Hawaii, 1998

High Surf in Hawaii, January 23 to 31, 1998

January 23 to 31, 1998 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A series of developed storm lows far northwest of the Hawaiian Islands produced surf that eventually built to 25 to 40 feet (on the 28th) along northwest and north facing shores and 15 to 20 feet along western facing shores of all the islands. The high surf caused damage to two units of the Ke Iki Hale apartment complex on the North Shore of Oahu.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HFO wrote it up.

A series of developed storm lows far northwest of the Hawaiian Islands produced surf that eventually built to 25 to 40 feet (on the 28th) along northwest and north facing shores and 15 to 20 feet along western facing shores of all the islands. The high surf caused damage to two units of the Ke Iki Hale apartment complex on the North Shore of Oahu. This event also closed all North Shore beaches on the 28th, and the surf was deemed too dangerous to hold the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing competition--which requires at least 20-foot waves to be held in the first place. Waves also occasionally crossed roadways along western and northern shorelines on Oahu, depositing sand and other debris on the road surfaces. On the Island of Hawaii, Keokaha and other Hilo District beaches were closed on the 28th.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

6 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Island of Hawaii

When
January 23, 1:00 AM HST to January 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Island of Hawaii forecast zone
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kauai

When
January 23, 1:00 AM HST to January 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Kauai forecast zone
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Lanai

When
January 23, 1:00 AM HST to January 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Lanai forecast zone
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui

When
January 23, 1:00 AM HST to January 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Maui forecast zone
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai

When
January 23, 1:00 AM HST to January 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone

High Surf, Oahu

When
January 23, 1:00 AM HST to January 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000

What these are

High Surf
Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Hawaii in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5630537, 5630538, 5630539, 5630540, 5630541, 5630542.