Hawaii, 2002

High Surf in Hawaii, March 30 to 31, 2002

March 30 to 31, 2002 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A storm low north of the state generated surf of 15 to 20 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of all the islands and 6 to 10 feet along the west-facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. Lifeguards, especially on Oahu and Maui, were busy with helping several surfers and swimmers in distress over Saturday and Easter Sunday, the 30th and 31st of March, respectively.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 north of the state generated surf of 15 to 20 feet along the north- and northwest-facing shores of all the islands and 6 to 10 feet along the west-facing shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. Lifeguards, especially on Oahu and Maui, were busy with helping several surfers and swimmers in distress over Saturday and Easter Sunday, the 30th and 31st of March, respectively. However, there were no reports of serious injuries or property damage.

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 Mar 30, 4:49 AM HST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 4:49 AM HST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED TO THE NORTH OF WAKE WAS PRODUCING
A BRISK NORTHEAST WIND THAT CARRIED BROKEN STRATOCUMULUS CLOUDS
ACROSS THE ISLAND. AN APPARENT TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE
SOUTH FLANK OF THE RIDGE WAS CAUSING THE STRATOCUMULUS CLOUDS OVER
AND JUST EAST OF WAKE TO BECOME ENHANCED...LEADING TO A LOW OVERCAST
WITH MORE SUBSTANTIAL RAIN IN THIS AREA. LITTLE CHANGE IS EXPECTED
TODAY...WITH CLOUDY CONDITIONS AND SCATTERED SHOWERS PREVAILING.
HOWEVER...THE WEATHER WILL START TO CLEAR TONIGHT...AS THE TROUGH
SLOWLY MOVES WEST AND DISSIPATES. THE WIND WILL BLOW FROM THE EAST
NORTHEAST AT 20 TO 30 KNOTS. MODERATE NORTHEAST SWELL WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH THE PERIOD.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 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
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 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
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 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
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Oahu

When
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 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)

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
March 30, 6:00 AM HST to March 31, 11:59 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)

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, March 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: 5287427, 5287428, 5287429, 5287430, 5287431, 5287432, 5287433.