Hawaii, 2005

High Surf in Hawaii, December 9 to 11, 2005

December 9 to 11, 2005 · NWS HFO · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

A strong low northwest of the state produced surf of 18 to 24 feet along the north-facing shores, and 8 to 15 feet along the west-facing shores, of Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu; 18 to 24 feet along the north-facing shores of Molokai and Maui; and 8 to 15 feet along the west-facing shores of Lanai, Kahoolawe, and the Big Island of Hawaii. However, there were no reports of serious injuries or property…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
15

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 strong low northwest of the state produced surf of 18 to 24 feet along the north-facing shores, and 8 to 15 feet along the west-facing shores, of Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu; 18 to 24 feet along the north-facing shores of Molokai and Maui; and 8 to 15 feet along the west-facing shores of Lanai, Kahoolawe, and the Big Island of Hawaii. However, there were no reports of serious injuries or property damage.

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 Dec 9, 4:00 AM HST, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 9, 4:00 AM HST, 3 hours before
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
400 AM HST FRI DEC 9 2005

.SYNOPSIS...
HIGH PRESSURE NORTH OF HAWAII WILL GIVE US LIGHT TO MODERATE TRADE
WINDS THROUGH THE WEEKEND. SKIES WILL BE CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY...
WITH SHOWERS FAVORING WINDWARD AND MAUKA AREAS.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A SUBTROPICAL RIDGE ALONG 27N WILL BE REPLACED BY AN EASTWARD MOVING
HIGH FORECAST NEAR 34N 160W SATURDAY. THE NW/SE COLD FRONT BETWEEN
US AND THE HIGH WILL DISSIPATE NORTH OF US. LIGHT TO MODERATE TRADES
WILL PERSIST SOUTH OF THE RIDGE AND HIGH THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

A SHEARLINE IS FORECAST TO MOVE SLOWLY FROM KAUAI TO THE BIG ISLAND
MONDAY AND TUESDAY BRINGING SOME RAIN WITH IT. MODELS ARE GIVING US
MIXED SIGNALS ON SUPPORT ALOFT...SO JUST HOW HEAVY THE RAIN WILL BE
REMAINS A QUESTION MARK. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON
RAINFALL INTENSITY THIS WEEKEND.

THE SURFACE HIGH PUSHING THE SHEARLINE ALONG WILL MOVE NORTHEAST OF
US TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...KEEPING US IN MODERATE TRADES. A LARGE
AND COMPLEX LOW WITH SEVERAL CENTERS IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE
CENTRAL NORTH PACIFIC. IF CORRECT...THE LOW WILL WEAKEN THE HIGH
INTO A RIDGE THEN PUSH THE RIDGE SOUTHWARD OVER THE STATE. WINDS
UNDER THE RIDGE SHOULD BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE NEXT WEEK FRIDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
THE NORTHWEST SWELL HITTING OUR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES WILL
SLOWLY DIMINISH OVER THE WEEKEND. BUOY ONE DATA INDICATES THAT THE
SURF WILL STAY BELOW WARNING LEVELS. ANOTHER NORTHWEST SWELL IS
EXPECTED LATE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

&&

.HFO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR NORTH AND WEST FACING SHORES UNTIL 6 PM
SATURDAY.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR NW SWELL UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING.
&&

CRAIG

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Kahoolawe

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Kahoolawe forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kauai Leeward

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Kauai Leeward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kauai Windward

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Kauai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Kohala

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Kohala forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Kona

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Kona forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
19.602, -155.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Lanai Makai

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Lanai Makai forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Maui Central Valley

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Maui Central Valley forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Maui Windward West

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Maui Windward West forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Molokai Leeward

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai Leeward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Molokai Windward

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Molokai Windward forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Niihau

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Niihau forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
22.011, -159.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Oahu Koolau

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu Koolau forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER

High Surf, Oahu North Shore

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Oahu North Shore forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Waianae Coast

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Waianae Coast forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When
December 9, 7:00 AM HST to December 11, 2:00 AM HST
Where
Windward Haleakala 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 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, December 2005

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: 5484734, 5484735, 5484736, 5484737, 5484738, 5484739, 5484740, 5484741, 5484742, 5484743, 5484744, 5484745, 5484746, 5484747, 5484748.