giant wave slams Hawaiian beaches - damage

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng


Giant waves on Maui today damaged facilities at two north shore public beach parks and injured one tow-in surfer, county officials said in a news release. Baldwin Beach Park and Ho'okipa Beach Park were both closed at 2:30 p.m. and will remain closed until the areas are declared safe by ocean safety personnel. At Baldwin Beach Park, wave faces were reported to be 60 feet to 70 feet on the outside reef and a tow-in surfer sustained severe cuts and a possible compound fracture to his leg, officials said. Two lifeguard vehicles — a wave ski and an ATV — were picked up by the shorebreak and thrown against a picnic pavilion door at Baldwin Park. The door was broken, and sand washed into the open-air pavilion. The waves caused substantial damage to the shoreline with sand piling up in the men's restroom and debris littering the park, according to officials.

"It's rubber boots country in the back parking lot," said Leland Parker, maintenance supervisor for the Coastal Section, East Parks District. "The waves are washing into the parking area and the water just gets backed up, with nowhere to go." At Ho'okipa Beach Park, wave faces were at 30 feet to 50 feet, according to Archie Kalepa, ocean safety operations supervisor. Waves washed up the steep stone wall into the pavilions, carrying sand and debris. "When it's this big, it's actually a lot easier to convince people to stay out of the water," Kalepa said. "It's the people onshore who have to be extremely careful — no one should ever turn their back to the ocean, even when they think they're standing in a safe zone." Kalepa also reported that two surfers were rescued at Honolua Bay on Maui's northwest side. Surf was estimated to be breaking in the 30-foot range.)
--------------------------------------

Wonder if the ocean is in extra motion from those?

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

are the likely culprits. Big storms, often thousands of miles away, produce big swells that can last for extended periods as opposed to tsunamis generated by quakes that often come through quickly. These waves struck the north shores of the islands from the direction one would expect if a powerful storm crossed the Pacific north of Hawaii.

She surfs and windsurfs both, I'm sure I'll hear about this (I'm "frozen haole" to her).

what's that word for ..if you've been there over 10 years?

has lived on Kauai since 1985..22 years! I'll ask him what that word is..it's driving me nuts. I was over there for 6 years and knew it then but I looked all over the place before I asked.

Malahini is a newcomer and that's what I was and will be again. Do you ever go visit the Islands?

I have a distinct dislike of airlines, airports and crowds in general. I'm basically on my own 'no-fly' list. Now if I could just beam myself there..

I didn't think twice about flying around the country back in the day. But, now I can understand your strong dislike of said airport scenes. When I move back there in 3 years from New York with all my stuff..it will definetly be a panic situation. I'm trying reverse pyschology on myself. :)

that she's kamaaina!

kamaaina
One entry found.

kamaaina

Main Entry: ka·ma·ai·na
Pronunciation: \ˌkä-mə-ˈī-nə\
Function: noun
Etymology: Hawaiian kama'āina, from kama child + 'āina land
Date: 1903
: one who has lived in Hawaii for a long time

is a generic term for caucasions.... I work in Honolulu from time to time and I hear it ALL the time.

a few of the slang words over there but haole is as you say the word for whites but I need the word for someone who has been there at least 10 years cause you're not a newcomer(malahini) any longer. B-)

I just answered my own questoin..it's Kamaaina!

kamaaina
One entry found.

kamaaina

Main Entry: ka·ma·ai·na
Pronunciation: \ˌkä-mə-ˈī-nə\
Function: noun
Etymology: Hawaiian kama'āina, from kama child + 'āina land
Date: 1903
: one who has lived in Hawaii for a long time

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/kamaaina
We'll say "10 years" is a long time.

good advise in more ways then one

Only a puddle jumper plane ride away, though the rain has been pounding us for days... Maybe take a high def camera and report on this stuff for the web, gotta be Bush's fault I tell ya, a conspiracy and all... :)

take care

lives on Kauai and I'll be going back in 3 long years.