Hawaii, 2023

High Surf in Hawaii, January 22 to 23, 2023

January 22 to 23, 2023 · NWS HFO · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

An extra large northwest (310-320 degree) swell produced extremely dangerous giant sized surf. Coastal water overwash also occurred across many low lying roadways along northern and western facing shorelines, especially during periods of high tide.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
6
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

An extra large northwest (310-320 degree) swell produced extremely dangerous giant sized surf. Coastal water overwash also occurred across many low lying roadways along northern and western facing shorelines, especially during periods of high tide. A high surf|warning was issued for most north and west facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the west facing shores of Big Island.

The radar

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

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Event by event

3 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.

High Surf, Oahu North Shore

When
January 22, 12:00 AM HST to January 23, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Oahu North Shore forecast zone
Injuries
6 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
21.455, -157.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In addition to the injuries (four injuries were due to people being washed off the rocks at Sharks Cove and two injuries were reported at a surf event), Ocean Safety officials rescued 21 people and took more than 3,000 preventative actions related to the dangerous surf. Sand and debris was washed across Kamehameha Highway at Rockpiles and Laniakea Beach, plus along a portion of the Ke Nui bike path. Waves also inundated the parking lot at Sharks Cover and overtopped a break wall that protects homes and the public access road to Keiki Beach.

High Surf, Maui Central Valley North

When
January 22, 6:00 AM HST to January 23, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Maui Central Valley North forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hookipa Beach Park was closed due to high surf, as waves were overtopping a break wall into the parking lot and other areas beyond the break wall.

High Surf, Windward Haleakala

When
January 22, 6:00 AM HST to January 23, 4:00 PM HST
Where
Windward Haleakala forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
21.027, -156.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hookipa Beach Park was closed due to high surf, as waves were overtopping a break wall into the parking lot and other areas beyond the break wall. Baldwin beach was closed due to high surf.

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 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Hawaii, January 2023

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1079561, 1072822, 1072823.