Hawaii, 2003

High Surf in Hawaii, April 29 to 30, 2003

April 29 to 30, 2003 · NWS HFO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A gale low southeast of New Zealand caused surf of 4 to 8 feet along the south-facing shores of all the isles. No serious property damage or injuries were reported.

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
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 gale low southeast of New Zealand caused surf of 4 to 8 feet along the south-facing shores of all the isles. No serious property damage or injuries 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 29, 5:00 AM HST, 4 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 5:00 AM HST, 4 hours before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR WAKE ISLAND

THE TRADES WILL FIRM A BIT AS HIGH PRESSURE FAR TO THE NORTHWEST
SLIDES EAST ALONG 37N. GFS AND UKMET BOTH SHOW WIND SPEEDS
INCREASING TO NEAR 20 KT OVER WAKE TONIGHT. PATCHES OF MAINLY STABLE
LOW CLOUD NEAR THE ISLAND EARLY THIS MORNING WILL BREAK UP DURING
THE DAY WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES BY AFTERNOON. JUST A SLIGHT CHANCE
OF A BRIEF SHOWER. WE ARE NOT EXPECTING ANY SIGNIFICANT SWELLS
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

R BALLARD

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
April 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 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
April 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 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
April 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 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
April 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
April 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 AM 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 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When
April 29, 9:00 AM HST to April 30, 8:00 AM HST
Where
South Hawaii forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

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 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, April 2003

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: 5327493, 5327572, 5327573, 5327574, 5327575, 5327576, 5327577.