Hawaii, 2002

High Surf in Hawaii, May 11 to 13, 2002

May 11 to 13, 2002 · NWS HFO · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A storm low far south of the equator east of New Zealand produced surf of 8 to 12 feet along the south- and southwest-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. Three individuals near Poipu on Kauai were assisted by lifeguards on the 11th due to problems they were having with the high surf.

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
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 east of New Zealand produced surf of 8 to 12 feet along the south- and southwest-facing shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. Three individuals near Poipu on Kauai were assisted by lifeguards on the 11th due to problems they were having with the high surf. However, they suffered no serious injuries, and there were no reports of property damage around the state.

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 May 11, 5:00 AM HST, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 5:00 AM HST, 3 hours before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A HIGH PRESSURE SURFACE RIDGE REMAINS TO YOUR NORTH AND SHOWS LITTLE
MOVEMENT FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE STRONG GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OVER YOU FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS
RESULTING IN MODERATE TO STRONG TRADES OF 15 TO 25 KNOTS. SOME
HIGHER GUSTS WILL REMAIN A POSSIBILITY. AN AREA OF CLOUDINESS HAS
BEEN APPROACHING WAKE FROM THE SOUTH OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS. MOST
OF THIS IS IN THE FORM OF HIGH CLOUDS...HOWEVER LOWER CLOUDS ARE
LIKELY FOUND UNDERNEATH. LOOK FOR MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES FOR THE NEXT
24 HOURS...MOSTLY HIGH CLOUDS. A FEW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST.

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
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 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
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 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
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 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
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 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
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 PM HST
Where
South Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii

When
May 11, 8:00 AM HST to May 13, 8:00 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, May 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: 5287865, 5287866, 5287867, 5287868, 5287869, 5287870, 5287871, 5287872.