Hawaii, 2004

High Surf in Hawaii, March 21 to 25, 2004

March 21 to 25, 2004 · NWS HFO · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

The combination of a low north of the state and a trade wind swell generated surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north-facing shores and 6 to 12 feet along the east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. However, no serious injuries or property damage were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
6

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.

The combination of a low north of the state and a trade wind swell generated surf of 10 to 15 feet along the north-facing shores and 6 to 12 feet along the east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii. However, no serious injuries or property damage 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 Mar 21, 4:20 AM HST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 21, 4:20 AM HST, 2 hours 40 minutes before
NARRATIVE SYNOPTIC DISCUSSION FOR AMERICAN SAMOA AND THE INDEPENDENT
STATE OF SAMOA

TODAY AND MONDAY...
A TROUGH EXTENDS FROM A LOW NEAR NEW CALEDONIA EASTWARD THROUGH 20S
180 THEN SOUTHEAST TO ABOUT 30N 170W AND BEYOND.  A SURFACE RIDGE
LIES BETWEEN THE TROUGH, SAMOA AND TUVALU.  THIS IS RESULTING IN
LIGHT EAST WINDS ACROSS SAMOA, LIGHT ENOUGH TO ALLOW LOCAL LAND/SEA
BREEZES TO DEVELOP. ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA AND
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD.  THE FLOW ALOFT IS FROM
THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AND IS BRINGING UP CONSIDERABLE MID AND HIGH
LEVEL DEBRIS CLOUDS FROM CONVECTION ALONG THE TROUGH TO THE SOUTH.
THE LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL BECOME MORE NORTHEAST AND NORTHERLY AS THE
RIDGE BUILDS NORTHWARD OVER THE ISLANDS.  NO SIGNIFICANT SWELL IS
EXPECTED.

OUTLOOK FOR TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...
THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL MIGRATE TO JUST NORTH OF THE ISLANDS BY
TUESDAY AND WINDS WILL BECOME LIGHT NORTHWESTERLY.  THE GFS MODEL
EVEN DEVELOPS A HIGH JUST NORTH OF SAMOA BY WEDNESDAY.  THE
PROXIMITY OF THE RIDGE OR HIGH WILL RESULT IN A CONTINUATION OF
LOCAL LAND/SEA BREEZES THROUGH THE OUTLOOK PERIOD, ALONG WITH A
MINIMUM OF CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION.  USUALLY THE AFTERNOON SEA
BREEZES WOULD FOSTER AFTERNOON CONVECTION OVER THE LARGER ISLANDS
BUT THE PROXIMITY OF THE RIDGE MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPRESS THE
DIURNAL SHOWERS.

NARRATIVE DISCUSSION FOR TUVALU

TODAY AND TUESDAY...TUVALU TIME...
MOST OF WHAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE SAMOA
DISCUSSION APPLIES TO THE NEXT 48 HOURS FOR TUVALU, EXCEPTING, OF
COURSE, THE LOCAL LAND AND SEA BREEZES.  WINDS WILL BE LIGHT
EASTERLY TODAY, GRADUALLY TURNING NORTHEAST AND NORTH TUESDAY.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kauai

When
March 21, 7:00 AM HST to March 25, 6:00 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, Maui

When
March 21, 7:00 AM HST to March 25, 6:00 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
March 21, 7:00 AM HST to March 25, 6:00 PM HST
Where
Molokai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, North and East Hawaii

When
March 21, 7:00 AM HST to March 25, 6:00 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
March 21, 7:00 AM HST to March 25, 6:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, South Hawaii

When
March 21, 7:00 AM HST to March 25, 6:00 PM 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 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, March 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: 5431283, 5431284, 5431285, 5431286, 5431287, 5431288.