Tar balls washing up on Waikiki Beach yesterday prompted the state Department of Health to advise swimmers, surfers and paddlers to stay out of the water.

"It is more of a nuisance than a health issue," said department spokeswoman Janice Okubo. "We are not aware of any particular spill that may have caused this."

The affected stretch of world-famous Waikiki Beach is heavily used by visitors and residents.

Okubo said her department was notified by the city Ocean Safety division that tar balls were washing up on the shore from the Natatorium to the Sheraton Waikiki, pushed in by kona winds.

Surfers and swimmers complained of oily tar sticking to them and to their surfboards.

Okubo said the source of the tar may be quite far away and that the balls may have been floating in the open ocean for some time.

She said the state's Clean Water branch will monitor the situation. In the meantime, beachgoers are advised to stay out of the water and not walk along the beach.