High surf on O'ahu keeps lifeguards busy
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South shore surf photos |
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Video: Body surfers get dream waves |
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Yesterday's high surf made for some beautiful waves, but for some scary moments as well, according to officials.
City lifeguards yesterday made 10 rescues and took "preventive action" 650 times as big surf pounded O'ahu's south, north and west shores.
"Any time you have big surf and water moving, you're going to have current and that's what gets people in trouble," said Jim Howe, chief of operations for the city's Ocean Safety & Lifeguard Division. The 12-foot surf made for "extremely hazardous conditions" near the shorelines as well as in the water yesterday.
The most serious injuries yesterday occurred at Lahilahi Point in Makaha.
Two Makaha residents, Russ Keaulana and Dude Kaaekuahiwi, used jet-powered watercraft to rescue a woman, 53, who had been swept off the ledge by a wave; and a man, 49, who had jumped in to try to help her.
Both suffered injuries from being slammed into the rocks by waves. They were taken to The Queen's Medical Center, where they were in serious but stable condition last night, said city Emergency Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic.
More big surf is expected today, Howe said.
"We are into the winter surf season and simultaneously are experiencing a late-summer swell pattern, which is creating the extremely hazardous ocean conditions," Howe said.
The entire state, meanwhile, is under a flood watch and showers are expected through Sunday.
National Weather Service forecaster Maureen Ballard said the overnight focus was on the Big Island and Maui. "The main focus will be shifting to O'ahu and Kaua'i by the weekend," Ballard said. "The potential for flooding is there."
The 650 "preventive action" measures, in which lifeguards made direct contact with people to warn them of danger, is an unusually high number, Howe said.
"That's a lot of trips out of the tower," he added. "It means they felt strong enough that people were in potentially hazardous situations that demanded intervention."
Surf on the south shore may drop off today, but Howe is expecting an increase in wave sizes on the north-facing shores from Kahuku to Kaena. Unlike yesterday, the east shores will see some of that wave activity today, Howe said.
A perfect day for lifeguards, Howe said, is one with no deaths or serious injuries, zero rescues and lots of successful "preventive actions."
"For us, that would be like hitting a home run," Howe said.
Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: Two Makaha residents, Russ Keaulana and Dude Kaaekuahiwi, used Jet Skis Thursday in a high-surf rescue at Lahilahi Point in Mäkaha. A Local News story yesterday incorrectly reported that city lifeguards conducted the rescue.
