Hawaii, 2002

High Surf in Hawaii, April 26 to 27, 2002

April 26 to 27, 2002 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A storm low far south of the equator generated surf of 6 to 12 feet along the south shores of all the Hawaii Islands. However, no serious injuries or property damage were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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 storm low far south of the equator generated surf of 6 to 12 feet along the south shores of all the Hawaii Islands. However, no serious injuries or property damage were reported.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Honolulu, HI wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 26, 5:00 AM HST, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 5:00 AM HST, 2 hours before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES LITTLE CHANGE OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS AS
BROKEN TO SCATTERED LOW CLOUDS CAUGHT UP IN THE NORTHEAST FLOW OF 10
TO 15 KTS.  A SCATTERED TO BROKEN HIGH CIRRUS LAYER IS ALSO
STREAMING ACROSS THE ISLAND. LITTLE CONVECTION IS NOTED UPSTREAM
FROM WAKE.

AS A RESULT...EXPECT A PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKY WITH ONLY A FEW
BRIEF SHOWERS LIKELY.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Kauai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Lanai

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Lanai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Maui

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Maui forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
North and East Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Oahu

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
South Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
April 26, 7:00 AM HST to April 27, 4:00 PM HST
Where
West Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, April 2002

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: 5290703, 5290704, 5290705, 5290706, 5290707, 5290708, 5290709, 5290710.