High Surf in Hawaii, February 12 to 14, 1999

Name: High Surf in Hawaii, February 12 to 14, 1999
Start: 1999-02-12T04:15
End: 1999-02-14T08:30
Location: Hawaii

February 12 to 14, 1999 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

On Oahu, a Marine's (military) body was never found after a four-day search at sea. He had been walking on a rocky ledge at the Mokulua islands (a mile offshore from Lanikai) when a wave knocked him into the ocean on 12 February.

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
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.

Two separate storm systems-one near Japan and one near the Gulf of Alaska-produced 8 to 12-foot surf along many north-facing beaches of the Hawaiian Islands.On Oahu, a Marine's (military) body was never found after a four-day search at sea. He had been walking on a rocky ledge at the Mokulua islands (a mile offshore from Lanikai) when a wave knocked him into the ocean on 12 February.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Oahu

When: February 12, 4:15 AM HST to February 14, 8:30 AM HST
Where: Oahu forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Surf, Island of Hawaii

When: February 12, 4:15 AM HST to February 14, 8:30 AM HST
Where: Island of Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kauai

When: February 12, 4:15 AM HST to February 14, 8:30 AM HST
Where: Kauai forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Lanai

When: February 12, 4:15 AM HST to February 14, 8:30 AM HST
Where: Lanai forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui

When: February 12, 4:15 AM HST to February 14, 8:30 AM HST
Where: Maui forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai

When: February 12, 4:15 AM HST to February 14, 8:30 AM HST
Where: Molokai forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
High Surf, Molokai	1999-02-12	21	Male	In Water	Direct

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

Every storm in Hawaii in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Hawaii, February 1999

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: 5688177, 5688178, 5688179, 5688180, 5688181, 5688182.