Rescuers in Honolulu and the other islands have made hundreds of rescues, assists as first big south shore swells of the season rolled in this week.
Some surfers got blown off shore by the stiff trade winds and others ended up overwhelmed by the rising swell that arrived faster and larger than expected, Hawaii News Now reported.
Officials said this year’s swells are some of the largest they’ve seen in the last few years with the sets coming in fast and strong with waves reaching 10 to 15 feet in some areas.
“The currents pretty strong,” Surfer Jonah Aguon told Hawaii News Now “You’re getting like tossed around a lot, it’s like a washing machine basically.”
Safety officials want to remind beach goers to ensure their equipment is in working order, to know their limits, and to conduct your beach activities at a guarded beach.