Hawaii, 2004

High Surf in Hawaii, April 7 to 8, 2004

April 7 to 8, 2004 · NWS HFO · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A storm low far northwest of the state generated surf of 15 to 25 feet along the north-facing shores; and 6 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores; of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. However, no serious property damage or injuries were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
4

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 the state generated surf of 15 to 25 feet along the north-facing shores; and 6 to 12 feet along the west-facing shores; of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. However, 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 6, 8:30 PM HST, 5 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 6, 8:30 PM HST, 5 hours 30 minutes before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
830 PM HST TUE APR 6 2004

.SYNOPSIS...
WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT UNTIL LATE THURSDAY...WHEN A SHEARLINE
APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST REACHES KAUAI. THIS FEATURE WILL
INCREASE CLOUD AND SHOWER COVERAGE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS IT STALLS
OVER THE CENTRAL ISLANDS. THE HIGH EXPECTED TO MOVE IN BEHIND THE
SHEARLINE WILL INCREASE TRADE WINDS LATE THURSDAY THROUGH THE REST
OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE NORTH OF THE MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS THIS
EVENING WILL BE PUSHED SOUTH ALMOST OVER THE ISLANDS THROUGH MOST OF
THURSDAY AS A TROUGH IN THE WESTERLIES DIGS SOUTHWARD ON ITS WAY
EASTWARD. A 1028 MB HIGH...NOW WEST OF THE DATELINE...WILL MOVE EAST
BEHIND THE TROUGH AND PUSH AN ASSOCIATED SHEARLINE ACROSS THE
ISLANDS LATE THURSDAY AND INTO THE WEEKEND.

MODELS SHOW THE SHEARLINE WILL STALL OVER THE CENTRAL ISLANDS
FRIDAY...WASHING OUT IN PLACE BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THE
MOISTURE FIELD WITH THIS SHEARLINE WILL BE CONSERVED FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AFTER IT STALLS...PROVIDING FUEL FOR INCREASED CLOUD AND SHOWER
COVERAGE FROM LATE THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY. WINDWARD AND MAUKA
AREAS SHOULD SEE THE BULK OF THE RAINFALL...BUT LEEWARD AREAS WILL
GET WET AS WELL WITH THE EXPECTED MOIST AIRMASS AND STRENGTHENED
TRADES.

UNLIKE THE LAST SHEARLINE SETUP...THE SUPPORTING UPPER TROUGH THIS
TIME WILL BE OVER AND EAST OF THE ISLANDS BY FRIDAY INSTEAD OF
STALLED TO OUR WEST. THIS WILL PLACE THE ISLANDS BENEATH
NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THE UPLIFT PORTION OF THE UPPER TROUGH
SHOULD BE EAST OF THE ISLANDS...SAVING THE STATE FROM ANOTHER
SUSTAINED HEAVY RAIN EVENT.

&&

.MARINE...
A NORTHWEST SWELL HAS ARRIVED ALONG NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF
THE ISLANDS THIS EVENING. ASSOCIATED SURF HEIGHTS ARE EXPECTED TO
REACH WARNING LEVELS ALONG THE NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES OF
KAUAI...OAHU...MOLOKAI AND MAUI. SURF HEIGHTS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH
ADVISORY LEVELS ALONG NORTH FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND. A HIGH
SURF WARNING AND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR RISING SURF TONIGHT
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

&&

.WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
HIGH SURF WARNING......NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES KAUAI OAHU
                       MOLOKAI AND MAUI.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY.....NORTH FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND OF
                       HAWAII
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...ALL WATERS FOR LARGE NORTHWEST SWELL

POWELL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
April 7, 2:00 AM HST to April 8, 4:00 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, Maui

When
April 7, 2:00 AM HST to April 8, 4:00 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 7, 2:00 AM HST to April 8, 4:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Oahu

When
April 7, 2:00 AM HST to April 8, 4:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu 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 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, April 2004

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: 5431466, 5431467, 5431528, 5431529.