches on the east and north shores of the island due to high surf. All beaches between Kalapaki and Ke’e beaches were closed due to wave faces from 20 to 25-foot surf In some areas, with some sets in the 30-foot range.
This is the third straight day North Shore beaches have been closed.
The Young Brothers barge, scheduled to arrive in Nawiliwili this morning, circled outside the breakwall yesterday morning, but the only motorized crafts in the harbor were jet-skis, as tow in surfers were pulled in to the 25-foot waves breaking outside the point at Kalapaki Bay.
According to the Young Brothers hotline, the barge will attempt to re-enter the channel tomorrow, or when waves subside.
According to the National Weather Service, a high surf warning for waves over 25 feet was in effect all day yesterday for all north and east facing shores.
They also advised caution for all north and east facing harbors due to waves breaking in channel entrances.
The swell is supposed to slowly subside through the weekend. Beaches will be closed until further notice, Ozaki said in a statement. An update on ocean conditions will be issued Saturday morning.
TGI Editor Chris Cook contributed to this report.
Staff writer Tom Finnegan can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
