Hawaii, 2002

High Surf in Hawaii, November 23 to 24, 2002

November 23 to 24, 2002 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A storm low far northwest of Hawaii produced surf of 10 to 20 feet along the west- clockwise through north-facing shores of all the islands. One surfer, knocked off his board by high surf, was injured at Hapuna Beach in South Kohala on the Big Island of Hawaii.

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
1
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 far northwest of Hawaii produced surf of 10 to 20 feet along the west- clockwise through north-facing shores of all the islands. One surfer, knocked off his board by high surf, was injured at Hapuna Beach in South Kohala on the Big Island of Hawaii. No serious property damage was reported, however.

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 Nov 23, 4:44 AM HST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 23, 4:44 AM HST, 16 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE NORTH OF YOUR ISLAND HAS MOVED CLOSER TO YOUR
AREA...AND WILL HOLD AT LEAST ONE MORE DAY. IT WILL KEEP LIGHT TO
MODERATE TRADE WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS TO YOUR DISTRICT. SATELLITE
IMAGERY SHOWS A STREAM OF LOW CLOUDS EMBEDDED IN THE UPSTREAM WIND
FLOW. EXPECT PASSING CLOUDS AS WELL AS LIGHT SHOWERS TO AFFECT YOUR
ISLAND. EASTERLY TRADE WIND SWELL TO 8 FEET AND DECREASING SLOWLY.
THE NORTH NORTHWEST SWELL IS ALSO DECREASING TO 4 FEET EARLY...ONLY
TO INCREASE AGAIN TO 6 FEET TONIGHT.

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
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM 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
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM 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
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM 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
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna

When
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM HST
Where
North and East Hawaii Including Windward Kohala / Hamakua / Hilo / Puna forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Oahu

When
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, West Hawaii Including Leeward Kohala and Kona

When
November 23, 5:00 AM HST to November 24, 10:00 AM HST
Where
West Hawaii Including Leeward Kohala and Kona forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
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, November 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: 5325188, 5325189, 5325190, 5325191, 5325192, 5325193, 5325194.